Chapter 4: The Little Girl Who Disappeared
“Now, where is the little girl who gave you that pill?””
Richard Whitmore's question hung in the air.
Ethan stared at his uncle.
The older man was dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, with a silver tie pin and an expensive watch that had once belonged to Ethan's father. His expression was calm, almost affectionate.
But his hand remained firmly wrapped around the handle of Ethan's wheelchair.
“How do you know about the pill?”” Ethan asked.
Richard smiled.
“Because Sophia told me you were behaving strangely.””
“She told you about Maya?””
“Who's Maya?””
Ethan watched his uncle's eyes.
Richard was lying.
He knew it.
And Richard knew that Ethan knew it.
“Take your hand off my wheelchair,” Ethan said.
Richard slowly released it.
“Of course. I forget how sensitive you've become.””
Dr. Collins stepped between them.
“Mr. Whitmore, Ethan needs rest. This discussion can wait.””
Richard looked at the doctor.
“I'm sorry, Daniel. But this is a family matter.””
“His medical treatment is not a family matter.””
Richard's expression hardened.
“Be careful. You're speaking to the chairman of Whitmore Global.””
“And you're speaking to my patient.””
For several seconds, the two men stared at each other.
Then Richard laughed.
“Very well. I'll leave you to your medical concerns.””
He adjusted his cufflinks and walked toward the pavilion entrance.
Before leaving, he turned around.
“Oh, Ethan? One more thing.””
“What?””
“Your sister has always been emotionally unstable. Don't let her destroy your happiness with another ridiculous accusation.””
Then he disappeared into the garden.
Ethan immediately grabbed his phone.
“Call security.””
Dr. Collins nodded.
But before he could dial, the wedding coordinator appeared at the pavilion entrance.
“Mr. Whitmore? I'm sorry to interrupt. There's a problem.””
“What problem?””
“The housekeeper and her daughter are missing.””
Ethan felt his stomach drop.
“Margaret and Maya?””
“Yes, sir. They were last seen near the service kitchen.””
“Have you checked the parking area?””
“We have. Their belongings are still in the staff room, but neither of them is answering their phones.””
Ethan turned toward Dr. Collins.
“Get the head of security.””
The coordinator hesitated.
“Mr. Whitmore, Mrs. Whitmore-to-be asked us not to involve security. She said the housekeeper had been dismissed for stealing.””
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
“She said what?””
The woman lowered her head.
“I'm sorry, sir. I thought you knew.””
“Who told you?””
“Sophia.””
Ethan gripped the armrests of his wheelchair.
“Find her.””
Within minutes, the wedding garden had become a scene of quiet confusion.
Guests whispered beneath the floral arrangements. Staff members moved between the service corridors. The string quartet had stopped playing.
Sophia appeared near the main entrance.
Her veil was still perfectly arranged.
“Ethan, what is happening?””
“Where are Margaret and Maya?””
Sophia sighed.
“Oh, sweetheart. I was hoping you wouldn't have to deal with this.””
“Answer me.””
“Margaret has been dismissed.””
“By whom?””
“By me.””
Ethan stared at her.
“You don't employ my staff.””
“I manage the household.””
“You manage my medication too, apparently.””
Sophia's expression tightened.
“Please don't start this again.””
“Where is the little girl?””
Sophia looked toward the coordinator.
“She was caught taking something that didn't belong to her.””
“What?””
“A prescription bottle.””
Ethan went still.
“What prescription bottle?””
Sophia crossed her arms.
“Something from your medical cabinet. Margaret must have allowed her to play with it.””
Dr. Collins stepped forward.
“That's a serious accusation. Have you reported it?””
Sophia hesitated.
“No. I didn't want to create a scene.””
“How considerate,” Ethan replied.
She ignored him.
“Darling, you need to understand that Margaret has become careless. I found her daughter wandering around the private kitchen during preparations. She had no business being there.””
Ethan looked at her.
“Funny. Maya told me she was looking for her mother.””
Sophia's jaw tightened.
“She shouldn't have approached you.””
“Why?””
“Because you were vulnerable.””
The words came out before she could stop herself.
Ethan stared at her.
“Vulnerable?””
Sophia quickly softened her voice.
“I mean medically. You know how easily you become overwhelmed.””
He leaned forward.
“I'm going to ask you one last time. Where are they?””
Sophia's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't know.””
Then she turned away.
A few moments later, Ethan's head of security, James Carter, hurried into the pavilion.
James had served the Whitmore family for fifteen years. He was a former military police officer with a reputation for being difficult to intimidate.
“Sir?””
“Find Margaret Bennett and her daughter. Immediately.””
James nodded.
“Understood.””
“And nobody leaves this property without being checked.””
Sophia stepped forward.
“Excuse me?””
James looked at her.
“It's an instruction from Mr. Whitmore.””
“You don't have authority to detain wedding guests.””
“I'm not detaining anyone, ma'am. I'm securing the property.””
Sophia turned to Ethan.
“You cannot seriously be doing this.””
“I can.””
James began issuing instructions over his radio.
Ten minutes later, he returned with a troubling update.
“Sir, we've reviewed the service entrance cameras.””
“And?””
“Margaret left the kitchen at 12:18 p.m. with Maya.””
“Where did they go?””
“They were escorted through the west parking area by two men.””
Ethan's face hardened.
“Who were they?””
James hesitated.
“Mr. Richard Whitmore's personal security officers.””
Sophia immediately interrupted.
“They were helping the housekeeper leave.””
“Without telling me?””
“She was dismissed.””
“By you.””
Sophia looked toward Richard, who was standing several yards away.
He had returned.
“Richard,” Ethan called.
“Did you send those men?””
His uncle approached slowly.
“I did.””
“Where are Margaret and Maya?””
“Somewhere safe.””
“Where?””
Richard sighed.
“Ethan, this is becoming embarrassing.””
“Where are they?””
“Margaret was involved in a theft. I arranged transportation for her and her daughter.””
James stepped forward.
“Sir, we found something else.””
He handed Ethan a printed photograph from the security system.
It showed Margaret standing beside a black SUV.
Maya was visible through the passenger window.
The timestamp was 12:21 p.m.
Ethan studied the image.
Then he noticed something.
Maya was holding up a piece of paper against the glass.
A folded sheet with three words written in thick black marker.
Ethan enlarged the photograph.
The message was clear.
*BLUE CABINET. BASEMENT.*
His heart began pounding.
Richard reached for the photograph.
Ethan pulled it away.
“What does that mean?”” Richard asked.
“I don't know.””
But Ethan did.
Maya had been trying to tell him something.
And she had done it while being taken away.
“James, I want that vehicle located.””
“Already working on it.””
Richard shook his head.
“You're wasting valuable time.””
Ethan looked at him.
“Why are you so concerned about how I spend it?””
Richard's face hardened.
“Because you're about to marry into a family that has tolerated your condition for three years. You should be grateful instead of making accusations.””
Ethan stared at him.
Then he turned to James.
“Take me home.””
Sophia stepped forward.
“What about the ceremony?””
Ethan looked at the white floral arch through the pavilion doors.
The flowers were beautiful.
The guests were waiting.
The musicians were silent.
And somewhere, a nine-year-old girl who had tried to save his life was missing.
“Cancel it.””
Sophia's face went white.
“Ethan!””
“I'm not getting married today.””
She grabbed the handles of his wheelchair.
“You can't do this to me!””
James immediately moved between them.
Ethan looked over his shoulder.
“Don't touch me.””
Sophia released the wheelchair.
Her eyes filled with tears, but this time Ethan didn't believe them.
As James began pushing him toward the exit, Richard called after him.
“Ethan! Think carefully about what you're doing!””
Ethan didn't turn around.
But as he passed the reception table, his phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
It showed a dark basement.
A blue metal cabinet stood against the wall.
And beside it was a small yellow dress.
Maya's dress.
Underneath the picture was a message.
Your uncle has been keeping your real medical records in the basement for three years.
A second message arrived.
Come alone if you want to know why your legs stopped working.
Ethan looked up.
May you like
Richard was watching him from beneath the floral arch.
And for the first time, his uncle wasn't smiling.
