Chapter 10 - Mark Ellis Finally Talks
Mark’s lawyer negotiated interview.
Not immunity.
Cooperation.
He admitted driving SUV.
Marcus sat passenger.
Their plan:
follow Ethan after championship,
block his car at next safe intersection,
force conversation,
demand source of ledger leak,
threaten civil action if he went public.
Stupid.
Aggressive.
But not intended crash.
Then they saw Ethan’s black sedan leave.
They followed.
They assumed Ethan was driving.
Rachel was.
At intersection Mark accelerated to get ahead.
He misjudged.
Rachel entered green light.
Impact.
Mark immediately wanted call police.
Marcus stopped him.
“He’ll destroy us.”
Marcus realized Ryan could be blamed.
Ryan was already sedated.
Ryan’s fingerprints were in SUV from earlier training use.
Marcus had Ryan’s jacket and runner-up medal because he collected belongings after Ryan collapsed.
They planted both.
Then Mark wiped his own obvious prints but missed areas.
Marcus cut wrist on deployed airbag.
They walked to parking structure where Denise’s driver picked Marcus up later.
Mark went back separately.
Dylan, meanwhile, had Ryan near arena.
Marcus texted:
WHERE IS RYAN?
Mark:
SAFE.
Meaning available scapegoat.
Then Marcus instructed Mark anonymously tip police that Ryan had left angry in academy SUV.
Mark did.
Ryan was arrested after hospital.
Why did Mark remain silent after Marcus died?
Self-preservation.
Why maintain lie through foundation?
Same.
Did Denise know?
No.
Did Ethan know?
No.
Did Ryan know?
No.
Then Mark admitted forging Ethan signature on prosthetic engraving request.
Why date?
“Because Ryan had started talking about reopening accident.”
Four years ago Ryan asked foundation to help Liam specifically because he wanted make amends.
He told Mark:
“I still don’t remember driving.”
Mark feared guilt weakening.
If Liam received prosthetic engraved with accident date and public grant story tied to Ryan’s “reckless driving,” narrative hardened emotionally.
Ryan saw it and thought:
Yes. That night.
He stopped asking.
Psychological reinforcement.
Then Liam asked Mark through investigator:
“Did you know I’d see the date every day?”
Mark lowered head.
“Yes.”
That was particularly cruel.
He used a child’s prosthetic as part of lie maintenance.
Then prosecutors reviewed old case.
Ryan’s reckless-endangerment conviction potentially eligible for vacatur based on new evidence.
His own current assault on Liam remained separate.
No magical clearing of all wrongdoing.
Ryan said:
“I want the old conviction cleared. I still deserve consequences for what I did in studio.”
Important.
Then Ethan asked Mark one final question.
“Who told Marcus I had ledger?”
Mark said:
“Ryan.”
Ryan stared.
“I didn’t.”
Mark clarified:
“Not directly. Your copier log.”
Marcus saw Ryan copied page.
Then Rachel mailed to Ethan.
How did Marcus know Ethan specifically got it?
He didn’t.
He guessed because Ethan publicly challenged finances next day.
Correct guess.
Then Ethan asked:
“Why was my championship medal duplicated in Liam’s keepsake?”
Wait cracked medal is Ryan’s runner-up, already resolved.
No need.
Then Mark said something unexpected:
“There was another reason Marcus wanted to confront you.”
“What?”
“Your father.”
Ethan frowned.
His father, James Cole, had died when Ethan was twenty.
Long before 2014.
Marcus had known him?
“Yes.”
From martial arts world.
James Cole and Marcus Vale trained together in 1980s.
Ethan never knew.
Mark said:
“Marcus thought the ledger page came from your father’s old files.”
Impossible?
Maybe not.
Ironcrest had predecessor academy.
This could open future mystery. But current accident story shouldn't yet. We can seed later, not central.
Ethan said:
“That has nothing to do with Liam’s crash?”
Mark answered:
“No.”
Good.
“Then later.”
May you like
They were learning.
Current truth first.
