Page 227 of Hidden Depths

Then another sound.

A cane striking the wooden floor.

An elderly man stepped slowly from the shadows.

His white beard was neatly trimmed, and his weathered face carried the deep lines of a life spent on the sea.

His sharp blue eyes swept over each of us before settling on me.

For a long moment he simply stared.

Then he smiled.

"You have Elizabeth's eyes."

My throat tightened.

"You knew my grandmother?"

"I did."

His smile softened.

"And I knew your grandfather even better."

No one spoke.

It was Ben who finally broke the silence.

"Who are you?"

The old man straightened as much as age would allow.

"My name is Thomas Calloway."

"I've been waiting a long time to meet the Sinclair girls."

I stared at him.

"My grandfather talked about you."

"He said you disappeared."

Thomas nodded.

"I had to."

"If they believed I was dead..."

"...they'd stop looking."

Ward stepped forward.

"You knew someone would come here?"

Thomas looked toward the old steel locker tucked against the far wall.

"I prayed no one ever would."