As everyone exited, a stiff breeze howled down the slope, bringing with it a cloud of snow. The three in the Land Rover had already hopped out and were headed their way. Despite her diminutive size, Camilla seemed nimble and athletic. During their conversation the night before, Roger had told them his wife had been a gymnast years ago. Zane believed it.
Kimberly wore dark jeans and a lightweight jacket. Despite her attempt to conceal it, Zane noted the familiar bulge of a semi-automatic pistol in her pocket. The presence of the weapon confirmed what he’d thought before — the athletic twenty-something was also a bodyguard for the Australian collector and his wife.
“I apologize for the foul weather,” Roger said. “The few weeks before spring are often a crap shoot in northern Israel.”
“I think we’ll live,” Zane said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he brings his coat.” Pratt gave him a wink.
As everyone checked their things, Zane glanced back down the road. Ever since leaving Jerusalem, he’d felt as though they were being watched. On several occasions, he’d seen the same car pass them along the highway. It might have been coincidence, but it was also an old espionage trick to vary your position when tailing another party. Interestingly, the feeling they were being followed was still with him here on the mountain. Someone was out there. He could feel it. What made it more of a concern was their remote location and the darkness of the storm. There would be no moon to illuminate anyone coming through the trees.
“I’ll get the ladder,” Kimberly said to Roger as she turned back toward the Land Rover.
Pratt followed. “I’ll give her a hand.”
Zane smiled to himself. I’ll bet you will, big guy.
The two untied the ladder and carefully lifted it off the truck. Zane was surprised at the length. Roger had told them the tunnel entrance was at the bottom of a pit, but he’d assumed it was one they could simply lower themselves into.
Roger clicked on a flashlight and directed the beam toward the trees. “Shall we go?”
As everyone set out, Carmen drew alongside Zane. “What’s wrong?”
“Is it that obvious?”
She nodded. “I’ve worked with you long enough to know when your radar is on.”
“My radar is always on.”
“This is different. I know you, Zane.”
When they arrived at the edge of the clearing, Lawson led them to a trail that wound up through the forest.
Zane and Carmen walked slowly, allowing the others to get ahead. “Have you seen anything out of the ordinary?”
“When?”
“All day.”
“No, why?”
“Just a feeling.”
Carmen nodded. “Anything specific trigger those feelings?”
“Just a few things on the road — the kind of things that could easily have a simple explanation. Part of it is just a feeling.” He nodded at the trees. “Even here, I feel like there are eyes out there.”
“I think you need to trust your gut, and now that you’ve told me, I’ll be on the lookout as well.” She put one hand in her coat and drew out her matte black Beretta P226. After checking the magazine, she tucked it away again.
Soon, the path turned sharply upward through a grove of cedars. The rock-strewn ground was lightly covered with snow, making the walk slippery and a bit treacherous. Fortunately, the climb wasn’t long, and a few minutes later, they emerged on a plateau.
“Here we are.” Roger pointed his flashlight ahead.
Dark shapes rose up around them as they moved forward. Amanda let out a little gasp of delight. The beams illuminated an acre of scattered ruins. There weren’t many structures — a dozen or so crumbled columns and walls — but it was apparently enough to get an archaeologist excited.
“We believe this site dates back to the first or second century BCE,” Roger said.
Amanda approached one of the columns. “The architecture looks Greco-Roman.”
“Camilla and I believe it was a temple built to worship Zeus or one of the other Greek gods. The only things that confused us were the tunnels. Now, we may have our answer.”
As the group entered the ruins, Carmen looked at Roger. “Didn’t you explore the tunnels yourself?”
“We have been in them numerous times. Unfortunately, they end about a hundred yards in. The archaeologists who worked this site assured us the tunnels were simply rooms used to store the temple’s implements, but we always suspected there was a greater purpose.”
Carmen frowned. “If they end a hundred yards in, what are we doing here?”
“There are several branches of the tunnel that all end about a hundred yards in, but we know from your map that’s simply an illusion. I believe there is a false wall or a cave-in of some sort… and tonight, we’re going to find it.”
Another strong gust of wind swept down off the mountain, sending snow swirling through the ruins. Zane and Carmen kept their eyes trained on their surroundings. The snow was heavier now, indicating the heaviest clouds had moved directly overhead. At this point, the only thing visible was the ring of cedar trees around the site.
A minute later, Lawson slowed. Just ahead, yellow warning tape encircled four largely intact columns. The columns formed a rectangle — all that remained of an ancient temple. As Zane stepped closer, he saw several pieces of plywood lying inside the perimeter.
After setting the ladder down, Kimberly approached one of the boards and grabbed it with both hands. “Let’s move these aside. Watch your step.”
Reid and Pratt moved to help, as did Zane and Carmen. Several minutes later, all of the covering boards had been cast aside, exposing the mouth of a pit. Zane probed the darkness with his light, illuminating sides of mortared stones and a dirt bottom. It was a good thing Lawson brought the ladder. The pit was at least twenty-five feet deep.
“Good heavens,” Carmen whispered.
Emily pointed to the north end. “There’s the tunnel.”
Roger shifted his beam in that direction, exposing a stone archway. “That’s where we’ll begin our search.” He looked at Kimberly. “Do you mind bringing over our stairs?”
She and Pratt stepped away then reappeared with the ladder, which they extended to full length.
“How deep is it?” Zane asked Roger.
“A little over twenty-nine feet, which is why I brought my thirty-two footer.”
Over the next few minutes, they went down, one at a time. Zane told Amanda, Keiko, and Carmen to go down first. He would go after them, followed by the Lawsons and Kimberly. He asked Reid and Pratt to remain at the surface. He was still concerned about unwanted company, and it made him feel better to have two former soldiers keeping watch up top.
When it was his turn, Zane descended carefully. The rungs were already slick with moisture, so he grabbed each one tightly, not releasing until he was sure his foot was safely on the next one down. As he neared the bottom, the smell of must and dirt rose up to meet him.
“You’re almost there.” Carmen trained a light on his feet.
After stepping off, Zane turned and splashed his flashlight around. Amanda and Keiko were already at the far end, examining the tunnel entrance.
“I’m down!” Zane shouted to the top.
Carmen grabbed Zane’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you, old man.”
“Let’s see how well I do going back up. Something tells me the temperature is going to drop another ten degrees before this is all over. It’s going to be like holding onto icicles.”