Chapter 9 - Rebecca's Hidden Journal
The three of them escaped through a narrow tunnel leading from the lighthouse to an abandoned fisherman's cottage hidden among the cliffs.
Rebecca was already waiting.
The moment Margaret entered, her daughter-in-law burst into tears.
"I'm so sorry."
Margaret embraced her tightly.
"I thought you threw away something precious."
"I did."
Rebecca's voice shook.
"I threw it away so you would be the one to find it."
Daniel locked every door before speaking.
"We only have a few minutes."
Rebecca disappeared into a bedroom and returned carrying an old leather notebook.
"I've been keeping records."
Margaret opened the journal.
Every page contained dates, addresses, license plate numbers, photographs, and handwritten observations.
For nearly two years Rebecca had secretly documented people watching their home.
Unknown vehicles parked nearby.
Phone calls with no voices.
Packages that disappeared before reaching the front porch.
Margaret looked up in astonishment.
"You never told us."
Rebecca smiled sadly.
"Because they wanted us frightened."
She turned to a page covered with sketches.
"I recognized the lighthouse crest after cleaning Grandpa's attic. That's when I started searching."
Arthur examined the notebook carefully.
"You've identified half their surveillance team."
"I wasn't trying to."
"You did."
Rebecca reached into the final pocket of the journal and removed a faded photograph.
It showed Margaret's late husband standing beside Eleanor.
But another person stood between them.
A woman Margaret had never seen before.
Across the back someone had written:
Custodian Number Three
"What does that mean?" Margaret asked.
Arthur's face darkened.
"There were never supposed to be more than two custodians."
Daniel stared at the picture.
"I think Father lied to all of us."
Before anyone could respond, the cottage lights suddenly went out.
Someone had cut the electricity.
A red laser dot slowly appeared on the wall.
Then another.
Then five more.
May you like
They were surrounded.
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