“I told you to bring gloves, but you wouldn’t listen.”
Zane turned back to the ladder, tucking his flashlight into his coat. The next person should have been on their way, but the ladder wasn’t moving. Nor did he hear the sound of feet on the rungs.
Frowning, he lifted his head again. He could see the dim outline of silhouettes at the top, but they weren’t moving.
“Roger, come on down.”
There was a bit of movement, then the Australian’s voice carried down to the bottom of the pit. “I’m afraid we won’t be joining you.”
There was something in his voice that seemed odd, a tone Zane hadn’t heard before. Was this a joke? If so, now was a strange time to horse around.
Carmen stepped back from the ladder and directed her beam upward. When it reached the rim, Zane’s blood ran cold.
Reid and Pratt were both on their knees with their hands in the air, guns pressed to their heads.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Two bright beams stabbed down into the pit, forcing Zane to cover his eyes with a hand.
“Put down your flashlights, or I’ll blow your friend’s brains out,” Kimberly barked from the rim. “And don’t reach for your guns either.”
Zane had little doubt she’d pull the trigger if necessary. He’d discerned her toughness from the moment he first saw her, and he wasn’t about to test that assessment now. He and the others complied, tossing aside their lights.
“Very good,” Kimberly said. “Do as I say, and your friends won’t be hurt.”
“What’s going on, Roger?” Zane called. “Why are you doing this?” He didn’t expect a helpful answer but thought it might buy some time.
There was a short pause before the Australian replied. “I’m afraid we have another appointment, and this one is at the actual tunnel.”
“So this was all a ruse? There’s nothing in the tunnel?” Zane positioned his hand near the bottom edge of his coat, just an inch or two away from the Glock tucked into his waistband. It would be virtually impossible to hit a target with a light in his eyes, but if Lawson tried to shoot Reid or Pratt, he wasn’t going to sit and watch.
Roger chuckled. “It goes back about twenty feet. As best we can tell, it was a storage room for the temple.”
“He’s right,” Amanda whispered from behind him. “Keiko and I looked a moment ago and were just getting ready to warn you something wasn’t right.”
As the words sank in, Zane thought back over the last twenty-four hours. He remembered Lawson taking a picture of the map the night before. It’s what he wanted all along, and it’s why he’d so readily accepted the meeting. It all seemed clear now. But what about Reid and Pratt? Was he going to kill them? While he couldn’t be sure, Zane guessed they were probably safe, at least for the moment. Right now, he needed to buy some time. “Are you a member of the order?”
Lawson chuckled. “You disappoint me. Do I look like the kind of person who would be involved in a cult? You might say we have a symbiotic relationship. Their purpose is a spiritual one, while mine is more… professional.”
“So you’re in it for the money?” Zane asked.
“If the legends are right, we’re going to find things that will make Tutankhamen’s tomb look like a pile of dirty arrowheads in Oklahoma.”
Carmen spoke at Zane’s shoulder. “You’re committing murder to get your hands on a few relics. You’re better than this, Roger.”
“How many people have you killed over the years? I haven’t killed any. That’s the thing. As long as you get what you want, you imperialists think your killing is sanitary, reasonable, even righteous.” He laughed again. “And then you squeal like little pigs when others kill in order to advance what they believe is a righteous cause.”
“We’re not imperialists,” Zane said. “We’re trying to help a family—”
“Shut up. You’re not on some sort of moral mission. We know exactly who you are and why you’re here.”
Does he really? At this point, it was hard to tell whether he was telling the truth or just trying to project control. In the end, it didn’t really matter what he did or didn’t know. At this point, what mattered were the two pistols pointed at his men’s heads.
“Throw your guns up here,” Kimberly called down. “Nice and easy. Don’t be a hero. If I see your finger anywhere near that trigger, your friends die.”
At this point, they had no other choice than to comply. Zane was a skilled marksman, but with light shining in his eyes he had no chance of hitting anything at the rim. He was just as likely to hit his own men as intended targets.
“Now!” Kimberly yelled.
Zane pulled out his pistol, making sure to dangle it between his thumb and index finger to show he had no plans of firing it.
“Now throw it out of the pit. Remember, if I see any strange movement, your friend dies.”
Zane flung it as hard as he could, hoping it would travel so far Lawson would decide not to retrieve it. Unfortunately, the pit was so deep it only traveled a short distance.
“Now you.” Kimberly ran her beam up and down Carmen’s body.
Carmen looked up. “I don’t have—”
“Throw it now!”
“Just do it,” Zane whispered.
Reluctantly, Carmen pulled her Beretta from her carry holster and threw it out.
“Everyone empty your pockets.”
After they complied, the ladder was pulled up into the darkness. Kimberly then had Zane and Carmen throw their phones up, as well as their knives.
“Get on your knees,” Roger said.
What was he going to do? If they planned on killing them, they could’ve already done so. Zane lowered to the ground, as did the others. He looked up. Despite the blinding light, he saw Camilla moving around behind Reid and Pratt. He guessed she was handcuffing their wrists. A good sign.
A couple of minutes later, Roger’s voice carried down again. “And with that, I thank you for your cooperation.”
“Get up,” Kimberly barked.
Reid and Pratt rose to their feet.
“This is not going to end well for you, Roger,” Zane shouted. “You haven’t hurt anyone yet, so there’s still time to give this up without spending the rest of your life in jail… or worse.”
“Said the man at the bottom of a pit without a weapon.” Roger laughed.
“What are your plans for us?” Zane asked.
“Don’t worry. We’ll be back. We have important business to take care of right now, but we’ll return later with some friends. They’re looking forward to finding out more about you. And if you’re not in the mood to talk, they have a remarkable ability to make that happen.”
His words gave Zane hope. He had no idea how they would get out of the pit, but at least they had a fighting chance. “What are you going to do with my men? I’m holding you responsible for their safety.”
Roger ignored the question. “Make sure you bundle up. It’s getting cold.”
“Move it,” Kimberly said to Reid and Pratt.
Seconds later, they disappeared from view.
“Roger?” Zane shouted.
There was only silence.
Zane held up a finger, indicating everyone should remain silent. He didn’t want to discuss anything until he could be sure they wouldn’t be heard. A breeze whipped around above, shaking the trees. A few minutes later, an engine started in the distance.
“I can’t believe we didn’t figure them out,” Carmen said. “I keep trying to think of something we missed.”