Chapter 8 - THE BOAT ON BLACKWATER LAKE
Agents launched two boats from the eastern shore.
The stolen motorboat accelerated toward the center of the lake.
Cynthia held Alexander at gunpoint.
Elena lay near the rear seat.
Her hands remained tied.
A fourth person rose from beneath a canvas cover.
Julian Whitmore.
Even from a distance, Alexander recognized his brother.
Julian looked older, but the resemblance was undeniable.
The rescue boats closed in.
Julian steered toward a narrow channel blocked by fallen trees.
The larger police boats could not follow.
I remained at the command post listening to radio updates.
The old property map showed the channel leading to a private dam.
Beyond the dam stood an abandoned hydroelectric station.
Cynthia intended to transfer Elena there.
Alexander suddenly attacked Julian.
The boat swerved.
Cynthia fired.
The bullet struck the railing.
Elena rolled toward the edge.
Alexander caught her before she fell into the water.
Julian struck him with a metal flashlight.
The boat crashed against a submerged branch.
Cynthia lost her weapon.
Elena kicked it overboard.
Julian dragged Alexander upright and pressed a knife against his throat.
“Tell them to stop following us,” he ordered.
Alexander shouted toward the approaching agents.
“Keep coming!”
Julian cut his shoulder.
Elena screamed.
Then the boat engine struck another branch and stalled.
Agents drew closer.
Cynthia grabbed Elena and jumped into the shallow water near the channel.
Julian followed with Alexander.
The four disappeared into the trees.
By the time officers reached the shore, they found only blood and Elena’s shoe.
Search teams tracked footprints toward the hydroelectric station.
Inside, they found an operating room prepared for an emergency birth.
Dr. Bell waited beside the surgical table.
He surrendered immediately.
“Where are they?” an agent demanded.
Dr. Bell pointed toward a freight elevator.
“Underground.”
“Why is this room here?”
“The baby is coming early.”
A scream echoed from below.
It was Elena.
The elevator controls had been destroyed.
The only remaining access was a narrow maintenance shaft.
Alexander’s voice came through the darkness.
“Help her!”
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Then Julian shouted something we could not understand.
A second later, the entire station lost power.
