“My father is dead.”
“I know.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I need you to come here.”
“No.”
“Grace, please.”
She had heard Ethan apologize.
Charm.
Beg.
Threaten.
Negotiate.
She had almost never heard him say please like that.
There was no performance in it.
Only fear.
Grace stood.
“What do you know about my father?”
“I didn’t know then.”
“Know what?”
“I found out later.”
“Ethan.”
A knock sounded somewhere on his end of the line.
He stopped talking.
Grace heard movement.
“Who is that?”
Ethan did not answer.
Another knock.
Harder.
Then a voice, muffled.
“Mr. Calloway?”
Grace recognized one of the federal agents from Rebecca’s description.
Ethan whispered, “I have to go.”
“Don’t hang up.”
“Grace.”
“What about my father?”
His next words came so quietly she almost missed them.
“Ask Declan why Pierce Global investigated the crash.”
The line went dead.
Grace slowly lowered the phone.
