The Guard's Secret Recording
Henry returned to the estate with Thomas and Leo.
They searched Richard's security archives.
One file was encrypted.
The password was Richard's favorite phrase.
Loyalty is proven when no one is watching.
The file opened.
A security recording appeared.
A guard was speaking to Richard.
It was Ethan Cole.
Henry remembered him from the funeral.
Ethan looked nervous.
Richard asked,
"Who hired you?"
Ethan answered,
"Victor."
Richard shook his head.
"No. Who really hired you?"
Ethan said nothing.
Richard continued.
"I know about the payments."
Ethan finally admitted that someone had paid him to monitor Richard's movements.
"Who?"
Ethan whispered a name.
Henry couldn't hear it.
The recording distorted.
Then Richard leaned closer.
"If anything happens to me, tell Henry the truth."
The recording ended.
Henry rewound it.
At the final second, Ethan's face became visible.
He was holding a photograph.
Henry paused the frame.
The photograph showed Henry's mother.
She was alive.
Henry stared.
Thomas whispered,
"Now you know why Ethan was at the funeral."
"He was protecting someone."
"Or hunting someone."
Henry looked at Leo.
The lion had become restless.
He suddenly walked toward the front door.
A vehicle stopped outside.
Ethan stepped out.
He entered the house with his hands raised.
"I need to talk to you."
Henry stared at him.
"About my grandfather?"
Ethan nodded.
"And your mother."
Henry's heart stopped.
"She's alive."
Ethan replied,
"Yes."
May you like
Then he added,
"But she's not the person you think she is."
