“ICE. They’ve taken your mother,” Ernesto said, and the panic in his voice was palpable. “She’s got a green card, but they said… I don’t understand what they said. Something about she might have a fake. That’s bullshit! She’s paid. They have records!”
“Where is she now?”
“Some holding center.” Ernesto’s voice cracked. “You’ve gotta come back, kid. She needs your help.”
She needs me out here, he thought. “I will be home as soon as I can.”
“This is no time to fuck around!”
“Trust me, I’m not fucking around,” he said. “I will call later tonight. If you can see her, tell her I’m doing what I can to fix the situation, okay?”
Ernesto hung up on him. He didn’t know how to explain to the man that he really was doing all he could.
“Everything all right?” Cressida asked, leaving the cabin naked.
He pulled his mouth in a firm line. Cressida had made it this far, he reasoned. She could survive without the house. She wouldn’t like it, but she’d make it. Maybe she could even live with him. He’d help her get over it.
That was the solution, he realized. She was falling in love with him. He was falling in love with her. She didn’t need to buy her house.
He just needed to find the treasure, then he’d persuade her to use it to save his mom.
He closed his eyes. “Come here.”
He held her, naked against him, their skin cooling. He kissed the top of her head, fitting her against him.
“It’s going to be all right,” he reassured her.
It’s got to be.
Chapter 10
Cressida knew something had happened, something had escalated… and that it probably had to do with the call Noah had received yesterday afternoon. He hadn’t wanted to talk about it, and she didn’t want to press him. Even though an aspect of their relationship had changed, she didn’t want to take advantage of that fact.
I think I’m falling in love with you.
She quietly hummed with pleasure to herself at the thought as she sat in the RV, waiting for Noah to go through the closed remains of the Minerva Hot Spring. It looked like a little, dumpy rest stop, in the middle of nowhere. It had obviously been out of business for a while.
“Do you think he buried the treasure here? It’s not like it’s anybody’s property,” Noah had asked, with a noticeable tension.
“I don’t know,” Cressida said. “I guess technically it’s some bank’s property. Still, it can’t hurt to look.”
She’d stayed in the RV, not wanting to push her luck and because Noah had seemed so intent. They’d made love most of the night, and she was starting to get a little sore, but it was still amazing. So she’d figured she’d stay behind, recharge. She felt… stretched, like she’d strained herself a little. Not quite like she was going to have an anxiety attack, but she’d definitely overdone it a bit, and she was going to need to take it easy for a little while.
Noah came back, his face a little red and sweaty from exertion. “Two hours,” he said. “And not a thing. I can’t see anyplace he might have buried it. I even went in – it was unlocked,” he quickly assured her, “and there wasn’t anything. So I don’t think it’s here.”
Her spirit fell, and she felt as discouraged as he looked. There was a hint of desperation in his eyes. “He had to have buried it nearby,” she quickly said. “He told us our clue was practically spot on. We’ve got to be close.”
Noah seemed to take some comfort in that. “It’s just we’re running low on time,” he said. “We probably shouldn’t have taken that break yesterday, damn it.”
Now she felt stung. “I’m glad we did,” she said, in a quiet, dignified voice.
He sighed, then stroked her face and kissed her. “I’m never going to regret being with you,” he said. “No matter what happens, you are one of the best things I’ve ever had happen to me.”
No matter what happens?
What the heck did that mean?
“We’ll find it. I promise.” Her mind raced.
Where would Henry Curton have hidden the damned thing? She’d wanted it for herself, and yeah, she was running out of time on that. But this was an emergency, this was right now. Noah must be in a tailspin, trying to figure out how to get money to pay off the thug who had sent the man she’d bear sprayed in Modesto. And she was desperate to save the house, her sanctum.
“We just need to work the grid,” she said, pointing to the map they were using. “And cover more ground.”
Noah kissed her forehead. “All right. I’m going to go out there, get back to it. You may not see me for a few hours, and I don’t know what cell reception is going to be like, although it seems pretty good right here. Just – I’ve got a compass on me, okay? And I know how to get back to this site.”
She braced herself. “It’ll go twice as fast if I search, too.”
His eyes widened. “Are you sure you’re up to it?”
No, I’m not. “I can handle it,” she said, trying to reassure the both of them. “I won’t go too far. You’ve got a few copies of the map. I’ll cross off –” and she gestured to a portion of the map that they’d drawn lines on “— this portion of the grid. You have an extra compass?”
“Yeah,” he said, rummaging in his bag. “I brought extras the last time I went hunting. Seems like I was the only person in the group that brought ‘em.”
“I’ll try to stay in sight of the RV, and I’ll, um, leave markers,” she said, feeling anxiety start to well up inside her. “I know what we’re looking for. Or at least, I think I’ll know it when I see it.”
“You aren’t bringing a shovel,” he said, rather than asked. “I don’t want you overdoing it, and digging’s not easy.”
“If I find something, I’ll either call you, or I’ll come back and find you so I can take you there, okay?” she said.
He grimaced. Then he pulled her in for another hug.
“You are too good for me,” he said. “I don’t deserve you. But I’m going to do everything I can to make this up to you, okay?”
“Don’t be silly,” she admonished, even as she felt her heart rate elevate slightly. “Now let’s get out there. Daylight’s burning.” She pulled on a baseball cap over her pony tail and tied her fleece jacket around her waist.
The sun pelted her. She couldn’t believe how cold it had gotten the night before, but now it almost felt like summer in the full sunlight. She felt the wide-open space like it was a giant hand pressing down on her. She swallowed hard.
Just focus on Noah, and the house. He needs this. You need this. Get it done.
She felt a little shaky. She gripped the map and compass tightly. Noah stroked her arm.
“If you feel like any of it is too much for you, just head back here to the RV, okay?” he said quickly.
She nodded, unable to speak. Then, she forced herself to take a step, then another. Soon, she was walking away from the RV and from Noah.
Just get it done, she repeated to herself, and kept on walking.
It’s taking too damned long.
Noah tried to keep his mind focused as he worked the grid, looking for anything that might be out of place, anything that might fit the descriptions of Athena’s temple in Monochrome Wasteland. He’d done hunts before, but they were always in the wrong place. And, quite frankly, he didn’t have as much riding on finding the treasure as he did now. It was hard to calm his racing thoughts enough to get into an observant place.
You’ve got to find this treasure.
He hated to think about what his Mom was going through, scared, alone, probably being questioned about totally made up bullshit – and the more that she protested, the more they probably grilled her. Because who would believe a little immigrant lady, who was still here on a green card after all these years and who was keeping her citizenship from Indonesia?
He growled to himself. He had to stay focused. He couldn’t afford to get angry and flip out – and
even if he did both of those things, it wouldn’t help what he had to do. He had to find this treasure.
I hope Cressida’s okay.
She had looked paler than usual when she’d stepped out of the RV. He knew that going out on her own was a huge step, and he half wanted to go out and find her and make sure she was okay. But she was right – if they split up, they’d cover more ground.
He had to believe that Henry Curton’s verification of their guess was close. She’d guessed Minerva’s Hot Spring, and he’d said that they were the closest that anyone had come, and the hunt might be coming to a close soon if they could get out there and track it down.
But “close” could be a few yards, or a few fucking miles, Noah thought despondently. Goddamned Henry Curton!
He blamed the man for the situation. If he hadn’t set up this stupid treasure hunt, then Killian wouldn’t be threatening Noah’s family to get what he wanted. And if Henry hadn’t had Killian and done whatever he did to screw the kid up, Noah wouldn’t be dealing with him now.
But if it weren’t for the treasure hunt, you would never have met Cressida.
And, in a weird way, if it weren’t for Killian, he never would have ventured to Washington state to find her and ask for her help. He never would have traveled with her, and while he’d been falling for her personality online, he never would have fallen so fast if they hadn’t been in such an intense situation.
He wasn’t thanking Killian. But he felt calmer, more able to focus. He put in another hour before his phone rang, surprising him.
It was Killian, which didn’t surprise him.
“Where’s my fucking treasure?” Killian said bluntly.
“How could you call ICE on my Mom?” Noah shot back. “We had a deal!”
“Yes, and you still haven’t made good on it,” Killian said. “I don’t have a treasure.”
“It’s just been a few days,” Noah said. “You didn’t give me any warning.”
“You’ve had plenty of time for side trips,” Killian snarled. “The man I had following you said that you could have taken a straight shot to California down the five, but you decided to detour. Unless, tell me, was there a clue somehow in the Trees of Mystery that I don’t know about?”
The reminder that Killian had had them followed burned like acid in Noah’s chest.
“Yeah, well, I’m looking for the treasure now,” Noah said sharply. “But it’s not like your father put a neon sign on the goddamned thing. I need more time.”
“I don’t have time,” Killian said, his words Arctic cold. “And neither does your mother. My father said that your clue was the closest anyone had ever gotten – that you could probably pick up the treasure in a day out from Los Angeles, if you wanted to.”
“It hasn’t been that easy!”
A bunch of birds startled. He hadn’t been that close to them, but he figured it might be a wild donkey or some other small predator, out there in the canyons and the chaparral. He ignored it, focusing on Killian’s conversation.
“Doesn’t the little agoraphobe have any ideas?” Killian mocked. “She’s there for a reason, isn’t she? Your muse, your guide – your good luck charm? Or should I say, your good fuck charm?”
“Are you still having us followed?” Noah shouted.
“So you are sleeping with her!” Killian said, and he sounded derisive. “God, no wonder you haven’t accomplished anything. The man I hired to follow you said that you two couldn’t keep your hands off each other in the redwoods.”
“Did your man in Modesto also mention that he couldn’t keep his hands off of me?” Noah said sharply. “He started whaling on me because I called him on being a shitty tail. He was planning on doing even worse to Cressida before she bear sprayed him.”
“Yes. He’s still quite put out about that.” Killian sniffed. “Of course, he then lashed out at a bunch of locals, and is currently in jail and not much use to me. Which is why I called ICE on your mother. I figured if I have to work with you, I’m going to show you just how serious I am.”
“Listen, I promise: I will get you the treasure.”
“The entire treasure,” Killian warned. “I saw when he was packing it. Don’t get cute and think you can take some of it. I’ll know, and your mother will be sent off to Jakarta before you can fucking blink.”
“The entire treasure,” Noah said, between gritted teeth. “Every last cent.”
“And how are you going to explain that to your little partner?” Killian asked. “Because I’m not going to want to deal with her and any sort of drama, any question of who found the treasure or who it belongs to. It has to seem like I found it, that I own it.” He sighed. “Perhaps I should have dealt with her directly. She does seem to be the brains and the brawn in your partnership. And she seems quite loyal. Maybe I should have found a way to deal with her instead.” He paused. “Maybe I still can.”
A cold fury filled Noah. No way was Killian getting anywhere near Cressida. “Cressida couldn’t have gotten here alone, and you know it,” he said coldly. “She needed me. I got her here. You deal with me. And don’t worry, I will handle Cressida. She’s not a part of this do you understand?”
“You’ve got one day,” Killian said, each word clearly, almost painfully, enunciated. “One. Day. Or not only will your mom go back to Indonesia, I’ll make sure something unpleasant happens to your little girlfriend as well.”
With that, Killian hung up.
Noah let out a roar of anger and frustration, sending the same birds wheeling through the sky with a noise. He had one day. How the hell was he supposed to find this thing in one day?
By looking, damn it, he thought, and started to work the grid again hoping like hell that Cressida was having better luck than he was.
Cressida was struggling. The place just seemed so vast. At least there weren’t throngs of people, but even so, the eeriness of the silence seemed overwhelming.
Just work the grid, she scolded herself.
The thing was, she was used to a small area to simply live in, much less search. She was not sure how to search for something in this vast place. What was she looking for, anyway? She’d been so sure it would be clear once they found Minerva’s Hot Spring. Henry Curton had said it was so obvious, they were only a day away. But now that she was there, it could mean anything. One day’s travel? One day’s searching? Based on what?
She was frustrated, and anxious. She knew how much this meant to Noah, to the point that she’d almost forgotten her own need. But now that she was out in the open, she thought that she was going to freak out.
I miss my house. I miss my room!
She frowned. No. Now was not the time. She had to keep it together, as best she could, if she wanted to keep her house and her room and her closet. Gritting her teeth, she kept scanning the landscape. She saw the twisty forms of Joshua trees in the distance, the scrubby dark green of the chaparral.
If I were going to hide a million dollars, where would I hide it?
She smirked at herself. The thing was, it wasn’t if she were going to hide it. It was if she was Henry Curton… and if she was going off of Monochrome Wasteland. He’d said that Owl Canyon was the right choice, because of Athena.
Without any other clues, she’d keep going off of the Athena assumption, and think about what was happening in the book. They’d found Minerva’s Hot Spring, but it hadn’t panned out. That didn’t mean it was wrong, necessarily. When the hero, Theoclus, found the temple on Planet Twenty-Nine, he’d just been jumped-and-dumped by bad guys. He was practically dead. The priestesses of Athena had patched him up. He’d been ready to abandon the quest, but the Temple had healed him.
Then… what had happened?
He’d wandered from the grounds, and noticed a flock of birds, leading him from the temple. There was a place where animals gathered. It was a spot of wisdom and rejuvenation. He’d gotten his epiphany there, seen Athena, and moved forward to solidly kick the villain’s ass.
There
fore… she was looking for somewhere that animals gathered.
Feeling a little stupid, she started looking at the ground. Not that she was any sort of survival expert who could track animals, but if they gathered somewhere, wouldn’t she notice?
After about half an hour of that, and working the grid, she noticed she hadn’t gotten anywhere. At least it distracted her from her rising anxiety. She took off her baseball hat and wiped at the sweat that beaded on her forehead. She looked over – and saw birds, circling and settling. There was more vegetation in that area than the rest of the area, she thought, which surprised her.
Shouldn’t you be working the grid?
She probably should. But she felt a little burst of excitement in her stomach and glanced at her compass. There was something about the grouping of brush and bushes, something that jogged her memory. She walked a little faster, scaring a tarantula that scurried across her path. She tried not to let that squick her out too badly as she rushed.
When she got to the bushes, the birds were making chirping noises, obviously irritated at her intrusion, and they flew into the air and resettled onto the nearby greenery. She saw immediately why there was more brush.
“It’s a watering hole,” she murmured, feeling a growing excitement.
A gathering place for animals.
Slowly, carefully, she started moving around the edge. Where would he have put it? He wouldn’t have dug – wouldn’t have needed to. She also wondered if maybe there was quicksand. She’d have to be careful…
She stopped, holding her breath.
Was that… a box?
She could barely make it out in the muddy water. She didn’t dare step in – she didn’t want to get stuck, and she couldn’t do this by herself.
I’ve got to get Noah!
She thought about calling him, but she had no idea how to describe where on the grid she was. She took a photo of it with her phone, then went off at a jog, looking at the compass. She wasn’t sure she was headed exactly for the RV, but she ought to be able to find it and then him.
Playing Doctor Page 13