I stared at him, my mind racing through the details of the crash.

The car crash on the winding road overlooking the river.

The police had ruled it a reckless driving accident on a wet night, claiming he had lost control of his sports car.

“The brakes,” Ethan muttered, his voice slightly stronger now, though still raspy. “Jason…”

Before he could finish the sentence, the burner phone in my hand vibrated.

The sudden, violent buzz made me jump, nearly dropping the device onto the floor.

I looked down at the glowing screen.

A new message from ‘J’ had just arrived.

*I’m coming up to the room now. Is it done?*

A floorboard creaked in the hallway outside the bedroom door.

The sound was faint, but it was close, right outside the threshold.

I looked at Ethan, then at the heavy wooden door of the bedroom.

The doorknob began to turn.

I slipped the burner phone into the pocket of my cardigan.

The brass doorknob turned again, a sharp metallic click cutting through the sound of the wind.