Page 271 of Hidden Depths

"For forty years..."

"...I've stayed dead."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"They've finally discovered otherwise."

Willow looked confused.

"But if they wanted to kill you..."

"...why didn't they?"

No one answered.

Then Nathan walked through the back door.

His expression was grim.

"Because."

He held up something between two fingers.

A small brass object.

I recognized it immediately.

One of Grandpa's old fishing lures, he used to make them for everyone.

Except...

Someone had carved a single symbol into the metal.

An anchor.

Wrapped in a serpent.

Thomas's face lost every trace of color.

"No..."

Ward took the lure.

"You've seen this before."

Thomas nodded once.

"I prayed I never would again."

Ben looked between them.

"What is it?"

Thomas stared at the tiny carving.

"When James got too close..."

"...this is what they left on his boat."