Chapter 11 - The Lab
They left the ballroom.
No announcement.
No reveal.
Not yet.
Ethan took the chair back because moving faster mattered more than appearances.
Isabella rode with him and Marcus.
Brooke followed in another car.
Chad disappeared.
The Sterling lab sat twelve minutes away.
Not flames.
Smoke.
Fire crews were already inside.
Isabella jumped from the car.
“My brother!”
A firefighter stopped her.
“Ma’am, stay back.”
The firefighter radioed the name.
Ethan looked at Marcus.
“Server room?”
“Same building.”
Too convenient.
The audit.
The patent dispute.
Now a fire in the facility holding research records.
Ethan’s stomach tightened.
Brooke arrived.
Marcus said, “Neither is Chad.”
Ethan watched smoke push from a second-floor vent.
Then a firefighter emerged with two lab employees.
Isabella ran forward.
Neither was Luis.
Ethan felt useless in a way no wheelchair ever made him feel.
Coughing.
Alive.
Isabella hit him in the chest, then hugged him.
“You idiot.”
“You almost died.”
“Details.”
Ethan looked toward the building.
A fire marshal approached.
“Mr. Vance?”
“Yes.”
“We found signs of forced access near the server room.”
Marcus stiffened.
“Arson?”
“Too early.”
“Security footage?”
Ethan looked at Brooke.
“Who can disable it?”
“Your father?”
“Yes.”
“Chad?”
She hesitated.
“Yes.”
Marcus checked his phone.
“Chad’s car left the gala parking garage eight minutes before the alarm.”
Brooke closed her eyes.
Ethan said nothing.
“Isabella.”
She went over.
Luis pointed at Ethan.
“You him?”
Ethan wheeled closer.
Luis coughed.
“I saw someone in the server room.”
“Who?”
Luis looked at Brooke.
May you like
Then said, “Her boyfriend.”
Chad.
