Buried Secrets (14 page)

“It could be more than that. It would be impossible to sell something like the Aztec codices on the open market, and it wouldn’t be easy for just anyone to sell them on the black market. I know there are some people who have hidden collections, but you’d have to have connections, know who these people are.”

“So it could be someone who has been dealing illegally? Did Red ever run into someone involved in the black market?” Maggie took a bite of her ham sandwich, then washed it down with a swallow of water.

“Yes. He was responsible for breaking up a large ring that worked out of Mexico. I think at least seven men were sent to prison, four in Mexico and three in this country. They were mostly dealing in Mayan artifacts.” Zach chewed his lunch and stared off into space. “His blood pressure shot up when he talked about the smugglers and how they were destroying history when they raided a tomb or site.”

“Actually, now that I think about it, I remember Gramps saying something about Red being involved in bringing down a smuggling ring. That was the only time I heard my grandfather say something nice about yours.”

Zach chuckled. “They were both passionate in what they did.”

“Like we are?”

“Yep, I’m afraid I inherited that from Granddad.” He was an all-or-nothing kind of guy. He threw himself wholeheartedly into whatever he was doing. She could relate to that. Another similarity between them she couldn’t deny. She was afraid she was falling in love with Zach, and she couldn’t see how a relationship with him would work because of their all-or-nothing natures that left little room for compromise.

A sound on the path, like pebbles rolling down the hill, caused Zach to shoot to his feet, his body in a warrior stance. A birdcall pierced the warm air, and Zach’s rigid posture relaxed as a grin spread across his features. Maggie stood, hearing the footsteps grow closer, but still not able to see who approached.

“Zach?”

“It’s Hawke,” he said a few seconds before his cousin appeared around a boulder, out of uniform and dressed as if he was going to join them in the cave.

A broad smile took possession of Hawke’s stern expression. “Well, if it isn’t my cousin. What are you doing in the middle of nowhere?”

“I should be asking you the same question. I thought I told you I didn’t need your help.”

“Yep, I do remember those very words, but since when have I listened to you?” Hawke shrugged off his backpack. “I couldn’t let you have all the fun.”

Maggie noticed a gun holstered to his belt, and she quivered in the heat of the noonday sun. “Has something happened?” She gestured toward the weapon.

“No, but I always come prepared. You never know what you could encounter out here.” Hawke looked at Zach. “You brought one, didn’t you?”

“Yes. It only takes once for me to learn a lesson.” Zach’s gaze swung to her. “We were camping one time when I was in college, and had a visitor that wasn’t particularly happy I was there. I was glad that Hawke had his rifle. That rattler was six feet long and one angry dude.”

“I couldn’t have made my point better if I had brought the rattlesnake along myself.”

Zach narrowed his look on Hawke. “You didn’t, did you?”

Hawke chuckled.

“Seriously, you didn’t need to come. I’ve been taking care of myself for years now.”

Hawke’s laughter increased. “That’s what I told Mom, but she insisted. We’re family, and she doesn’t want to bury another member anytime soon.” He spread his arms wide. “So here I am.”

“Well, I for one am glad you’re here.” Maggie returned to where she’d left her half a sandwich and canteen. “Have you had lunch yet?”

“On the way here. I wanted to catch you before you went into the cave.”

“How about dessert?” Zach rummaged around in his backpack until he found three candy bars. He tossed one to Hawke, then gave one to Maggie.

She finished her sandwich, then pocketed the candy bar while Zach enjoyed his with relish. His smile, so full of delight, entranced her. This man had become important to her in such a short time. But how could she trust these emotions? Besides the roller-coaster ride they were on, she had recently lost Gramps, the one person in the world who had meant the most to her. She hadn’t even had time to grieve properly.

“Ready?” Zach stuffed his trash into his backpack, then hoisted it onto his back.

Nodding, Maggie followed, then donned a hard hat with a light on it. She avoided looking at the entrance, barely large enough for Zach or Hawke to fit through. Would it narrow more or open up? She felt no excitement about finding out.

“I’ll go first, then Maggie. Hawke, you take up the rear. We’ll leave a rope trail for insurance.”

“Mom said if we aren’t home by tomorrow night she’ll be sending in the cavalry.”

“Who?” Zach walked to the narrow opening.

“Every cousin she can round up.”

Maggie laughed. “I can see her leading the charge.”

Hawke took his position behind Maggie. “Most definitely. She’s like a mother bear protecting her cub.”

Her gaze still averted from the entrance, Maggie stepped up behind Zach, a few feet back. Her heart doubled its beat.

Before Zach slipped inside, he twisted around and closed the space between them. He took her hand. “Remember the Lord’s words,
I am with you always, until the end of time.
He is with you. I’m with you.”

Her throat tight, she gave one nod. She lifted her gaze to his, then slid it toward the entrance. “Let’s go.”

Zach disappeared into the opening. Maggie inhaled a breath that didn’t really fill her lungs. She took another, deeper one and moved forward. Her legs shook. She slowed her pace as the darkness neared. Then with another gulp of the outside air, she walked inside, seeing Zach waiting for her up ahead.

Sweat broke out on her forehead. Zach’s expression encouraged her. She focused on him and inched forward.
I can do this.

But you don’t have to.

The thought teased at the edges of her mind. Although she wanted to stop, Hawke was right behind her, so she kept going toward Zach. The passage, only a few feet across, pressed in on her, sending her heartbeat hammering even more. Wet tracks of sweat coursed down her face.

Zach’s eyes softened. “Okay?”

No.
“Let’s keep moving.” She was afraid if they stopped she would bolt back toward the sunlight slicing through the darkness, only five or six yards behind her.

“Are you sure?”

“Don’t worry about me,” she said in the bravest tone she could manage, even though she felt hemmed in by the walls, Zach and Hawke.

Zach snared her gaze. “But I do worry about you.”

“I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for years.”

He grinned. “Touché. Then promise me that if you need to go back, you’ll tell me.”

She wanted to shout, “I need to go back now,” but she didn’t. Instead she said, “I will.”

Another turn in the passage and the cave opened up into a small cavern. All natural light vanished, and Maggie switched on the lamp on top of her helmet. She made a slow circle, shining her light on the rock surface. In the middle of the cave stalactites hung from the ceiling, glistening, fragile fingers of minerals. Although beauty abounded, it was hard for her to appreciate it.

Zach studied the map and pointed toward the far wall. “This way.”

Following him, Maggie noticed two other passages off the cavern besides the one they were taking. She hoped the map was accurate. Doubts and anxiety taunted her with each step into the stone corridor. She tried not to think of the tons and tons of rock over her, about the cave-in years ago. But she couldn’t stop the memories from drenching her in a cold sweat, although the temperature was near seventy degrees with one hundred percent humidity. She trembled, her teeth chattering.

Up ahead the ceiling of the passageway lowered to only five feet. Zach walked bent over, then he got onto his hands and knees when the ceiling’s height shrank to a yard.

Maggie came to a halt. Her quaking intensified. Her pulse raced while sweat continued to pour off her.

Hawke stopped behind her. “Zach.”

Zach retraced his steps and stood in front of Maggie.

Tears filled her eyes, and his image blurred before her. She saw his mouth move, but the thundering of her heartbeat drowned out his words.

All she could see now was her father crying out in pain as stones tumbled down upon him, pinning him to the floor of the cave. Right after he had pushed her to safety. She’d rushed toward him, and he’d called out for her to get back. Dust billowed around him, swallowing him for a few minutes until the rockslide ceased. When she finally laid eyes on him again, most of his body was covered.

I can’t do this.

You don’t have to. Go back. Let Zach and Hawke go on.

Zach placed his hands on both sides of her head and thrust his face close, inches from hers.

I’m letting them down.

No, you aren’t. You’re needed somewhere else.

“Maggie!”

The sound of Zach’s voice finally penetrated through the words in her mind. The tension in his hands on her face conveyed his concern. She blinked the tears away.

“I have to go back. I can’t go any farther. I thought I could—”

“Shh. I know. That’s okay. I’ll take you back.”

She nearly collapsed against him. She didn’t have to go back alone. She wasn’t sure she would have made it.

Zach looked over Maggie’s shoulder at Hawke. “Go forward. This passageway opens up into another cavern. Stay there until I get back.”

As Hawke squeezed by them, he gave Maggie a set of keys. “I have some binoculars in my Jeep. Why don’t you get them? The terrain around here is beautiful. If we aren’t back by dark, there’s camping equipment you can use. I parked close to your SUV, behind a boulder.”

The idea of camping overnight by herself almost made her stay, until she glanced at the narrowing passage. She knew being in the wide-open spaces outside the cave was the better choice.

Zach took the lead again, this time holding her hand when possible. The physical contact soothed her raw nerves. She wished she could close her eyes and let him guide her to the entrance, but she knew the danger in that. One wrong step, and she could break a leg on the uneven surface.

Back in the small cavern, Maggie crossed the space quickly behind Zach. Her heartbeat calmed the nearer she came to the sunlight. Its rays beckoned, and she hurried her pace, passing Zach at the end.

Outside, she bent over and sucked in deep breaths, her hands resting on her knees. She couldn’t seem to get enough of the sweet, dry air. Zach’s hand on her back reminded her she wasn’t alone, and she straightened. Legs weak, she immediately sank to the ground.

Zach knelt next to her and enclosed her in his embrace. “It was too much to ask you to go back into a cave after what happened with you and your father. I should have known better.”

She gave him a small smile that disappeared almost instantly. “I should have known better. I’m sorry. All I could see was my father trapped under the rocks. I couldn’t move them. I couldn’t save him. I couldn’t even go for help. I thought I was going to die, too.” Words tumbled from her mouth like the rocks had in the slide. She sniffed, swiping her hand across her forehead to keep the sweat from rolling into her eyes and stinging them. “His light had been crushed under the avalanche, along with his backpack, where the spare batteries were. A few hours later mine died, and I was plunged into total darkness. I wanted to die then.”

“But you didn’t. You hung on because you’re a fighter.” He removed her helmet and smoothed her damp hair back from her face. Tilting her chin up, he looked long and hard into her eyes. “One I’ve come to care about. Will you be all right?”

“Yes, you don’t need to worry about me.” She already felt as if she’d let him down. She didn’t want to anymore. The whole ride to the mountain, she’d told herself she could go into the cave and be all right. She’d been wrong. Sometimes the desire to do something wasn’t enough. “I’ll be here waiting when you and Hawke come back with the codices.”

The mesmerizing look he sent her made her want to melt into the ground. He ran his fingers through her hair and leaned down to graze his mouth across hers. In that moment she realized she loved him in spite of her reservations about the wisdom of it.

When he pulled back, he drew her to her feet. He rummaged in his backpack until he found his gun, and he gave it to her. “I want you to have this.”

“No, I can’t take that. You’ll be defenseless.”

He chuckled. “Hawke has his, and besides, I don’t think there are going to be any wild animals in the cave.” She started to push the weapon away when he added, “I won’t go back in if you don’t take it. I know you’re an expert shot. At least, you told me you were at your grandfather’s ranch.” One corner of his mouth hitched up. “Were you pulling my leg then?”

“No.” She cradled the cold metal in her hand. “I am, or let’s just say I was. Since becoming a doctor I haven’t handled a gun other than when I caught you in Gramps’s house.”