THE TOWN WHERE ETHAN COLE WASN’T A STRANGER
Chapter 7
Walter was still working when Ethan returned.
The shop was nearly empty.
Only one light was on.
Walter looked up.
“You look wet.”
“What’s Black Tide?”
The wrench in Walter’s hand stopped moving.
Ethan noticed.
“You know it.”
Walter slowly placed the wrench down.
“Where did you hear that?”
“Someone left a message.”
Walter looked toward the door.
“Lock it.”
Ethan did.
Walter walked to the back of the shop.
He opened an old metal cabinet.
Inside were papers.
Photographs.
Boat registrations.
He pulled one folder.
“Twenty years ago, Greyhaven had a fishing boat.”
He placed the registration on the table.
BLACK TIDE.
“Owned by a man named Robert Vale.”
“Who was he?”
“Smuggler.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
“Smuggling what?”
“People.”
Ethan looked at him.
Walter continued.
“People who wanted to disappear.”
Ethan thought of Bellwood.
“Like my father.”
Walter looked at him.
“I know about Bellwood.”
Ethan went still.
“How?”
Walter sighed.
“Because your father came here.”
“When?”
“1999.”
“Why?”
“To hide someone.”
Ethan’s heart began beating harder.
“Noah?”
Walter shook his head.
“Not Noah.”
“Then who?”
“Anna.”
Ethan stared at him.
“Anna was a child.”
“Her mother was.”
Walter opened another folder.
A photograph.
A younger woman.
A baby.
Anna.
Ethan looked at the date.
“She was part of the network.”
“Yes.”
“Why is she in Greyhaven?”
“Because your father brought her here.”
Ethan looked up.
“And now someone is looking for her.”
Walter nodded.
“Because she remembers something.”
“What?”
Walter didn’t answer.
“Something about your father?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Walter looked toward the harbor.
“The night Black Tide disappeared.”
