She groaned and stomped her foot, the heel of her boot vibrating the shiny linoleum floor. She must have looked like a child. She glanced around the lobby to see if anyone had seen her little tantrum. But there was only a receptionist who focused on the computer screen in front of her.
Inhaling a deep breath, she walked over to the front desk and asked, "Would it be possible for me to use your phone? No one knows we're alright."
The receptionist eyed Sydney. For a moment, she looked as if was going to say no but then nodded slowly.
"Short," she said in a thick accent and pushed the phone closer to the edge of the granite counter top.
Sydney smiled gratefully and pushed the buttons gingerly. Two rings and her uncle answered.
"Uncle, it's Sydney."
"Sydney! I was worried to death, are you alright? I tried to contact you, but your phone is off. I can't get hold of Zack either."
"We're okay now, but we had a bit of an incident. Our ropes snapped, and we were trapped in a moulin." Her voice cracked at the end of her sentence, and she swallowed hard, trying to push away the tears that had come out of nowhere. "Luckily, Mikkel, our transport manager called for help, and a rescue team got us out."
"Were you hurt?"
"No. Zack is a little banged up, though."
"Badly?"
"No. He'll be fine."
"Oh, thank God for looking after children and fools. There's a bit of both in that man."
Sydney nodded her head, not trusting herself to speak for a moment.
"Did your expedition offer anything worth the struggle?" Sal continued.
Sydney turned her back to the receptionist and lowered her voice to a whisper and held the receiver close to her mouth. "Actually, we found a settlement." She glanced over her shoulder to see if the lady behind her was listening. But she was now busy with her books, her face an expressionless mask.
"Settlement? Underground?"
"We have photos and everything, you won't believe it. It's all there. From homes and stables to a church—"
"That is amazing!"
"It's so much bigger, though. It's huge, an entire city, with multiple levels..." She paused, trying to rein in her excitement. "It may be larger, and more complex than Derinkuyu in Turkey. I have so much to tell you, and I can't talk about it here."
"Sydney, do you know what this means? I'm so proud of you! I told you your trip with Zack would pay off."
She groaned at the mention of his name, not bothering to keep her voice down. "Well, he is a different story. I don't know why you thought it would be a good idea for me to work with him. He's experienced, yes, but there's only one thing in his world that's important to Zack, and that's himself."
"Now, sweetheart—"
"I'm serious," she interrupted. "He's impossible, so full of himself. He made it clear that he didn't want me there on more than one occasion. And now he wants me out of the picture so he can claim the credit for the find. Him alone."
"I know he can be difficult, honey," Sal finally said. "But I've known Zack most of his life, and there's a nugget of gold buried under all that arrogance."
"Well, good luck to anyone who wants to find that nugget," Sydney snorted.
"He has a good heart, Syd."
"Are you sure we're talking about the same person?"
"He's just had a tough time of it," Sal explained. "When Zack was just nine or ten years old his parents were killed by a drunk driver. He prayed for God to bring his parents back. But when his prayers weren't answered he just got... lost."
"That's a long time to be lost..."
"It is, but Zack's grandfather never gave up on him. He raised Zack and found other ways to keep God in his life. Biblical archaeology was just one of those ways."
"I had no idea. Zack's not exactly the most talkative person."
"It's not something he likes to talk about, sweetheart. I think his grandfather's passing a few years back hit him pretty hard."
"He did mention he was close to his grandfather."
"God has a plan for that man. We just have to trust Him to execute it. Few people are as patient as you are, Sydney. He just needs someone to give him a chance. Just try, okay? One more chance. He might surprise you."
The receptionist behind Sydney coughed. She was running out of time. "I have to go. My time is up. I'll see you in a few days. I love you."
"Just one chance, Syd," Sal pressed.
"Okay," she said. "One more chance." The receptionist cleared her throat. "I have to go. I love you."
She turned and returned the receiver to the cradle. The receptionist gave her a pointed look, but Sydney walked away before she could say a word.
Chapter Thirty-Two
THE NEXT EVENING, ZACK stared helplessly at the white walls around him. It had been a full day since he'd woken up, but it felt like a week. No one had come to visit after Sydney and Mikkel left, and the television in his room only had five channels, none of which were in English. He was starting to go a little stir crazy.
Zack had heard the man's voice before he stepped into the room, but his hair was already standing on end. "Zack Cole! Nice to see you're still alive."
George Dingo stepped into the hospital room and took a seat next to Zack's bed. The same chair Sydney had been sitting in the day before.
"Dingo," he said in acknowledgment, taking a sip of the boxed apple juice from his dinner.
Frank Waterson and Walter Ives appeared in the doorway next. Waterson headed for the only remaining chair, but Ives had a longer stride and got there first. Waterson leaned against him as if to push the other man out, but Ives was solid as a rock and ignored him.
It was a comical sight, and Zack would have found it amusing if his mood weren't darkened by Dingo's presence.
"These two fools are still working for you, I take it?"
"They each have their competencies," Dingo said.
Choice of partners was not one of Waterson's. The man always seemed to land on his feet, but this time might be different.
"I hear you had an exciting week," Dingo said, not even bothering to feign a sincere tone. "I was worried about you. I wanted to see how you were doing."
Zack shrugged. "Just another boring day poking around in some rocks. Nothing unusual."
"Come now, don't hold out. I heard about your lovely little trip down a moulin."
"A moulin, huh? Sounds exciting. What makes you so sure that wasn't just a rumor?" Zack said.
Dingo smiled a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "None of my contacts would dare bring me a rumor."
"So we fell down a moulin. There're dozens of them out there. Big deal, you of all people know the risks of archaeology. You've each run into your share, I'm sure," he said, looking pointedly at the other two men.
Waterson grinned and said, "Don't you know it."
"There are always risks," Dingo mused. "But the rewards—"
"We want to know what you found," Ives interrupted Dingo.
Dingo shot Ives an annoyed look then glanced back at Zack and nodded.
"We didn't find anything. If your sources are so reliable, you know that we spent eleven and a half of the twelve hours we were down there trying to get back out."
Dingo smiled again, "Well, that's the thing. My sources are as reliable as they come. And they told me you found something."
Zack's mind went straight to the figurine on his nightstand. His eyes involuntarily darted there for a moment, but it was enough.
George Dingo advanced on the tiny statue like an orca. "Well, what's this?"
Zack picked it up before Dingo could reach it. "Just a little trinket from the gift shop," he said casually. "It's for a friend's kid back home. I can tell you which shop if you want to get one yourself."
Waterson approached. "Oh yeah? Which one because I'd..."
"No need," Dingo waved him back. "I wonder if perhaps your research partner has anything interesting to share about your underground adventure."
"S
he'll just tell you the same thing. We found a whole lot of nothing."
Dingo stood. "I'll see if her version of 'nothing' is the same as yours."
"Well, good luck finding her. She left for home yesterday." Zack's words left a sour aftertaste in his mouth.
"Is that what she told you?" Dingo grinned. "I'm pretty sure I saw her in a café back in Nuuk earlier this afternoon. I'm confident I'll find her there again. I think she'll have plenty to say. About you, about the moulin, and especially about your little 'trinket.' You know how persuasive I can be. Of course, you could save me the trouble and just give me the coordinates of the moulin..."
Dingo didn't usually get to him. Zack was immune to the mind games he played. But today it hit him hard. This was why he worked alone. If he didn't care about anyone, no one could hurt him. No emotions came into play and threats were useless. Artifacts were worth so much more, and they didn't deteriorate as quickly as relationships did. People were temporary. Things were forever.
"It was a maze down there. Death is what you'll find if you don't know your way out. Other than that there's a lot of ice, freezing water, and rock. If that's your thing, you'll love it." He was getting crabby. His head throbbed, but the pain was dull in comparison to the sharp pain that he felt somewhere he imagined his heart to be.
Dingo shrugged. "If you want to play it this way, I'm game. Gentlemen, it looks like Zack is passing his turn tonight. We have another appointment. Can't be late for that."
Waterson and Ives both stood, Waterson offering a crooked smile. Zack smiled back, not about to let on that they'd gotten to him. Dingo waited for the other two to exit the room before he shuffled out too. He stood in the doorway and nodded at Zack. "Sweet dreams," he said, turned and walked away.
Chapter Thirty-Three
ZACK GLARED AT THE door to his room.
Was Dingo right about seeing Sydney? Did she not go home? Why wouldn't she? He had treated her like an annoying tag-along child.
What was it about this girl? Why am I letting her get to me?
But if Dingo was right... If she hadn't gone home and was still hanging around, waiting for him to apologize... He had to warn her at least. The last thing she needed was to get messed up with a guy like Dingo.
Zack stretched painfully for the telephone on his bedside table. Before he picked up the receiver, he realized that Sydney's phone had been water-logged just like his own. Besides that, he didn't have her number.
Of course, he could call Father Giovanni and ask for it. Check to see if she had arrived safely... And have to explain how and why he had lost contact with his research partner, the Father's niece.
Zack drew his hand away from the phone and then picked it right back up again. He called the operator and asked to be connected to the hotel in Nuuk. Zack's Greenlandic was as bad as the operator's English. But he managed finally to get the hotel's line or the closest Thai restaurant. It didn't matter because the phone rang and rang with no answer.
He slammed the phone back on the receiver. If the annoying woman were still here, he had a grudging responsibility for her. He had to warn her of the danger. And he had to do it on foot.
Zack pressed the call button for the nurse.
No one came.
He pressed again and again until finally, an older woman appeared in the doorway.
"I need to leave now," he said.
She shook her head. "Doctor says you stay."
"There are things I need to do, you understand? I need to leave!"
She shook her head again. "Doctor says maybe tomorrow."
He tipped his head back onto the pillow and let out a groan. "You people can't keep me here against my will. I want to speak with a doctor right now!"
"Is late. Doctor speak with you in the morning."
Defiantly, Zack swung his legs down the side of the bed and shifted closer to the edge. He was dizzy but was sure it would pass. His toes were numb as they touched the cold floor. He ignored the tingling sensation and slid down until he stood on his feet.
The nurse watched from the doorway, her arms crossed.
His legs felt like they were made of Jell-O and he struggled to support his weight. Why was he this weak? His head spun, and he started to topple. He instinctively tried to stop himself from falling, pushing with his right hand on the bed. A sharp pain shot through his shoulder, and he let out a muffled cry as his arm gave way.
His legs, unable to hold him up, collapsed and he fell into the arms of the nurse who could move quickly if she wanted to. She was also much stronger than she looked. With a combination of leverage and brute force rarely seen outside of a Sumo match, she deposited Zack safely back onto the bed where the room spun around him.
"Doctor says you stay. Your body says you stay," the nurse said as she tucked the sheets firmly under the mattress. She turned to him as she headed out the door. "Maybe you go tomorrow."
One more night, he decided as the spinning faded to a bearable level.
One night. That was all he gave himself.
* * *
AN HOUR LATER, ZACK was finally under. Not exactly asleep, but in a stupor formed out of boredom and exhaustion. His attention was drawn back into focus when a nurse entered his room. Not the older nurse from before, this was someone new. Without a word, she began injecting something into his IV.
"Hey," he tried to brush her hand away. "What are you doing?"
"Just something to help you rest. They say you've had trouble sleeping."
His mind was already starting to feel cloudy. "Who...who said that? I don't want any..."
Whatever it was, it was taking effect quickly. Like a patch of fog rolling in, a calm took over Zack's body, and he sank back into his pillows.
Chapter Thirty-Four
SOMETHING WAS PULLING ZACK out of the deep, sticky sleep that held him. When he blinked his eyes, the blurred outline of the window and the golden hint of sunlight that crept through it came in focus. The amount of daylight this time of year in Greenland was disorienting, and he had no idea how long he had been out. Still, he didn't feel like he'd slept long.
Unconsciousness grabbed hold of him and tried to pull him under again, but warning bells in his head went off. Something was out of place. He fought hard to get out of the dark grip the sedatives had on him and turned his head. A dark shadow stood at his nightstand, rummaging through the drawer that held the few personal belongings that had made it to the hospital with him.
"Hey," he managed to croak.
The dark figure froze.
"What are you doing?" Zack asked, his voice breaking a bit. His head didn't feel like it was clearing up at all, though.
The figure didn't move. Zack blinked, trying to swim through the blur that surrounded him. Slowly his conscious started to resurface, and he reached out his hand and grabbed hold of the sleeve.
The dark figure came alive, yanked his arm out of Zack's clutch, and ran out of the room.
"Hey!" Zack called after the figure.
He threw off the blankets and swung his legs out of bed. They held his weight this time. He took a heavy step forward, and then another.
The IV in his arm yanked, and a sharp pain shot through his arm where the needles entered his skin. He reached back and grabbed the pole, wheeling it with him.
Two more steps and he was out of his room and picking up his pace.
He looked left and right.
The shadowy assailant moved down the hall.
Zack started in that direction, but it wasn't long before black spots started dancing in front of his eyes. His vision narrowed until he only a small window in an otherwise dark world was visible. His legs grew heavier and heavier. Whatever was in his IV must have been pumping into his system faster than before with the exercise, and it was knocking him out.
"No..." Zack had gasped before he sank to the ground. His vision went black, but he could hear people shuffling around him. Two hands hooked him under his arms and then everything faded away.
&nb
sp; Chapter Thirty-Five
ZACK BLINKED BACK TO life several hours later. This time, the bright light that streamed through the window into an otherwise bland room almost looked cheerful.
A nurse was standing at the foot of his bed, checking his charts.
"What happened?" he asked. All he could remember was collapsing in the corridor.
"Sorry?" the nurse asked with a thick accent.
"After I blacked out, what happened? Did they get him?"
The nurse shook her head, giving Zack a puzzled look. "You had a good night's rest," she finally said.
"No one got him?" Zack asked again.
"I'm sorry, got who?"
"The guy in my room, the one I was chasing..."
The nurse looked at him like he was crazy. "Some patients dream when we give them something to sleep," she said. She smiled at him and then left the room.
Dream? That was no dream.
Zack had grabbed the guy's sleeve. He was flesh and blood. He was real. Zack pulled the drawer open and rummaged through his belongings until he felt the smooth stone of the little statue under his fingers. If someone had been rummaging in his drawer, they would have found it easily.
Zack closed the drawer again. He could have sworn...
He shook his head. Was he losing his mind?
He needed to get out of the hospital and back to the hotel. A warm bath and a good night's sleep, uninterrupted by sedatives and the hallucinations they provoked, was what he needed.
He shifted onto his side and felt the IV line pull against his arm. The IV was in his hand. He was certain it had been in his arm before. Was he losing it? He remembered the pain shooting into his arm when he tried to pull away with the IV still beside his bed.
Zack brushed up the sleeve of his hospital gown. The skin on his arm was damaged as if a needle had pulled against his skin and torn it a bit. A scab confirmed that it had bled.
It couldn't have been a dream. Someone was lying to him. Someone was trying to patch it all up and make it look like nothing was wrong, and the nurses were playing along with it. He would put his money on Dingo. The conversation he had with him the day before made the good-for-nothing treasure hunter's intentions clear.
The Codex (An Armour of God Thriller Book 2) Page 10