Buried Secrets

by Margaret Daley

  “And there are definitely some remote places in the Southwest where they could be stashed. There are a lot in New Mexico alone.”

  “But first we need to break the code, figure out where to start looking.”

  Maggie fell into step next to Zach as he crossed the parking lot toward the science building. Her skin crawled with visions of people watching them. She perused the area, but saw nothing out of the ordinary, no gun-toting thugs waving their arms to get her attention.

  Inside, Zach greeted the receptionist with a nod and a smile but kept walking toward his office. The star-struck expression on the young woman’s face amused Maggie, while Zach seemed oblivious to his effect on the receptionist. Maggie hurried after him. His long strides chewed up the distance rapidly, as if he was a man on a mission.

  “Slow down.”

  He glanced back at her. “I don’t want to stay here any longer than is necessary.”

  At his office door, she spied the taut line of his mouth. “You felt it, too?”

  He nodded, unlocked the door and entered the room.

  Maggie quickly followed, not breathing fully until she was inside. “Are we being paranoid, or do you think someone is watching us?”

  “I hope the first, but wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the latter.” He walked directly to the bookcase along the south wall and withdrew a large volume from the top shelf. “After yesterday’s events, I’m sure they know we’re working together.”

  “And they want to stop that?”

  “Yes.” He stuck his hand into the vacant hole left by the large book. “I think that’s why someone tampered with my brakes. They wanted to get rid of me, or at least scare me off.”

  “My car was okay.”

  “They want you alive until they get the journal. They made the mistake of killing your grandfather before they got it. They probably thought it was at his house, as my grandfather’s map was. Like yours, my grandfather couldn’t part with the artifact and give it to a museum.”

  Their grandfathers kept the items as a constant reminder of the past. A past that had killed them and could kill her and Zach. Maggie shivered, her mind journeying back to the previous evening, when they’d been barreling down the mountain with no brakes. “I guess they didn’t think we would combine forces, or they wouldn’t have tried to kill you with me in the car.”

  He pulled his hand out of the hole in the shelf, a piece of folded paper clutched in it. “I think they did something to the brakes here at the college, or maybe even at my house. The mechanic said the way it was tampered with would cause a slow leak.” He waved the copy of the map in the air. “But we’re going to be smarter than they are.”

  Thinking back to the times she had witnessed her grandfather poring over the pages of the diary, and seeing the disappointment carved into his features, she had to suppress the strong urge to snatch the paper from Zach’s grip and discover what the big deal was. Then she considered the task ahead of her and Zach, and felt overwhelmed. A treasure. A map. A diary. Breaking some code. This was all beyond her expertise. She was a doctor, not a cryptographer.

  “Let’s get out of here. We still need to go to the rehabilitation center and then the bank in Santa Fe,” he said.

  “It’s down the street from my office.”

  Zach stuck the map into his pocket and opened his office door to allow her to go first. She hastened down the corridor. Zach’s hand settled at the small of her back, reassuring her of his presence.

  When she rounded the corner, she ran into a tall, thin man, his attention fixed on some papers he carried. Her purse, wrenched from her grasp in the collision, fell to the tile floor. All its contents scattered. Stunned for a few seconds, she just stared at the man, who quickly bent to scoop up her bag and items.

  “I’m so sorry.” Red in the face, the older gentleman stuffed her wallet, checkbook and compact into the purse, then gave it to her. “I should have been looking where I was going.” He peered over her shoulder. “Zach, you’re just the person I wanted to see.”

  Zach stepped around her and shook the man’s hand. “This is Maggie Somers. John Kingston. He runs the museum at the college and was one of my grandfather’s protégés.”

  John eyed her. “Somers? Any kin to Jake Somers?”

  “My grandfather.” Surprised the man knew Gramps, Maggie looped the straps of her purse over her shoulder and tucked it under her arm. “How did you know my grandfather?”

  “I didn’t. I’ve heard stories from Red.” The museum curator’s questioning gaze swung to Zach.

  Zach held up his hand. “I know. When I have more time, I’ll fill you in. Right now we have to be going.”

  He knew stories of Gramps? Maggie didn’t like the idea Red Collier had talked about her grandfather to others.

  John frowned. “Is something going on? I know you were upset about the break-in at Red’s place.”

  “I’m sure it was someone looking for an easy score,” Zach said.

  “I haven’t seen much of you since Red’s funeral. I’ve left you several messages about the reception for the backers of your expedition. It’ll be at the museum, to honor your grandfather’s contributions to it, and to entice the public about the new exhibit we’ll have, centered around Red Collier.”

  “An exhibit? When did you decide this?”

  “The president and I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity. You know your grandfather’s reputation in the field. I asked the receptionist to alert me if you turned up here. I just need your okay on the exhibit, and its opening next month—right before you leave on your expedition to the Amazon.” John shifted through the stack he held and produced a sheet.

  “Sorry. I’ve been busy and haven’t checked my messages.” Zach took the paper the curator gave him.

  John fumbled in his front pocket and withdrew a pen. As he presented it to Zach, he smiled. “The exhibit is going to be so nice when I finish with it. I’m still going through the boxes you brought to the museum. The grand opening will be a big celebration. Red liked a good party.”

  “Yeah, Granddad was always the first to arrive and the last to leave.” Zach read the sheet, then scribbled his name at the bottom before giving it back to John. “It was nice seeing you. Let me know when you plan to open the exhibit.”

  “Will do. I’m hoping Friday night in four weeks. You leave the following Monday.”

  “I know how much my grandfather meant to you, and I appreciate the tribute. I’ll be there.” Zach shifted closer to Maggie and placed his hand at the small of her back again.

  John’s thin lips lifted in a bright smile. “A third of the items at the museum he acquired in some way. A tribute is the least the college can do, and long overdue.”

  The curator’s glowing words underscored the sense of guilt in Maggie. She could imagine Gramps’s anger over the fact she was working with the enemy. Because of Red, her grandfather had given up his academic career and become a rancher.

  “If anything comes up in the next few weeks, or concerning the reception in a couple of days, call Ray. He can take care of any problems or get in touch with me.”

  “Are you going to be away or something?”

  Zach shook his head. “Just very busy. You know how it is with planning an expedition.”

  A sadness entered the man’s eyes. “No, I never did fieldwork like you and your grandfather. Sometimes I wish I had. I’ll see you at the reception.”

  They said their goodbyes and crossed the science-building lobby. While Zach held the door for her to exit, goose bumps shot through her. She peered back at John and glimpsed the intensity in his gaze, directed at her, and felt his judgment. It was obvious Red had confided in him about what had occurred between Red and Jake all those years ago, and Red’s side of the story had been different from Gramps’s.

  “So I see your grandfather told everyone his side of what happened.” Maggie strode toward the rental car, aware of Zach’s strained presence beside her.

  �
��My granddad helped John get his start, and when the curator’s job needed to be filled, he proposed John for the position. Through the years there have been a number of people my grandfather helped. Remember, Maggie, there are two sides to every story.”

  Maggie yanked open the Jeep’s passenger door. She started to say something, then realized she didn’t want to talk in the middle of the parking lot with no telling who was watching. She slid in and waited for Zach to climb in behind the wheel and switch on the engine. “So John Kingston knew about the break-in. Who else?”

  “A lot of people. I reported it to the police. John and Ray were with me when I went to the house after the funeral. I was donating some of Granddad’s personal items to the museum. John couldn’t believe what he saw. Some valuable pieces were destroyed. The man cried.”

  Maggie remembered the pottery shards crunching under her feet as she had walked into Gramps’s living room, and her brief anger dissolved. They had shared a similar loss. She would have to focus on that instead of the past if she was going to make this work.

  “Actually, I’m glad you met John,” Zach said. “When we find the codices, I would like to donate them to the college museum in our grandfathers’ names.” He slid a glance toward her as he steered the Jeep into the flow of traffic. “What do you think?”

  “That’s fine.” She stared at the side mirror, trying to see if anyone was following them. The sense of being watched still cloaked her. But no cars pulled out behind them.

  Twenty minutes later Zach parked in a space next to the rehabilitation center. On the ride he hadn’t said a word and his expression became more closed and dark the nearer they came to the place where his grandfather had died.

  He wrenched the Jeep door open. “Let’s get this over with.”

  On the sidewalk leading to the one-story building, Maggie impulsively grabbed his hand as they walked to the entrance. He peered down at their fingers linked together, then up into her face. “I’ll be all right.”

  “This has got to be tough. It’s okay to admit it. I know how much your grandfather meant to you.”

  “Because you felt the same way about yours.” Zach paused a few feet from the entrance. “I hated coming to this place when he was alive. I couldn’t wait until the doctors released him to come home. The day before he died they felt Granddad would be able to leave by the end of the week. I was making preparations for him to stay with me. Then he died.”

  The pain in his voice strengthened her connection to Zach. She knew exactly how he felt. Her past was screaming for her not to trust Zach Collier, but her heart was telling her to let go of her distrust. “Losing a loved one is never easy. We’ve both had our share of deaths in our lives.”

  One corner of his mouth lifted in a half grin. “Maybe that’s why we get along so well.”

  She chuckled. “We do?”

  “I see this as the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” He drew in a deep breath. “Let’s go. I don’t like standing around outside too long.”

  As she entered the center, Maggie peered back. Again the hairs on her nape tingled. How much was her imagination overreacting? She’d kept a watch on the cars behind them the whole way here, and hadn’t seen anything strange. But then, she wasn’t an expert on how to tell if someone was tailing her.

  Zach headed for the reception desk. “Hi, Cassie. I’m glad you’re on duty today.”

  “Dr. Collier, I didn’t expect to see you again. Is something wrong?” The young woman patted her hair as though to make sure it was in place.

  “I know you don’t keep a formal record of who visits the patients, but people usually check in with you first. I was hoping you would remember some of the ones who came to visit Granddad.”

  Her eyes fixed on Zach, Cassie leaned forward. “Your grandfather was very popular.”

  “Do you remember any names? Anyone in particular?”

  Deep in thought, the young woman tapped her finger against her chin. “That nice Dr. Kingston came several times. And your friend, Ray Parker.” She scrunched her mouth and stared off to the side. “Also a beautiful young lady with long blond hair, and a short, bald guy.” She snapped her fingers. “Oh, and I remember Dr. Lanier came once a week.”

  “Anyone else?”

  “There were probably others when I wasn’t on duty. I can ask around and see if anyone remembers anyone else.”

  “If you can think of the lady’s or the bald guy’s names, or, for that matter, any other visitors, please give me a call.” Zach wrote a number down on a piece of paper. “This is my cell. Just leave a message. I can get back to you.”

  Cassie’s eyes gleamed. “I’ll let you know what I find out. Oh, this is just like in the movies. I feel like a detective.”

  As they left the building, Zach frowned. “I knew Granddad was popular. I have a feeling she’ll come up with some more people. Hopefully she’ll get some names for us, too.”

  “Anyone jump out at you?”

  “Not really. Except, I don’t know of anyone who is short and bald who was close to Granddad.”

  “Your friend, Ray, was close to Red?”

  Zach stopped on his side of the Jeep and looked over its top at her. “Actually, he was. This past year they had grown closer through Ray’s association with me.”

  “How sure of him are you?”

  “I’m sure it’s not—” Zach dropped his gaze for a long moment, then reestablished eye contact. “I don’t think it’s Ray, but after last year, I suppose I’m not the best judge. My business partner, whom I had trusted, tried to have me killed.”

  “We all make mistakes. Trust someone we shouldn’t. People let us down.” Maggie opened her door and slid into the Jeep. Her mistake had been Brad Wentworth. She had trusted him, and he had used her.

  Zach started the engine and backed out of the parking space. “Not the Lord.”

  “I used to think that. I’m not so sure now.”

  “God kept me sane while I was in the jungle last year. God sent my sister, Kate, to find me when everyone else had given up. God has held me together through tragedies.”

  His words produced a longing in her to feel the same way, but doubts, fueled by her sorrow, still plagued her. “We’ll need to go by my office before we go to the bank,” she said, needing to change the subject.

  “That won’t be safe.”

  “But it’s necessary. The safety-deposit-box key is hidden in my office.”

  He turned onto the highway. “Why?”

  “Because there was no way I was going to bring it with me when I came to see you after taking the diary to the bank.”

  Silence ruled on the drive to Santa Fe. Again Maggie found herself twisting around to keep an eye on the traffic behind them. Nothing seemed wrong, and yet she couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom that had gripped her ever since they had entered the outskirts of Albuquerque earlier today.

  When they reached Santa Fe, Zach broke the charged quiet with, “Where’s your office?”

  She looked toward him as she told him the address.

  His knuckles whitened as his grip on the steering wheel tightened. “I don’t like this. Is there a back way in?”

  “We could park a couple of blocks away and use the alley behind the building.”

  With each mile they drew closer to her office, the tension mounted, until she found herself clutching the handle of the door in her own death grip.

  Zach parked the Jeep where she indicated, where it would be hidden behind a store. “You stay here while I scout this out,” he said.

  “No, I’m coming with you.” She pushed her door open and started to get out.

  He clasped her arm and stopped her. “There’s no use both of us getting caught if someone is watching your office. If I don’t return in fifteen minutes, leave and get as far away as you can. Go back to the reservation and have Hawke help you. He’s a good man. One you can trust.”

  The very thought that there might be someone watching her office
and that Zach could be captured unnerved her. But remaining alone in the Jeep unnerved her even more. “I’m coming with you.” She shook off his grasp and slid from the vehicle.

  Over the top of the Jeep, Zach stabbed her with a narrowed gaze. “If I tell you to run, don’t hesitate.”

  She nodded, realizing he was more adsept in this type of situation than she. Following slightly behind him, she could feel each pulsating beat of her heart course through her body with a rapidity that made her light-headed. The nearer she came to her office, the faster her heart hammered. Sweat beaded on her upper lip, and she swiped it away. By the time she reached the back door, she was panting as though she had run a marathon at high altitude. She wasn’t cut out for this cloak-and-dagger stuff.

  When Maggie stepped into the back storage room of her office building—the only source of light a small, high window to the side—the sound of excited, agitated voices coming from the front greeted her. Her fear sharpened, cutting through her. Something was terribly wrong.

  She remembered the sinister presence of the man in her house, and she nearly collapsed. Gripping a nearby table, she steadied herself. Please let no one else be hurt. She started forward.

  Again Zach halted her progress. “Wait. Let me check it out.”

  Not giving her a chance to say anything, he moved past her, his footfalls light, soundless on the tile floor. He opened the door a crack and peered out into the hallway. He squeezed through the opening and disappeared for a moment. Maggie scanned the dimly lit room and noticed the few boxes stored in the corner were ripped open, the items littered about the floor.

  Oh, no! She headed for the door when Zach stepped back inside, his features arranged in a fierce expression.

  “It’s safe. The police are here.”

  “The police!” Maggie shot past him. Her fear had come true. The people she worked with had been placed in danger because of her.