Chapter 6 - Ethan Recognized The Security Company
Ethan had never worked for North River Security.
But he remembered its regional director.
Marcus Vale.
Former Marine.
Charismatic.
Connected.
Marcus had visited Ethan’s unit during a training exercise six months
earlier.
He had asked unusually specific questions about deployment schedules.
At the time, Ethan assumed it was contractor coordination.
Now investigators reviewed North River’s records.
The company had received nearly four million dollars from Harbor
Shield-linked contractors over eighteen months.
North River claimed the money covered site security and transportation
services.
Some services were real.
Others could not be verified.
Sophia’s files included one email from Victor Lane.
STOP ASKING ABOUT NORTH RIVER. THIS IS ABOVE YOUR PAY GRADE.
Victor later claimed it was frustration, not a threat.
Investigators did not treat tone as proof.
Then they found something stronger.
Security footage from a gas station near Ethan’s neighborhood showed a
North River vehicle passing toward the house at 10:58 p.m.
The attack occurred roughly thirty minutes later.
The driver was not visible.
Ethan wanted Marcus arrested immediately.
Detective Laura Bennett stopped him.
“A company vehicle near your neighborhood is evidence. It is not proof
Marcus was inside your house.”
Ethan knew she was right.
He hated that she was right.
Then Sophia woke.
Not fully.
Not clearly.
But enough to say one word.
“Victor.”
Richard heard it.
Ethan heard it.
The nurse documented it.
Everyone assumed Sophia had named her attacker.
Detective Bennett did not.
May you like
“She may be naming someone important. We do not know why.”
That caution would matter later.
