Chapter 6 - RACE TO LAKE GENEVA
The sky over Lake Geneva was overcast, gray clouds hanging heavy over the quiet water as the SUV pulled onto the gravel path leading toward the abandoned boathouse.
The structure was old, weathered wood painted a faded dark blue, nestled between towering pine trees far away from the main resort areas.
Marcus signaled for his two men to perimeter-check the area before allowing Lily and Mia to step out of the vehicle.
"It's quiet, but we need to move fast," Marcus advised, scanning the surrounding tree line with sharp, experienced eyes.
"Eleanor’s people have been pinging your cell signal since eleven o'clock."
"They know we left Saint Cloud."
Lily nodded, holding Mia’s hand tightly as they walked down the wooden dock toward the locked double doors of the boathouse.
She pulled a small silver key from her necklace chain—a key Julian had given her on their fifth anniversary—and inserted it into the heavy brass padlock.
The lock clicked open with a dull metallic snap.
Inside, the boathouse smelled of old cedar, motor oil, and lake water.
A vintage wooden speed boat sat suspended on canvas straps above the dark water underneath the floorboards.
Lily moved directly to the workbench along the far wall, where an old blue tackle box sat covered in a thick layer of dust.
She lifted the box, opened the rusted latches, and dumped out the old fishing lures and plastic bobbers.
Using her fingernails, she pried up the thin plywood lining at the bottom of the box.
There, wrapped in oilcloth, was a heavy brass key stamped with the number 408 and the crest of First National Bank of Chicago.
May you like
"Got it," Lily whispered, her breath catching in her throat.
Suddenly, the crunch of gravel outside shattered the quiet of the lake.
