Page 134 of Hidden Tide
An officer approaches from behind and forces him to his knees.
No shots.
No one injured.
Within seconds, Holt is handcuffed and placed inside the patrol vehicle.
The tension in the room eases.
“The authorities caught him,” Mom whispers.
“Yes,” I say.
This is how it should be.
Keating appears on the monitor outside our room. They unlock the door, and Ben opens it after checking through the narrow window.
“Price took custody of Holt’s phone,” Keating says. “The message he sent was recovered.”
“To Kessler?” Ben asks.
“No. To an unregistered number.”
“What did it say?”
Keating looks at me.
“Calle remembers Lands End. Move the film.”
My heart pounds.
“They know we’re looking for it.”
“They’ve always known,” Thomas says.
“But they don’t know where Grandpa put it,” Storm replies. “If they did, they wouldn’t need to move it.”
“Unless they’ve already found it,” Ivy says.
Agent Marquez enters behind Keating.
“Price’s team is cooperating. None of them knew Holt had any previous connection to Lawrence Vail. Price has surrendered the transport order and agreed to remain while the inspector general reviews it.”
“What about Kessler?” I ask.
“He disconnected from Price’s call when Holt ran.”
“Because he knows Holt will expose him.”
“Possibly.”
Marquez glances toward my sisters.
“We need to examine every gift James gave the five of you. Not only the objects connected to Blackwater.”
“That could be hundreds of things,” Willow says.
“Then we make a list.”
