Looking out the window, Sage acknowledged that Maddy's suggestion of a change of location had been brilliant. The sea breeze through the window filled Sage's senses with a beautiful mix of smells and was chilly enough to keep her awake and attentive.

The afternoon nap on the hammock had also been much needed and helped Sage get a nice tan, so it looked like she was living the seaside life of leisure. In fact, she was barely eating, sleeping or exercising.

It had been two weeks since Sage had started digging, and what she was finding was alarming: the documentation authorising war crimes signed by members of the Channing family tree made her feel ashamed to carry the name, never mind the joining of groups of people who did some terrible things throughout history, Sage's stomach turned with intense nausea just at the thought of some of those deeds, the line of people perpetrating them was pure evil, covered with duplicity and strong narcissistic tendencies toward control, manipulation and absolute power. They were crafty, cunning and self-serving and thought nothing of murder, framing the innocent and selling out their own family to get what they wanted.

"Look what they're trying to do to Rosemary," she whispered, shaking her head, "if I can help it, they will not get away with any of this … I just have to find someone who will take the evidence and run with it."

"Hopefully, you will," Maddy said, coming through Sage's open bedroom door and turning off the light, "did you have another all-nighter?"

"I guess so," Sage said, "the further I go down this rabbit hole, the worse it gets. These people are well-connected and have a lot of people under their thumbs. I don't just mean people who can help them get documents into play ... you know, at the lower levels …" Sage sighed, sifting through the new information, "... I'm talking about ... lawyers ... doctors ... judges ... assassins…to note a few."

"Assassins?" Maddy frowned, "Why would they have that kind of a person on their payroll?"

"Oh, evil person 101 ... nothing they order comes back directly to them," Sage said, "they are murdering by proxy now."

Maddy shook her head, "Just to think they have given up the marrying into the Cooper family to get what they want."

Sage shook her head, "They haven't."

"What do you mean?" Maddy asked.

"I spent three hours on the phone with a Charlotte Elizabeth Mary Cooper-Channing explaining that one Michael Channing is from a long line of evil narcissists and wants to marry her to control what rights she has to Coopers Cove," Sage said.

"Did you convince her?" Maddy whispered, paling a little.

"After sending the emails, I was able to uncover what he intended to do after their nuptials and sending them to her, "Sage sighed, "and listening to many … interesting names she had on hand to call him. She decided her instinct was right and called off the wedding."

"She's in danger," Maddy whispered.

"Not any more," Sage said, "I put her in touch with Stuart, and he has her in hand."

Maddy sighed, relaxing, "Another missing person's report will appear."

"I suppose so," Sage said, sighing, "I'll add it to the list. However, that is not something that would concern me ..." she groaned in frustration, leaning back in the chair, catching Maddy's waiting gaze, "... I'm coming across a name that is a little more ... worrying."

"A person's name?" Maddy asked.

"No, another sort of name ... its ability to raise my concern ... alarmingly ... is what should be ... well... worrying," Sage said.

"How so?" Maddy asked.

"It first appeared during the Second World War," Sage said, "it has many disturbing events connected to it, and then it disappeared."

"You discovered it's become a …" Maddy waited; Sage simply stared at the pages on the desk, "… college or university club? A new A-group club? What Sage?"

Sage sighed, hearing the levity in Maddy's words but not feeling it, "An up-and-coming secret society open to open-minded people who wish to explore the life of living in a world of purity."

Maddy frowned, "That sounds … disturbing."

"It is," Sage said, "the founding members are the same that were youngsters during the Second World War and according to what I've found out, it's been around for a few decades."

"So that group in the war didn't disappear. They just went underground?" Maddy asked.

"Correct," Sage said, "as did many of the sympathisers of that day when the war ended."

"Sympathisers? You mean for …" Maddy's words trailed as she remained silent for a while, staring out the window mirroring Sage's actions unknowingly, "… these people don't include the Channings, do they?"

Sage sighed, "A good number of the men …" Sage paused, clearing her throat before continuing, "… including my father and brother's names are on the member's list."

"Sage, no," Maddy gasped, "what are you going to do?"

"What do you mean?" Sage asked.

"They are your direct family," Maddy said, "are you going to talk to them?"

Sage's sudden laughter startled Maddy, who frowned in concern as she sank into the chair next to the desk and waited.

"Talk to them," Sage muttered as she gained control once more, "thank you for that, Maddy … I needed a good laugh."

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"What was so funny?" Maddy asked.

"I'm not going to talk to them, confront them and demand an explanation," Sage said, "I'm going to hand that list of names, along with all the other information that I've uncovered … very damning information, to the correct people who can rectify all of this."

"What about the line of family that initially helped Charlotte and her husband?" Maddy asked.

"After many mysterious deaths to several family members over the years," Sage said, meeting Maddy's startled gaze, "the last remaining members of the family have been placed in a protection program."

"I see why the Channing's have assassins on their payroll," Maddy whispered, "if these people are involved in war crimes, couldn't someone who deals with that kind of thing help."

"You mean to approach the tribunal," Sage said, cocking her head thoughtfully, "I could, but I wouldn't know if anyone there is under the Channing family's far-reaching thumb."

"You have a point," Maddy said, sagging against the back of her chair, "there has to be someone who wasn't involved with … the wrong side during the war."

"I'm sure there are people, but where do I find them now," Sage said, "and would they be prepared to get involved again?"

Maddy's eyes lit up and widened, "I think I know of someone who can help. I'll have to chat with my father, but there may be a solution to help us end all this."

Sage stared at Maddy before asking, "What do you have up your sleeve?"

"If I'm right, I'll let you know tomorrow," Maddy said, looking at her watch, "eat your breakfast; I have loads to do. I'll check back in at dinnertime."

Glancing out the window as Maddy moved toward the door, Sage noticed Jeffery slinking away, "Maddy," she turned in the chair, "I think we were overheard …" Maddy shook her head, "… Jeffery. Until this is settled, use the … alternate route between our homes."

"If I find him …" Maddy snarled, fisting her hands tightly, "… he is still here, which means that there is more to this "visit" than he is telling everyone. I'll use the … alternate routes … as you suggest."

"Thank you," Sage smiled, "I would never forgive myself if something happened to you."

"I feel the same way about you," Maddy said softly, smiling, "enjoy breakfast."

Turning to her food tray, Sage started eating slowly, watching the crashing waves on the distant shore and smiling at the sun's warmth on her face. In the short time she had been here, this place was no longer a sanctuary … it was a home.

"It's a home I intend to protect with my life if it comes to that," Sage whispered, sipping her coffee and taking another bite of the delicious food, "I'm not leaving … Coopers Cove is my home."

The disembodied words crackled in the silence, making an aged face smile. Carefully standing, the older woman padded across the sandy floor toward the entrance, where the sun shone, enveloping a beach chair. Wrapping a pale blue shawl around her, she sighed contentedly; this was the best part of her day, when she took up her spot in her latest favourite place, soaking in the warmth of the sun and waiting for the visit that happened every two days. Settling in the chair, she leaned back, sighing and breathing in the salty tang of the ocean, rolling to a wide sandy beach a few feet from her. Closing her eyes, she let her senses fill, and slowly, she fell into a light doze.

"Rosemary, how often do we tell you not to sit where you can be seen?" Stuart asked, startling the old woman. Her eyes snapped open, taking in his long stride as he approached her up the beach.

"I love the view and the sun," Rosemary said, looking at the open beach behind him, "where is Matthew? "

"He is coming," Stuart said, "did you do your eavesdropping today?"

She nodded, "I didn't expect her to uncover what she has," Rosemary whispered, "I'm getting worried about the repercussions if she steps wrong in the execution."

"Execution of what?" Stuart asked.

"Getting her findings to the right person to end everything and right the many wrongs that have been done," Rosemary sighed, "she has even found the connection between all those mysterious deaths and the Channings."

"Really? What's the connection?" Stuart asked.

"Assassins are on their payroll," Rosemary said, chuckling.

"How did she find that?" Stuart asked, "Did you set it up that way?"

Rosemary shook her head, "I have a feeling someone else is out there taking an interest in Sage's research."

"Well, you did say she was good at her job, Rose," Stuart said, grinning at the old woman.

"I did, but I didn't think she would dig this deep," Rosemary said, shaking her head, "I just wanted her to stop that ... document."

"She is a writer and reporter," Stuart whispered, "you can't expect her to only go as far as you want her to."

"I suppose so, but now she has these people tracking her," Rosemary said, worry etched into her face, "I thought she was good at covering her tracks ..."

"Whoever is tracking her be very good … Sage uses those cyber safety protocols," Stuart said, "Maddy told me Sage has been using a high level of security on her electronics so her family can't track her location."

"That poor child," Rosemary sighed, "if I wasn't pushed to take this step …" she closed her eyes, "I could be there for her, help her …" clapping her hands sharply in frustration, "… stand with her."

"She knows you're alive," Stuart said, "she figured it out, and everyone denied it until she had too much evidence, and I confirmed her … suspicions."

"Are you going soft on me, Stuart?" Rosemary chuckled, looking at him askance.

"Never, Rose," he said, chuckling and looking over his shoulder as an older man walked up the beach, "everything okay, Matthew?"

"Just had a call from Maddy," Matthew said, "she wants me to locate and contact an old friend who helped us start the protection programme."

"Really? Is he still alive?" Rosemary asked.

"Last I heard, he is," Matthew said, "I wonder what those two are cooking."

"The end of this awful, treacherous conspiracy," Rosemary said, sniffing the air, "smells like the coffee is ready. Anyone want a cup?"

Standing, she strode into the cave, leaving the two men looking at each other as if they expected something else.

"So …. was that approval, or do I need to ask the question directly?" Matthew asked.

"I think it was approval," Stuart said, looking over his shoulder as Rosemary moved around the area set out as a kitchen, "she must have heard something she doesn't want us to know."

"I guess I'm making that call," Matthew said, looking past Stuart, "I think she's waiting for us."

"Yep, let's go have coffee," Stuart said as the two men turned into the cave, "did you bring the cake?"

"Of course I did," Matthew said, "do you think I would dream of visiting here without cake."

"I did once," Stuart said, grimacing, "it was … unpleasant, and I never forgot the cake again."

Matthew chuckled, clapping Stuart on the shoulder, "She's training you to be a good husband one day."

"And he will be," Rosemary said as she waited on the opposite side of the table, "I brought the coffee … where is the cake?"

Matthew drew his backpack off his shoulder, unzipping it wide and placing several containers on the table, "I brought more than just cake."

Rosemary clapped her hands together, "Good show, a feast. Let's dig in."

Grinning, the two men sank into the chairs around the table and listened to Rosemary's happy chattering.