Chapter 2 - The Boy Who Knew Too Much
Eli stared at the message on Miles Keane’s phone.
He couldn't read the entire screen from where he sat inside the SUV, but he saw enough.
Enough to know the man in front of him was not just worried.
He was afraid.
Not the kind of fear Eli had seen on people running from danger.
A different kind.
The kind carried by someone who understood exactly how dangerous the situation really was.
Miles locked the phone screen and placed it back into his pocket.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
The forest outside remained silent.
Too silent.
Eli pulled Miles’s coat tighter around himself.
The coat was too large.
The sleeves covered most of his hands.
But it was warm.
He couldn't remember the last time someone had given him something without wanting something in return.
"Who sent that message?" Eli finally asked.
Miles looked at him through the rearview mirror.
"You saw it?"
Eli nodded.
"Only a little."
Miles looked away.
That told Eli everything.
The man didn't want to answer.
And people only avoided questions when the answers mattered.
"Are you his friend?" Eli asked.
Miles started the engine.
"I'm someone who makes sure Silas stays alive."
Eli looked toward the back seat where Silas was lying.
The man who everyone whispered about.
The man two strangers tried to erase.
The man who had looked directly at him from the dirt.
"Why would someone want him dead?"
Miles didn't answer immediately.
The SUV slowly moved through the forest path.
Branches scratched against the windows.
Finally, Miles spoke.
"Because Silas knows things."
"What things?"
Miles glanced at him.
"Things people would kill to keep hidden."
Eli swallowed.
The answer should have scared him.
It did.
But something else bothered him more.
The two men at the grave.
They weren't surprised when they found Silas.
They weren't acting like criminals who made a mistake.
They acted like they were finishing a job.
Eli looked down at his hands.
"I saw someone else."
Miles pressed the brakes slightly.
"What?"
"In the forest."
The vehicle slowed.
Eli continued.
"Before you came. There was someone near the trees."
Miles turned his head slightly.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"Because I didn't know if I should trust you."
The honesty surprised Miles.
For the first time that night, the older man looked at Eli differently.
Not like a child.
Like someone who had survived.
"You made the right choice."
Eli looked confused.
"I did?"
"You didn't trust easily."
Miles continued driving.
"That probably kept you alive."
Those words stayed with Eli.
Because nobody had ever said something like that to him.
Usually people saw him as a problem.
A kid without a home.
A kid without a family.
A kid who needed to be fixed.
Miles saw something else.
A survivor.
The SUV finally reached a large private property hidden behind tall iron gates.
Eli sat straighter.
He had never seen anything like it.
The gates opened without anyone touching them.
The road beyond was long and surrounded by security cameras.
Everywhere he looked, there were signs that someone important lived there.
But instead of feeling safe, Eli felt nervous.
People with this much protection had enemies.
The SUV entered an underground garage.
The door closed behind them.
Immediately, several people approached.
They were dressed professionally.
Security.
Medical staff.
Everyone moved quickly.
But nobody spoke loudly.
It was like the entire place had learned to stay quiet.
Miles opened the back door.
Two medical workers carefully moved Silas out.
Eli watched.
Then he noticed something.
Everyone looked at Silas.
But nobody asked about him.
Nobody asked who saved him.
Nobody asked why a child was covered in mud in the middle of the night.
Eli stepped back.
He suddenly felt invisible again.
Just like before.
"Wait."
A woman's voice stopped him.
Eli turned.
A woman stood at the entrance.
She was wearing a black coat.
Her hair was tied back.
Her expression was calm.
Too calm.
Miles looked at her.
"Harper."
Harper Lane Ror walked closer.
Her eyes moved from Silas to Eli.
Then to Miles.
"Who is he?"
Miles answered.
"The reason Silas is alive."
For the first time, Harper's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Eli noticed.
Everyone else might have missed it.
Eli didn't.
Fear.
A small flash of fear crossed her face.
Then it disappeared.
Harper looked at Eli.
"Tell me exactly what happened."
Eli hesitated.
He looked at Miles.
The man gave a small nod.
So Eli told them.
The forest.
The grave.
The two men.
The shovel.
Silas opening his eyes.
The third person watching.
When he finished, nobody spoke.
Harper looked toward Miles.
"Who knew his route?"
Miles didn't answer.
Because he already knew the answer was dangerous.
Harper stepped closer.
"Who knew?"
"Only five people."
"Name them."
Miles looked at Silas being taken into the medical room.
Then back at Harper.
"You."
The room became colder.
Harper's face remained still.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Who else?"
Miles slowly counted.
"The head of security. His personal assistant. His driver. And his doctor."
Harper's eyes narrowed.
"Are you accusing one of them?"
"No."
Miles looked toward Eli.
"I'm saying someone gave information to people who knew exactly where to find him."
Eli watched them carefully.
He noticed something.
They were talking about Silas like he was more than a person.
Like he was a target.
Like his life was connected to something much bigger.
A man in a suit entered the room holding a tablet.
"Miles."
Everyone turned.
The man looked nervous.
"We recovered footage from the forest."
Miles immediately walked toward him.
"Show me."
The tablet displayed security footage from a camera hidden near the property entrance.
A vehicle.
A dark sedan.
Someone getting out.
Miles leaned closer.
The image was blurry.
But clear enough.
Someone had been waiting near the forest road.
Watching.
Waiting for Silas to be found.
"Can you enhance the face?" Miles asked.
The man shook his head.
"No."
"Try again."
"We already did."
Miles stared at the screen.
Then Eli moved closer.
"I know him."
Everyone looked at him.
Miles turned.
"What did you say?"
Eli pointed at the screen.
The blurry figure.
The person standing near the forest.
"I've seen him before."
Harper's expression changed.
"Where?"
Eli looked at the image.
His voice became quieter.
"Near where I sleep."
Silence.
Miles stepped closer.
"How many times?"
Eli thought.
"Three."
"When?"
"The last month."
Miles looked at Harper.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Because if Eli was telling the truth, then the person who wanted Silas dead had not just appeared tonight.
They had been watching.
Preparing.
Waiting.
Miles crouched in front of Eli.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?"
Eli almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because the question made no sense.
"Who would I tell?"
Nobody answered.
Because everyone knew.
A child living alone had nobody.
Harper looked away.
For a brief second, Eli saw something in her face.
Regret.
Then it disappeared.
A medical alarm suddenly sounded from the other room.
Everyone froze.
Miles turned immediately.
"What happened?"
A doctor rushed out.
"Silas woke up."
Miles moved quickly.
But before he reached the door, the doctor grabbed his arm.
"There is something you need to know."
Miles stopped.
"What?"
The doctor lowered his voice.
"Before he lost consciousness, Silas kept repeating one name."
Miles's expression changed.
"Whose name?"
The doctor looked toward the room.
Then whispered:
"Not yours."
Miles slowly opened the medical room door.
Silas was awake.
Weak.
But conscious.
His eyes immediately found Eli.
Then he looked at Miles.
And with the last strength he had, he said one word.
A name.
A name that made Harper step backward.
May you like
Because it was the name of someone who was supposed to be protecting him.
And then every screen inside the room suddenly went black.
