Chapter 32

Ethan's heart was racing against his chest as he made his way to the isolated address given in the ambiguous message. The late afternoon sun was low on the horizon and cast long shadows over the winded road. Since he got the text, he had tried running through each possibility in his head: who might have sent it and what they could know.

Was it Ryan, wanting a bit more from him? Had Claire's cold feet turned on him? Or was it someone else, someone of whom he'd never thought?

With every step down to the meeting place, his apprehension mounted: a secluded clearing off of some old seldom-used road. He pulled over, turned off the car, and stepped outside into the predawn chill. It was a very quiet place, save the leaves rustling in the soft breeze, and the intermittent chirping of a bird.

Ethan looked at his wrist watch; the seconds ticked away, like some kind of time bomb in his brain, as he waited. Whoever had sent that message would be there in a moment. He needed to remain composed who