Chapter 24 - The Hidden Camera
Just before dawn, Elias returned alone to the oak tree.
He reached behind the rough bark and removed a weatherproof trail camera no larger than his hand.
The rescue team leader smiled.
"You suspected him."
"I suspected someone."
The memory card slid smoothly into a portable viewer.
Seconds later, the screen displayed crystal-clear footage.
Sheriff Brooks.
The secret phone.
The entire conversation.
Nobody inside the command vehicle spoke.
One rescuer finally whispered,
"So Jacob was right."
Elias replayed the video once more.
The sheriff's face showed genuine fear.
Not fear of Elias.
Fear of whoever had answered that call.
The rescue team leader folded his arms.
"Then Brooks isn't the one giving orders."
"No."
Elias looked toward the northern ridge.
"He's following them."
"Who are they?"
Elias slowly inserted Jacob's notebook into his backpack.
"That's exactly what we're about to discover."
Outside, the sun finally rose above the trees, painting the lake with golden light.
May you like
It looked peaceful again.
But everyone now understood that beneath that peaceful surface lay decades of carefully buried secrets.
