We travel for over an hour, taking a circuitous route to avoid potential watchers. In the distance, I hear engines revving—Rory’s diversion beginning right on schedule.
“Almost there,” Hawk murmurs as we approach a ridge overlooking the waterfall. “We’ll set up just below the crest. Good visibility of the target area, minimal exposure.”
We ease into position, moving with exaggerated care now that we’re close to our destination. Through my borrowed night vision device, the waterfall appears as an eerie, glowing cascade against the darker rocks. The pool below reflects the starlight, creating a luminous mirror in the forest.
Hawk directs us to a natural depression beneath a rocky overhang—a perfect observation post with good cover and a clear view of the wolf marker. We settle in silently, arranging our gear for minimal noise and maximum comfort.
“Now we wait,” Caleb whispers, checking his watch. “Eight hours until sunrise.”
Julia sighs dramatically but keeps it quiet. “And I thought stakeouts looked exciting in movies.”
I smile in the darkness, grateful for her ability to lighten the mood even now. As we settle in for the night, Caleb positions himself beside me, his shoulder touching mine, a solid presence in the darkness. He passes me one of Ella’s cookies, and I accept it gratefully, realizing I’m actually hungry despite the tension.
“Try to get some sleep,” he whispers. “I’ll take first watch with Hawk.”
“I’m too wired,” I admit, though my body is exhausted from the day’s exertions.
“Then just rest,” he suggests, his hand finding mine in the darkness. “Tomorrow could be a long day.”
I lean against him, drawing comfort from his warmth. Richard is already snoring softly nearby, while Julia appears to be writing something in a small notebook by the faint red glow of a tactical penlight.
“What are you doing?” I whisper to her.
She looks up, her face eerily illuminated from below. “Journaling. If we find actual treasure, this could be worth something someday.” She winks. “Plus, I promised my followers a full account.”
“Your followers?”
“My blog,” she explains. “Don’t worry, I’ll change the names to protect the innocent. You can be ‘Magenta’ because of your hair.”
I stifle a laugh, not wanting to disturb the quiet. “And Caleb?”
She considers this seriously. “Definitely ‘Granite.’ Strong, reliable, occasionally sparkly in the right light.”
Caleb raises an eyebrow but says nothing, his lips twitching slightly.
She stops, hand poised. “What is it?” I ask, whispering into the darkness. “Did you hear something?”
She shakes her head. “I just noticed something. Our bodyguards all have bird names.”
Julia’s observation hangs in the air, an innocent comment that suddenly has me wanting to laugh like a hyena. I stifle the bubble rising in my chest as we exchange glances, but before we can ponder the oddity further, a faint sound drifts up from the direction of the waterfall—a sound that shouldn’t be there, a soft scuffing that prickles the back of my neck. The natural noises of the forest are one thing; this is an anomaly.
Caleb’s hand tightens around mine, a silent signal. He nods to Hawk, who silently rises, peering through his night vision goggles down towards the water. The tension builds as we wait for his assessment. Moments later, he turns back to us with a terse gesture—one that sends a surge of adrenaline through my veins. Someone or something is down there.
We huddle closer, our eyes now all fixed on the waterfall as if willing it to reveal its secrets prematurely. But it’s not the stone wolf marker that commands our attention—it’s the shadows moving at its base, too deliberate to be random wildlife. We’ve been so careful, but had we been careful enough?
Then, without warning, a flare erupts into the night sky directly above us. It bathes everything in harsh white light—the waterfall, our hidden ledge, and us. Hawk swears under his breath; we’d been spotted. Exposed and vulnerable, panic grips me as I realize this is no mere chance encounter. They knew where to find us. As the flare’s glow begins its slow descent upon our would-be ambushers prepare to close in, one thought freezes my blood: The hunt for Thomas Wolf’s treasure was always a race against time—but now it’s become a trap with no clear escape.
Chapter 28
Caleb
My heart pounds in my chest as I pull Lana closer to me, instinctively shielding her with my body. The harsh white light of the flare exposes our position completely, casting long shadows across the rocky ledge.
“Everyone down!” I hiss, drawing my weapon. “Hawk, Nightingale—get into position!”
Both men move with practiced efficiency, flanking us while I push Julia and Richard toward the back of our natural alcove. Lana stays by my side, her breathing quick but controlled.
“They’re coming from both sides,” Hawk reports quietly, his rifle trained on the path below.
