Page 99 of Hell and High Water

The etched hole is about half an inch deep, circular.

Like a ring might fit perfectly into it.

“Gavin, hand me?—”

He’s already reaching out, passing me the oddly colored ring from the living room.

CLICK.

The panel slides back, appearing out of seamless concrete.

And inside the enclosure, nestled in a deep red cloth…

A leather-bound book with the initials ‘DM’ on the cover.

18

GAVIN

Electric tension charges everything in the room.

Damon’s journal. I know it before Hellena even opens the front cover, revealing an all too familiar handwriting.

Hellena leafs through it and my eyes track over her shoulder.

“Guys. Not getting my hopes up, but… I think this is it. Everything we’ve been looking for. Names. Places.”

“Finally!” Tell sighs, holding the door open for everyone to head back out into the lighter living space.

“And check it out, flash drives.” Hellena holds up the back cover, lined with small pockets filled with memory sticks.

“Let’s hope they have some good news for us, or anything still relevant. Remember, that journal is several years old.” Evan grimaces, crossing his arms and leaning against the table.

Hellena matches his scowl as she sits on the edge of the couch arm, her eyes darting across pages.

“Don’t be such a sourpuss, Ev,” Tell snips.

“Just stating facts.”

“Then state them more cheerfully! You’re supposed to be the performer here, right?”

“And you’re supposed to be the expert info gatherer, so where’s our info?”

“Low blow!”

“Neither of you is getting blown if you don’t cut it out!” Hellena teases, earning an exasperated look from each of them.

“I didn’t say shit,” I mutter, pursing my lips.

“Noted.” Hellena winks at me, heating my blood instantly. Fuck. How does she do that to me?

Tell and Evan look just as wound up at the flirting, charging the energy in the room even more.

Unfortunately, none of us are getting her attention right now.

She’s locked onto the journal, reading page after page.

“At least early on, it seems like he was speculating. The entries are scattered, some just notes to me, thoughts and memories. Then there’s these entire… chapters. More formulated, outlined with tallies and numbers. I think some of it might be in code…” Hellena mumbles in frustration, mostly to herself.

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