“This way,” I direct, leading the group not back toward the river where we came from, but along a game trail that skirts the ridge. “We have a secondary extraction point half a mile north.”
We move as quickly and quietly as possible, keeping to the shadows of the forest whenever available. Julia, despite her usual exuberance, is focused and silent, matching our pace without complaint. Richard struggles slightly with the terrain, but Lana stays by his side, helping him navigate the rougher sections.
Just as we reach a dense thicket of pines that will provide good cover for the next stretch, shouts echo from the direction of the cave entrance. They’ve found our trail.
“Keep moving,” I urge, picking up the pace. “Don’t stop for anything.”
The extraction point—a small clearing where Kane is waiting with ATVs—seems impossibly far away as the sounds of pursuit grow louder behind us. I drop back slightly, letting the others move ahead while I keep watch on our rear.
“Almost there,” Lana encourages Richard, who’s breathing heavily from the exertion. “Just a little further.”
We crest a small rise, and there, thankfully, is the clearing with Kane and the ATVs. Relief floods through me as we hurry toward them.
“Company coming,” I warn Kane as we reach him. “Four minutes behind us, maybe less.”
“Then let’s not be here,” he replies grimly.
Chapter 31
Lana
My heart hammers in my chest as we speed away on the ATVs, the wind whipping my hair across my face. I’m riding behind Kane, my arms wrapped tightly around his waist, while Julia clings to Richard on another vehicle. Caleb and Hawk bring up the rear, occasionally glancing back to ensure we’re not being followed.
The documents and gold pouches feel heavy in my backpack, physical proof of a century-old conspiracy that’s suddenly very much alive. I can barely process what we’ve found or how close we came to being caught. All I know is that we need to get somewhere safe and fast.
When we finally reach the vehicles we’d hidden as our secondary extraction point, we transfer quickly, abandoning the ATVs in favor of more practical transportation. I slide into the passenger seat beside Caleb, my hands still shaking slightly from adrenaline.
“You okay?” he asks, briefly taking his eyes off the road to search my face.
“I think so,” I say, not entirely sure if it’s true. “Did we really just find Thomas Wolf’s hidden treasure?”
“We did,” he confirms with a smile, a hint of wonder breaking through his professional demeanor. “And now we need to make sure Hawthorne doesn’t get his hands on it.”
The drive back to Jake’s feels endless, every set of headlights in the side mirror causing my stomach to clench. By the time we finally turn onto the familiar driveway, exhaustion has settled deep in my bones, but relief is short-lived when I spot several unfamiliar vehicles parked outside the farmhouse.
“Those aren’t Declan’s,” I say, tension immediately flooding back.
“No,” Caleb agrees, his expression unreadable as he parks. “They’re RCMP.”
“Royal Canadian Mounted Police?” I stare at the official vehicles with their distinctive striping. “What are they doing here?”
“Let’s find out,” he says, squeezing my hand reassuringly before we exit the car.
As we approach the house, Declan emerges onto the porch, flanked by two officers in the unmistakable uniform of the RCMP. His expression is serious but not alarmed, which I take as a good sign.
“You made it back,” he says, relief evident in his voice. “Any problems?”
“Hawthorne showed up just as we were leaving,” Caleb reports. “We got away clean, but they know we were there.”
Declan nods, then gestures to the officers beside him. “This is Sergeant Miller and Constable Cook of the RCMP. I called them in this morning.”
“Called them in?” I echo, confused. “Why?”
“Because we need authorities who aren’t under Hawthorne’s thumb,” he explains. “The entire Pinecrest police force answers to him, directly or indirectly. This situation has escalated beyond what we can handle privately.”
Inside, the farmhouse is buzzing with activity. More RCMP officers are setting up what looks like a temporary command center in Jake’s living room. I spot Kori and Kane in deep conversation with one of them, while Ella serves coffee to others who look like they’ve been here for hours.
Jake approaches as we enter, his expression a mix of relief and concern. “Thank God you’re all back safely. Did you find anything?”
