Page 105 of The Quiet Witness

The man fell over his feet in his hurry to get away. Momentarily forgetting his son, who stayed rooted to the spot and glanced up at Kate with awe in his eyes.

She took the precious seconds, bending down to his level with a rueful smile, asking gently. “I’m Kate. What’s your name?”

“Ethan.”

She stretched out her hand for him to take. Ethan glanced down at it hesitantly, looking over his shoulder before he took it, clasping onto her with his fingers.

“Ethan. That’s such a lovely name.” Kate bit back the tears that wanted to spill down her cheeks, smiling through it with strain pulling on her heart. “I know I’m just a stranger. So what do I know, huh.” She winked at him, receiving a careful toothy grin from Ethan. “But I’ve been where you are now. And I only want to say, stay strong, it seems endless but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.” I hope. She squeezed his hand. “Just keep going, no matter what. You’re worth so much more than this.”

The boy tilted his head. Looking older than his age should show. “No one has ever told me that before.”

“And they might never again. But that doesn’t mean it’s not true.”

She saw his father glance beside him, realizing his kid wasn’t beside him. Only seconds left.

Kate refocused on Ethan. “You should go. I hope…”

“Ethan!” The boy snapped back to attention, slid his hand out of hers.

Kate swallowed, shaking her head. “Who knows… We might see each other again.”

“I’d like that. Thank you, Kate.” Another toothy grin appeared. But beneath it, she saw it as he turned with dropping shoulders, feet scuffling over the ice in his haste to join his father. Fear. Fear to be with family.

No one should go through that.

Walking to his dad, he angled a hand behind his back, waving a careful goodbye.

She felt a gentle tug on her elbow, getting her to break eye contact with the kid. But rage still coursed through her whole body, trembling from the adrenaline she pushed Lucien away. “What?” Kate spat at him. “You only take paid jobs? That piece of shit actually deserves it.”

He went still, she saw his mouth open. But he glanced away, scanning to see if they had onlookers.

“Don’t worry.” She spat. “No one witnessed my breakdown.”

Crossing over the highway, she made it to the Volvo, pulling herself up in the car, she slammed the door with such force that it shuddered in place.

Lucien took his place behind the wheel, ruffling through his hair with an agitated hand. “I know you want to make it right, but you’re not doing the boy any favors. Who will take the brunt of that guy’s anger?”

She kept her eyes trained on the direction the pair had taken. The only physical trace of the argument were the footprints. Nothing but the wind had been her witness to the cruelty of man.

Kate couldn’t hide the quiver in her voice as she answered. “I know that… deep down I know that.” She whispered. “But back when I was that age, there was always this hope that someone would speak up for me.”

Staring at the evening sky her throat bobbed, seeing the sun’s final goodbye as it slid from view, leaving them in the dark. “No one ever did. I hope that boy will remember that someone cared enough, that he is worth fighting for. Then it was worth it.’’

A solitary tear slipped past her cheek. She saw Lucien’s hand clench around the gear box, knew he’d seen. She roughly wiped it away with her sleeve. “Let’s just go home.”

Chapter 43

Arrival

Lucien’s second home was… well, astounding.

And, totally worth the forty-five minutes drive up through the darkening forest’s dirt trail.

The large wooden chalet sat in the midst of the forest, with grey stones covering the walls of the ground floor, and true to Lucien’s apparent style, what should have been a wall with a couple of small windows was instead one big window taking up the entire wall. At that altitude, it promised an even better view.

The house sat deserted and dark, but for the string of lights blinking brightly below the roof, beckoning Kate inside.

She opened the car door with a click, hopping out onto the floor.