“Just that Declan’s additional men arrived. The lodge is officially a testosterone factory. I’m thinking of charging admission.”
I laugh, grateful for her humor. “I’ll see you tomorrow, hopefully with good news.”
After ending the call, I find Julia organizing supplies with surprising efficiency. She’s created neat piles of equipment: thermal blankets, water purification tablets, first aid kits, and what appears to be enough granola bars to feed a small army.
“I’m taking preparation seriously,” she explains when she catches me watching. “No more bouncy, chaotic Julia. This is a Serious Mission, Julia.”
“I kind of liked bouncy Julia,” I admit, helping her sort through the gear.
She grins, briefly dropping her serious facade. “She’s still here. Just channeling my inner Jason Bourne right now.”
By late afternoon, our plan is set. Hawk and Nightingale will accompany Caleb, Richard, Julia, and me. We’ll approach the waterfall from an unexpected direction after dark, using night vision equipment to navigate without flashlights. Meanwhile,Rory will lead a noisy expedition on the opposite side of the property as a distraction.
As dusk approaches, I find myself growing increasingly nervous. Not just about potential confrontation with NTM security, but about what we might—or might not—find tomorrow. What if the equinox sunrise reveals nothing? What if Thomas Wolf’s treasure remains hidden, his clues too obscure for us to decipher?
Caleb finds me on Jake’s porch, lost in these thoughts as I watch the sun begin its descent.
“Second thoughts?” he asks, leaning against the railing beside me.
“Just wondering if we’re chasing ghosts,” I admit. “What if there’s nothing there?”
“Then we tried,” he replies with a shrug. “But I don’t think Thomas Wolf went to all this trouble for nothing.”
I look up at him, studying his profile in the fading light. “How do you stay so calm?”
“Practice,” he responds with a slight smile. “And the knowledge that I’ve faced worse odds with less preparation.”
He turns to face me fully, his expression growing serious. “You don’t have to come tonight. You could stay here, where it’s safer.”
“Not a chance,” I say firmly. “I’ve been part of this from the beginning. I’m seeing it through.”
His smile broadens, and he leans down to kiss me briefly. “I knew you’d say that.”
“Am I interrupting?” Jake’s voice comes from the doorway.
“Not at all,” I reply, stepping back slightly from Caleb, feeling a blush warm my cheeks.
Jake pretends not to notice, handing each of us a small package. “Emergency rations from Ella. She said if you’re going to be creeping around in the woods all night, you might as well have decent food.”
I peek inside to find homemade energy bars, jerky, and what looks like chocolate chip cookies wrapped carefully in wax paper.
“Tell her thank you,” I say, genuinely touched.
Jake nods, then fixes Caleb with a stern look. “Be careful out there. All of you.”
“Always am,” Caleb responds, the easy familiarity between them evident in just those two words.
As night falls, we gather our equipment and prepare to move out. Julia has transformed completely—her bright chatter replaced by focused concentration as she double-checks her pack. Richard seems nervous but determined, clutching his notebook like a talisman. Hawk and Nightingale move with the silent efficiency of men who’ve done this hundreds of times before.
Caleb gives us final instructions as we prepare to leave. “We move silently. Stay in formation. If you hear Hawk or me give the signal to drop, you hit the ground immediately, no questions asked. Understood?”
We all nod, the gravity of the situation sinking in.
“Good. Let’s move out.”
The night is clear and cold as we slip away from Jake’s farm in a matte black SUV. No lights, just us driving in total darkness. Hawk, who is at the wheel, is wearing night-vision goggles, and I can only hope he doesn’t hit something. I breathe a sigh of relief when he parks the vehicle next to the edge of the forest. We file out and gather our stuff. Hawk is in the lead, and I follow directly behind him, with Julia close on my heels. Richard comes next, then Nightingale, with Caleb bringing up the rear, watching our backs.
The forest is alive with night sounds—the hoot of an owl, the rustle of small animals in the underbrush, the whisper of wind through the pines. Under different circumstances, I might find it peaceful. Tonight, every sound makes me tense, wondering if it’s natural or if someone else is moving through these woods.
