Chapter 5 - Shadows in Door County
The Door County cottage stood bathed in the golden hues of late afternoon autumn. The fruit orchard rustled gently in the crisp breeze, and the old screened porch creaked with familiar, comforting memories.
Morgan unlocked the front door and stepped inside. It smelled of aged pine, old books, and lavender—reminders of her beloved grandmother Clara.
For a brief moment, childhood peace washed over her. But the reality of her situation snapped her back to the present. She walked through the rooms, checking the security cameras Marcus’s team had discreetly installed around the perimeter and inside the house.
On the kitchen island, she set up her laptop, connecting directly to Marcus’s encrypted surveillance feed.
“He’s on the move,” Marcus’s voice came through her earbud. “Our tracking on his vehicle shows he rented a car under an alias and is heading north up Interstate 94. He took the bait, Morgan. He thinks you ran away here to hide.”
“Let him come,” Morgan said steadily, pouring herself a cup of tea. “It ends here.”
Night fell quickly over the Wisconsin woods. The surrounding forest grew pitch black, swallowing the cottage in deep shadows. The wind picked up, rattling the windowpanes.
At 11:45 PM, a notification pinged on Morgan’s laptop.
Movement detected at the edge of the orchard.
May you like
Morgan’s eyes locked onto the monitor. A dark figure, moving with low, practiced stealth, was slipping through the apple trees, holding something heavy in his right hand.
Julian had arrived.
