CHAPTER 4 — THE FILE CALLED "IF I DON'T SURVIVE"
CHAPTER 4 — THE FILE CALLED "IF I DON'T SURVIVE"
Rain pounded against the windows of Riverside Hospital.
I hadn't slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Ethan's voice.
"You never know when to stop talking."
A gentle knock interrupted my thoughts.
Liam entered carrying a laptop.
"I think you're ready."
He placed it on the hospital tray.
On the screen was a single encrypted folder.
Its title made everyone in the room fall silent.
IF I DON'T SURVIVE
Rebecca looked at me.
"You made this?"
I nodded.
"Almost seven months ago."
My hands trembled as I entered the password.
The folder opened.
Hundreds of files.
Videos.
Audio recordings.
Financial spreadsheets.
Photographs.
Medical reports.
Emails.
Text messages.
Every lie Ethan had ever told...
Every bruise he had ever caused...
Every dollar he had ever stolen...
Carefully organized.
Then Liam noticed something.
"This video..."
I looked at the timestamp.
Three nights before the assault.
I pressed Play.
The hidden camera showed Ethan alone in his home office.
He thought no one was watching.
He poured himself a drink.
Picked up his phone.
Then made a call.
"I can't keep Emily around much longer."
The room froze.
A man's voice answered.
"What are you planning?"
Ethan laughed.
"Accidents happen."
There was a long silence.
Then Ethan spoke again.
"If she dies..."
"...everything becomes much easier."
Rebecca covered her mouth.
Liam's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
The recording continued.
"And make sure the offshore accounts are emptied before the audit."
"I don't want investigators finding anything."
The screen went black.
No one spoke.
Finally...
Detective Brooks whispered,
"This isn't attempted murder anymore."
She looked toward the FBI agents who had just entered the room.
One of them picked up the evidence drive.
"Congratulations, Mr. Carter."
"You've just turned a state case..."
"...into a federal one."
At that exact moment, miles away inside the county jail, Ethan smiled confidently as another inmate asked what he was in for.
"I'm getting out tomorrow," he said.
May you like
He had no idea that, before sunrise...
The FBI was already on its way with a second set of handcuffs.
