Chapter 3 - The Emerald Earring
Ethan arrived twenty minutes later.
He had clearly been in the middle of a shower, his hair still wet, his shirt hastily buttoned.
"Clara, what happened?"
She handed him the box.
He opened it and read the note.
His face went pale with rage.
"Who gave this to you?"
"A nurse. She said it was left at the front desk."
"Which nurse?"
"I don't know. She was wearing a mask."
"A mask?"
"It was a surgical mask. I couldn't see her face."
Ethan turned to the security guard.
"Check every hospital employee on duty right now. I want to know who the woman was."
"Yes, sir."
The guard left.
Ethan sat down heavily on the chair beside Clara's bed.
"She knows where you are," he said.
"She knows everything."
"I know."
"How did she do it, Ethan? How did she get someone inside?"
"She has connections. She's been building this network for years."
"Ethan, I'm scared."
"I know. I'm scared too."
"What are we going to do?"
"We're going to protect you. I'm going to move you somewhere safe. Somewhere no one can find you."
"Where?"
"I have a place. A private island in the Caribbean. Nobody knows about it."
"Ethan, I can't just leave—"
"Yes, you can. You and the baby need to be safe. That's the only thing that matters."
"Ethan, I'm not going to leave you."
"You're not leaving me. I'm going with you."
"Really?"
"Really. I'm not letting you out of my sight again."
"Ethan, your company—"
"I have people who can run the company. You and the baby are more important."
Clara felt tears streaming down her face.
"Ethan, I don't know what to say."
May you like
"Say you'll come with me. Say you'll let me protect you."
"Okay. Yes. I'll come with you."
