Pacing in the dim light of the morning sun, Sage sighed, leaning on the window sill and opening the portal to allow the refreshing scent of the salty ocean breeze to enter her room. The garden looked spectacular in the predawn light, but Sage did notice a few places someone could hide in the gloomy shadows of the plants, walkways and shrubbery.

"If they think I'm unprepared, then they have another guess coming," Sage muttered, breathing deeply before pulling the window closed as she stood up; her attention slid to the latch of the window as she latched it but froze as a movement caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. In the pretence of pulling her drapes over the window, she watched the shadow move through the garden, and a knowledge of what she suspected sat heavy in her gut, "Jeffery."

She had many questions about him, who he worked for, why he was here, what his stake in all of this was, and if nothing, what had been promised.

Sage closed the drapes and frowned over what was to be done with the information she was still working through. There were three copies of the many pages she had found and printed out.

What to do with them could be the question?

Sage suspected she could trust Stuart with at least one of the copies. He appeared to have so much information not everyone had at their fingertips, and he didn't talk to just anyone either. Then there was the other copy ... Sage sighed, "Where can I keep you that no one will find you but you'd be safe?"

Nothing came to mind. A sudden light splashing against the closed drapes drew Sage to the window again; pulling the drap a little aside, Sage saw a person hurrying across the lawn: Maddy. She was running.

Quickly packing away her work, Sage raced down the stairs to the side door that Maddy always came in and entered the kitchen as Maddy hurriedly closed and locked the door, pushing both latches into the ceiling and floor.

"Maddy, what is it?" Sage whispered across the silent room.

Maddy looked up, red-rimmed eyes staring back at Sage in a pale face, "I found ..." she looked out the window shaking her head, "... he followed me ..." she sobbed, "Where can we talk that we won't be heard."

"Come with me," Sage said, taking her icy hand and leading her through the silent house, "leave your extinguished lantern at the top of the stairs."

They paused as Maddy closed off the lantern and left it at the top of the stairs, "Where are we going?"

"You'll see," Sage said, "wait for me in the library."

Quickly entering her room, Sage gathered all her work, laptop and journals. Checking that everything was still there, she moved toward the library, finding Maddy seated in front of the glowing fireplace. She rubbed her hands over her face before fanning her open palms to the flames.

"Do you ever sleep?" Maddy asked, glancing over her shoulder as Sage entered.

"Of course I do," Sage said, "just not when people conventionally sleep. Come to the back, Maddy, and tell me what has agitated you."

The two women walked toward the archive section, finding a cosy corner with drinks, comfortable chairs and a table they could work off.

"I was home alone and was looking at some things, but I realised that I'd come across something that you may wish to see..." she paused, sighing, "... someone tried to break in."

"Oh, Maddy, that is terrible," Sage whispered, "has that ever happened before?"

"No, never, we don't have crime here," Maddy hissed, "I remember what Dad said a while back about something he and Stuart had put in place to keep out bad elements. I figured that whoever it was could be classed as a bad element, so I reinforced the house and left by way of the tunnel, but whoever it was wanted to come in. I heard shattering glass ... as I closed the trap door ..." Maddy's words trailed off as she turned in a circle, " ... oh, I didn't know this was here," Maddy said, her words hushed in the closeness of the space.

"It's a space that feels sheltered, and I've been in here often when you have cleaned, and you've never known I was working at all," Sage smiled, "now ... tell me, what have you in such a state ... is it just someone trying to get in or is there more?"

Maddy sank into a chair, "Oh, there is more; the person trying to break in was the cherry on top of the cake. I was looking through some of my mother's things," Maddy said, "I woke from a terrible dream that Jeffry set this house on fire. We were all inside ... but I didn't know who everyone was ... it was so strange," Maddy shook her head, "after checking that the house ... this house was still fine ... I couldn't sleep and was going through mom's journals, drawings, notes and the like ..." Maddy sighed, "... I miss her so much ..." she shook her head, "sometimes it helps me feel closer to her and to relax enough to sleep again ... anyway I came across another reference to something called Das Loch des Erlösers ..." Maddy shrugged, "... I don't know what it means ... I thought it may be something to do with ... you know ... all this ..."

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"Its German meaning The Saviours Hole," Sage said, interrupting Maddy's rambling, "I've seen the phrase before in Charlotte's journals; she has them referenced a few times ... never thought of it before, let's see ..." Sage looked at her notes, "... here it is ... twice in French and twice in Italian."

"Oh, okay," Maddy said, "but it got me thinking, with the houses being as old as they are and having survived pirates, smugglers, the law of the day and a World War, what if there was a literal "Saviours Hole. You know, an actual hiding place."

"It's possible," Sage said, nodding, "you went digging, didn't you?"

"Not literally, but I started rereading the journals, and for some time when I was away studying, my mother wrote about having to hide the important heirlooms from prying eyes," Maddy said, her gaze narrowing as she met Sage's listening gaze, "what if there is a place that people and things can hide and never be found unless you know the place and how to get there."

"Something like a priest hole?" Sage said, "Those kinds of things were popular at that time ..." Maddy nodded, her eyes sparkling, "...you did ... come on ... did you find something?"

"My mother has never moved her chair," Maddy said, grimacing, "Well, not that I know of anyway, so I started dusting after reading the journals, and while rubbing down the wood of the furniture, I noticed my mother's personal chair, which I use now, was bolted to the wall."

"Why would a chair be bolted to the wall?" Sage asked.

"I wondered as well. I asked Dad before he went fishing with Stuart this morning ... he was his usual vague self when it came to things like my mother and her lineage, secrets, etc ... anyway Dad said my mother had always wanted it that way," Maddy said, "even when he suggested attaching it any other way so she could move it. Apparently, Mom liked that spot and the view it gave."

"Was there a hole in the chair?" Sage asked.

"More like a drawer," Maddy said, " it looked like other things were there and had been moved, but I found this ..." she whispered, pulling an ancient journal from her large pocket on her dress, "... its a journal of sorts, but it has five different types handwritings in ... the last being my mother's."

Sage quickly retrieved white gloves from a nearby drawer, carefully taking the book from Maddy and slowly opening the cover; the first name on the cover was written in a graceful feminine sloping hand.

Sage gasped, "This may be one of the corner pieces of evidence to stop this lunacy."

"What do you mean?" Maddy asked.

"Charlotte's maiden name," Sage whispered, looking around to ensure no one was listening. However, she was confident they were alone, yet her instinct had her lowering her voice further and leaning toward Maddy. "It's the same name as the man awarded the Magi's Coronet for bravery during a battle."

"Are you telling me everything that happened was because someone wanted the credit they didn't deserve?" Maddy whispered in reply.

Sage nodded, "Greed is a strong emotion. Whoever started all this wanted that piece of treasure for a reason, and we'll find out why."

"This is the dangerous part, right?" Maddy asked, glancing at Sage before looking at the area they sat in, "This is when we could be murdered in our beds ... level of danger ... we're in that part now, right?"

Chuckling, Sage nodded, "We're getting to it. Tell me, Maddy. If you wanted to preserve something so hands could be laid on it when needed, but the item or items were kept safe from everyone else ... where would you hide it?"

Maddy cocked her head, "Mom always said, "The Secret is safe with Charlotte" I never knew what that meant, but I would hide it here, in the house, in the basement. No one goes there; it's safe against fire damage of any kind, and no one thinks of the basement when looking for something."

"Huh, is that so," Sage nodded, her mind whirling, "Maddy, where are you going?"

"I'm not supposed to be here," Maddy said, "I need to get back home."

"Why? For what?" Sage asked.

"I ..." Maddy spluttered to a stop, a tiny pucker appearing between her brows, "... I don't know ... it's always been something we've been taught. Why?"

"I'm tired of my own company and would really love something to eat that isn't a sandwich," Sage said, gathering her things, "I still have a few things I need to go through before dawn ... please could you stay and start your day with me."

Smiling, Maddy nodded, "I'd love that; with Dad going out for a morning fishing session with Stuart every morning over the last few weeks, I could use some company as well; plus, I'm not in the mood to work past Jeffery again. That man is everywhere; he remains longer than usual this time."

"I'd be surprised he leaves at all this time," Sage said as the women walked toward the kitchen, "I just need to make sure that what I'm working on and what I've found doesn't fall into his or whomever he works for hands or gets destroyed. Do you know where he's staying? I didn't see a Guesthouse or Inn in the village."

"That is what is very concerning; we don't have either of those; the only other place that could be useable is the old shack up at the graveyard if you can get past the booby traps. I don't know where Jeffery is staying. I don't see him when I walk in the evenings, plus someone would have said something if he was living somewhere in the village," Maddy said, sighing and turning to Sage, seeing her bundle of work in her arms, "I wish I had answers for you as to where you could hide your work," Maddy paused before smiling, "perhaps you'll find a hole in the wall."

"Maybe that is something to look into, I mean ... where Jeffery is staying ... and the hole in the wall," Sage chuckled, "remember to change your route; if Jeffery knows which way you go, you're making yourself an easy target. Also, don't do it every night ... you need to be unpredictable," Sage paused, "you know you may have given me more answers than you think, and you just don't know it," Sage said, " oh yes ... I pulled a longer table into the kitchen if that's okay ... I needed more room to work and eat simultaneously."

"No problem at all," Maddy smiled, "and it's away from the window ... clever ... and noted."

"I'm having a problem with the sensation of being watched," Sage said, "I'd prefer they not be able to read what I'm looking into."

"Can't blame you on that," Maddy said, "what do you want with your pancakes?"

"Pressed beef and eggs?" Sage said, "I'm hungry this morning."

"You're on," Maddy smiled, "I'll put the coffee on."