Chapter 12 - The Boathouse Exchange
The old Harrow boathouse had not been used since Daniel was a child.
It stood at the southern edge of the estate lake, hidden beneath willow trees. The wooden structure leaned over dark water, its windows broken and its roof sagging.
Daniel arrived before noon with Michael.
Clara remained at the estate with Oliver, despite the boy’s protests.
The deed in Daniel’s case was a copy.
The pendant was a replica Michael created overnight.
They expected Evelyn.
Graham Pike arrived instead.
He stepped from a black car with Lily beside him.
The girl wore a gray school uniform and held herself perfectly still.
She had Rebecca’s eyes.
Daniel’s chest tightened.
Pike rested one hand on her shoulder.
“Where is Oliver?”
“Safe.”
“Mrs. Harrow requested both children.”
“That was not the agreement.”
“The agreement changed.”
Lily looked at Daniel.
“Are you Uncle Daniel?”
Pike’s fingers tightened on her shoulder.
Daniel kept his voice calm.
“Yes.”
“My mother said you were dead.”
“Your adoptive mother?”
Lily nodded.
“Did she tell you who your real mother was?”
Pike pulled her back.
“Enough.”
Daniel lifted the case.
“The deed is here.”
“And the pendant?”
“In my pocket.”
“Place both on the dock.”
“Release Lily first.”
Pike smiled.
“You have no leverage.”
Michael’s voice sounded through the earpiece Daniel wore.
Keep him talking.
Michael had entered the boathouse through the lake tunnel.
Daniel looked at Lily.
“Do you have a pendant?”
The girl instinctively touched her collar.
Pike slapped her hand away.
“That does not concern you.”
“It concerns Evelyn.”
Pike’s expression shifted.
Daniel continued.
“She needs both keys to open Adrian’s archive.”
“You know more than I expected.”
“Does she know Jonathan is alive?”
Pike’s smile vanished.
Behind him, the boathouse door opened.
Jonathan entered with a gun.
Lily gasped.
Pike turned.
Jonathan aimed at him.
“Take your hand off my granddaughter.”
Daniel stepped between them.
“Where is Rebecca?”
Jonathan did not look at him.
“Not here.”
“Your note said she was.”
“I needed you to come without Oliver.”
“You lied again.”
Pike laughed.
“He has always been good at that.”
Jonathan’s gun remained steady.
“Release Lily.”
Pike pulled a small pistol from beneath his coat and pressed it against her side.
“No.”
Daniel set the case down.
“You cannot leave with her. Police are waiting beyond the estate road.”
Pike looked toward the trees.
“No police came.”
Daniel’s stomach tightened.
Marina had promised state officers.
Pike smiled.
“Your mother controls more than judges.”
A boat engine started beneath the boathouse.
Michael’s voice came through the earpiece.
There is another vessel under the dock.
The trap became clear.
Pike was not there to exchange Lily.
He was there to remove her through the lake tunnel.
Jonathan stepped closer.
Pike aimed at him.
A shot rang out.
The wooden railing exploded.
Lily screamed and dropped to the floor.
Daniel rushed forward.
Michael emerged from the lower hatch and struck Pike from behind.
The gun slid across the dock.
Jonathan grabbed Lily and pulled her away.
Pike fought with Michael.
Daniel seized the weapon.
“Stop!”
Pike looked at him and smiled.
“You still think I am the enemy.”
“You kidnapped a child.”
“I kept her alive.”
“For Evelyn.”
“No. From Evelyn.”
Daniel hesitated.
That second was enough.
Pike kicked Michael into the water and lunged for the boat hatch.
Jonathan fired.
The bullet struck Pike’s leg.
He collapsed.
Lily stared at Jonathan with horror.
Daniel took her hand.
“It’s all right.”
“No,” Pike gasped. “It isn’t.”
He pressed a button on his watch.
An explosion shook the far side of the lake.
Smoke rose above the estate.
Daniel’s phone rang.
Clara.
He answered.
Her voice was barely audible beneath alarms.
“They came through the underground passage.”
“Who?”
“Men in Harrow Security uniforms.”
“Where is Oliver?”
A pause.
Daniel’s heart stopped.
“Clara?”
“I tried to stop them.”
“Where is my son?”
“They took him.”
Lily heard.
She began crying.
Pike laughed weakly from the floor.
“Evelyn never intended to trade one twin.”
Daniel pointed the gun at him.
“Where are they taking Oliver?”
“To the only place she believes Rebecca cannot reach.”
“Bellweather?”
Pike shook his head.
“The island.”
Jonathan went pale.
Daniel looked at him.
“What island?”
May you like
Jonathan stared across the lake.
“The place where Harrow heirs were sent when they refused to obey.”
