Chapter 7 - The House Beneath the Lake
The Charlotte hotel was empty when Declan arrived.
Too empty.
No staff.
No guests.
No music.
Only a flickering chandelier and the sound of rain against the windows.
Savannah stood alone beside the bar.
She looked exhausted.
“Where is your security?”
“Dead.”
Declan's expression hardened.
“Who killed them?”
“My father.”
Declan stopped.
Savannah laughed bitterly.
“He found out I called you.”
“What does he want?”
She looked at him.
“Your child.”
Declan's eyes went cold.
“Why?”
“Because Anthony Voss left something behind.”
“A will?”
“A ledger.”
Declan stepped closer.
“What ledger?”
“The original Voss registry.”
She pulled a small key from her pocket.
“My father has been searching for it for nine years.”
Declan stared.
“Why didn't Anthony destroy it?”
“He tried.”
Savannah smiled bitterly.
“He failed.”
“Where is it?”
“In a house beneath Lake Lure.”
Declan frowned.
“A house?”
“An old property. Half flooded. My father believes the ledger is hidden there.”
“And you?”
“I know where.”
She placed the key in his hand.
“Because my father once made me watch someone die there.”
Declan stared at her.
“Who?”
“My mother.”
Silence.
Savannah's voice cracked.
“She discovered what the ledger contained.”
“What?”
Savannah looked directly at him.
“The truth about Matthew.”
Declan's breathing slowed.
“What truth?”
“Matthew wasn't dead.”
The room seemed to disappear.
Declan gripped the bar.
“Where is he?”
Savannah whispered.
“In Chicago.”
A gunshot shattered the window.
Savannah dropped.
Declan pulled his weapon.
“Down!”
More bullets tore through the room.
Declan dragged Savannah behind the bar.
Seconds later, the attackers fled.
Savannah's hands trembled.
“You still don't believe me.”
Declan looked at her.
“I do now.”
Back at the church, Amelia received a message on a disposable phone.
COME ALONE TO THE OLD RAILWAY DEPOT.
Below it was a photograph.
Mrs. Whitaker.
Alive.
Hands tied to a chair.
Amelia stood immediately.
Gavin caught her wrist.
“Where are you going?”
“They have June.”
“You're being baited.”
“She helped me.”
“We'll get her.”
“You'll kill everyone.”
“We'll protect her.”
Amelia pulled away.
“You don't know what they will do.”
Declan entered the room.
“What happened?”
Amelia showed him the phone.
His face changed.
“No.”
“Declan.”
“Absolutely not.”
“They have her.”
“And they want you.”
Amelia stared at him.
“I can't leave her.”
He moved closer.
“I lost you once.”
“You didn't lose me.”
“I nearly did.”
His voice broke on the last word.
He lowered his weapon.
“I'm going with you.”
“You'll make it worse.”
“I don't care.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“Because I finally understand.”
“What?”
“You weren't running from me.”
He swallowed.
“You were running from what happens to everyone who gets close to me.”
Before Amelia could respond, the church lights went out.
Gavin's phone rang.
He answered.
A man's voice spoke.
“You have one hour.”
Then the line died.
Gavin checked the church perimeter.
Nothing.
Declan turned to Amelia.
“Stay behind me.”
The front doors opened.
A man stepped into the darkness.
He looked exactly like Declan.
Same eyes.
Same jaw.
Same scar above the eyebrow.
May you like
He smiled.
“Hello, brother.”
