Chapter 8 - THE CABIN AT LAKE MERCER
Mark wanted to drive to the cabin immediately.
Detective Chen refused.
"This is not a rescue movie."
"Gerald is tied to a chair."
"And Samuel may be waiting for you with a weapon."
"He asked for me."
"Exactly."
State police were contacted.
Road units quietly moved toward Lake Mercer.
Mark received instructions not to answer Samuel.
Then another message arrived.
BRING THE COVENANT.
Mark showed Chen.
She nodded.
"Now we know what he wants."
Daniel made a certified copy of the document.
The original was secured in an evidence vault.
Mark drove toward Lake Mercer carrying the copy inside a leather folder.
Police followed from a distance.
The cabin sat at the end of a narrow road surrounded by pine trees.
Mark parked outside.
No lights were visible.
His phone buzzed.
COME INSIDE.
He entered.
The living room was empty.
A fireplace burned weakly.
On the table sat a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.
Mark heard movement downstairs.
"Gerald?"
No answer.
He descended into the basement.
Gerald Pike sat tied to a chair beneath a single hanging bulb.
His face was bruised.
Mark rushed forward.
Gerald looked up.
"Don't."
Mark stopped.
"What?"
"It's a trap."
A door slammed upstairs.
Mark heard an engine.
He ran toward the basement stairs.
Smoke suddenly began pouring from a utility room.
Samuel had never planned to negotiate.
He had lured Mark there to kill him and destroy what he believed was the covenant.
Mark grabbed Gerald's chair and dragged him toward the staircase.
Flames spread across the hallway upstairs.
Someone had poured accelerant along the floor.
Mark used a kitchen knife to cut Gerald's restraints.
Gerald could barely stand.
Outside, sirens approached.
Mark pulled Gerald toward the rear door.
It would not open.
A metal bar had been wedged across it from outside.
Gerald coughed violently.
"Window."
The kitchen window was small but large enough.
Mark smashed it with a chair.
He helped Gerald through first.
Then the ceiling above the kitchen cracked.
Burning wood fell behind Mark.
He climbed through the broken frame seconds before part of the room collapsed.
Troopers reached them.
Fire crews arrived.
Detective Chen came running from the road.
"Where's Samuel?"
Mark pointed toward the woods.
"He left before the fire started."
A helicopter searched the surrounding area.
Roadblocks went up.
Samuel vanished.
Gerald was taken to a hospital under guard.
Before the ambulance doors closed, he grabbed Mark's sleeve.
"Victoria didn't know about the fire."
Mark stared at him.
Gerald whispered.
"She did terrible things."
"But Samuel is worse."
"How much did she know?"
"Enough to go to prison."
Gerald closed his eyes.
"But not enough to understand what he was planning."
That distinction did not earn Victoria sympathy.
Yet it changed the shape of the case.
By morning, Samuel Price was wanted for kidnapping, attempted murder, financial crimes, and conspiracy.
His photograph appeared across every local news station.
Mark returned to Caroline's house just after sunrise.
Sophie was awake.
She ran into his arms.
Mark held her for a long time.
Then Sophie whispered.
"Did Aunt Victoria really want to take Grandpa's things from me?"
Mark closed his eyes.
He wanted to protect her from the ugliness.
But lies had created enough damage in their family.
"Yes."
Sophie pulled back.
"Why?"
"Because she thought having more would make her matter more."
Sophie frowned.
"That's stupid."
Despite everything, Mark laughed.
"Yes."
"It is."
Sophie looked thoughtful.
Then she said something Mark would remember for years.
"Grandpa always said you can't inherit being good."
Mark stared at her.
"Did he?"
She nodded.
"He said that's something you have to choose."
Mark kissed her forehead.
Across town, Victoria Bennett watched the morning news from her attorney's office.
When Samuel's photograph appeared, the color drained from her face.
Her attorney noticed.
"Victoria."
She did not respond.
"Is there something you haven't told me?"
Victoria turned off the television.
Then she whispered.
May you like
"He wasn't supposed to hurt anyone."
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