The phone rang again, but it wasn't Zac. "Ms. Silva, I've found what you asked for. That day, the police and fire department did respond several times, but there was no actual danger. What they found instead was … Zac and Carmen having sex in the cave. They even warned the police to mind their own business. Here are the records and photos from that time."
The photos were blurred, but I would recognize Zac's figure even if he were reduced to ashes.
The voice on the other end continued, "Also, the toxic gas samples the police collected were analyzed by the research institute and Zac's signature is on the report. We need more time to investigate, but we suspect that Zac and Carmen intentionally released the gas and the research institute covered it up."
My heart sank lower and lower, my face a mix of tears and a bitter smile.
Yes, that cave was a popular spot for hikers. How could there have been toxic gas only when they went there? How could they have entered so quickly and been unable to get out? How could I be the only one so badly burned while they were completely unharmed?
All the clues pointed to one thing—Zac had released the gas himself. He had no intention of returning to celebrate my birthday that day and made a lousy excuse about being trapped. He didn't expect me to love him so much that I'd risk everything to save him.
Memories and reality blurred as Zac's concerned face appeared before me. He gently held me, softly stroking my back. "Liz, why are you crying like this? Did you have a nightmare?"
He was always so confident, thinking that every clumsy excuse he made could make me believe it without a doubt and I trusted whatever he said. Even though I had just clearly heard Carmen's voice, he assumed I couldn't hear due to hearing loss. He was naturally thinking my tears were from a nightmare, not from him.
Zac and I originally planned to go to the mountains for our honeymoon, but I was possessed by some strange idea and wanted to go abroad. Carmen called countless times to try to stop us, but in the end, Zac nodded gently and brushed the damp hair from my forehead.
"Wherever Liz wants to go, I'll go with her," he said softly. "I'll stay by her side forever."
The place I wanted to go was that private hospital overseas. The hospital was built by the sea and I told Zac I wanted to see the ocean. He agreed without much suspicion.