Chapter 12 - Facing The Dangerous Threat From The Original Owner
Marcus closed the penthouse door, locking every deadbolt securely before carrying the brown paper parcel over to the coffee table.
He used his tactical knife to slice through the hemp twine, peeling back the thick brown wrapping paper to reveal its contents.
Inside lay an old, tarnished brass key and a handwritten note scrawled on heavy stationery bearing the original Vance family crest.
“Meet me at the old lighthouse near Marblehead Harbor at sunrise tomorrow, Marcus, or the girl pays the ultimate price.”
Attached to the note was a fresh, high-resolution photograph of Lily playing in the estate courtyard taken just yesterday afternoon.
Marcus felt a surge of pure, primal fury wash over him as he realized his daughter had been watched for months without his knowledge.
He walked over to the bedroom where Lily had finally fallen asleep, pulling the blanket gently over her small shoulders.
"I will never let anyone take you away from me, Lily," Marcus whispered softly, kissing her forehead before turning off the bedside lamp.
He walked back to the living room, grabbing his encrypted satellite phone to place a direct call to Captain Miller at the FBI field office.
"Captain, I have reason to believe Marcus Vance is coordinating a second extraction attempt at Marblehead Harbor tomorrow morning," Marcus stated.
"We'll have three tactical squads surrounding the lighthouse before dawn, Mr. Sterling... he won't escape us this time," Miller promised.
Marcus spent the remainder of the night reviewing the quantum data drive and Sarah's journal to prepare for the final confrontation.
He knew that facing Vance at the abandoned coastal lighthouse would be dangerous, but it was the only way to end the nightmare.
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As the first pale streaks of dawn began to paint the Boston horizon pink, Marcus kissed Lily goodbye and slipped out into the cold morning air.
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