Chapter 9 - THE BOATHOUSE FIRE
Smoke filled the boathouse within seconds.
Ethan tried the main doors.
A steel bar had dropped across them from the outside.
Detective Ortiz shattered a side window with a wooden chair.
The opening was too narrow to climb through safely.
The motorboat fire spread toward the old fuel cans.
Ethan found a rusted emergency lever beside the water entrance.
The mechanism had not moved in years.
He pulled until the metal cut into his palms.
The lower dock gate rose several inches.
Lake water rushed inside.
Detective Ortiz helped him force the gate higher.
They crawled beneath it and entered the freezing water moments before the fuel cans ignited.
The explosion destroyed the rear half of the structure.
Officers pulled them onto the shore.
Neither was seriously injured.
The fire confirmed that Celeste had no intention of returning Sophie in exchange for the photograph.
The boathouse was meant to destroy Ethan, the key, and Amelia’s final evidence.
If Ethan died inside, Celeste’s forged guardianship claim would become easier to defend.
The investigation moved toward Saint Martha Island.
A storm delayed police boats.
The island’s private dock had been closed for years.
Helicopter access was impossible because of heavy wind.
Ethan refused to remain on shore.
Detective Ortiz obtained a coast guard vessel capable of crossing the rough water.
Nora met them at the harbor.
She carried Amelia’s letter to Sophie inside a waterproof bag.
“You should remain here,” Ethan said.
Nora shook her head.
“Amelia trusted me to protect her.”
“I already failed once.”
“You did not fail.”
“I saw Celeste entering Pike’s office.”
“I saw Lydia changing Amelia’s medication labels.”
“I kept waiting for stronger proof.”
“Waiting gave them time.”
Ethan understood the weight of that regret.
It was similar to his own.
He had noticed Richard becoming unusually involved in his personal life.
He had noticed Celeste asking questions about Sophie’s trust.
He had dismissed every concern because accepting them would mean distrusting the people supporting him through grief.
The coast guard vessel crossed the lake shortly before dawn.
Saint Martha Island appeared through the fog.
The abandoned convent stood above the shore.
Its bell tower rose behind dead trees.
A gray van waited near the dock.
The rear doors were open.
Inside, officers found Sophie’s coat.
A tracking bracelet had been cut from her wrist.
Detective Ortiz examined fresh tire marks leading toward the convent.
“They arrived here.”
“Are they still here?”
“No boat has left the public dock.”
“There is another landing point on the northern shore.”
The team entered the convent.
Candles burned in the chapel.
A suitcase rested before the altar.
It was identical to the one Celeste used at the mansion.
Ethan rushed toward it.
Detective Ortiz stopped him.
“It could be a trap.”
A small voice came from inside.
“Daddy?”
Ethan broke the external lock.
The case contained a hidden speaker.
Sophie’s voice played from a recording.
Celeste had recreated the sound that first brought Ethan running.
Beneath the speaker was a handwritten note.
Amelia tried to save one child.
You are about to lose two.
A door opened behind the altar.
Richard entered holding Detective Ortiz’s sister by the arm.
She was frightened but unharmed.
Richard released her.
Then he raised both hands.
“Celeste has Sophie.”
“She left through the north tunnel.”
“Why should we believe you?”
“Because she plans to leave me behind.”
May you like
Richard looked at Ethan.
“And because Lydia just told me what Celeste did to Amelia.”
