The water stung like a thousand spikes, but he pushed through. He kicked his feet and headed down. Even with the flashlight on, his eyes took in hazy shadows and shapes. There were definitely fish down here. For an instant, slight panic set in. Bolivia was known to have an abundance of piranhas and poisonous jellyfish.
If he were on land, he’d take a deep breath to steady himself. Underwater, he was left with sheer willpower. Mind over matter.
He continued to swim deeper, and the rock formations became more dominant. But as he neared one, he caught a glimpse of a crack between two large rocks.
Could it be?
He was about ten feet away when his brain petitioned him to return to the surface, but he was almost there. He felt the draw and focused on his movements, not his fears. He picked up speed.
He reached his destination and touched the rock with his free hand. Again, his mind screamed at him to return to the surface, but he ignored its pleas. His flashlight caught a dark void, and he maneuvered between the rocks, his lungs yearning for oxygen.
Inside the void, he swam upward and broke the surface of the water. He found himself in an underwater cavity. He lifted himself onto the small amount of land and hungrily sucked in air.
As he looked around, it was easy to see that he had made the right choice. Opposite where he’d come up, there was a tunnel.
The landmass down here was about eleven feet long by seven feet wide, and the space was about ten feet high.
He took a few deep breaths and headed back to get the others. He realized there was one sacrifice they’d have to make, though, and he wasn’t sure he liked it. But it didn’t really matter whether he liked it or not. This was their only ticket to salvation.
He swam back until he resurfaced in the lagoon, the water not as cold as it had been initially, as he had acclimated to it.
“Matthew!” Juan came to the edge and extended an arm to help him out.
“I found another tunnel.” He noticed the three men’s eyes light up with hope. “We’ll have to leave most of our belongings here. Our packs won’t fit where we need to go. Grab only the essentials.”
“What do you mean it won’t fit?” Lewis asked.
“At the bottom of the lagoon, there’s a crack between two rocks. The space is tight, but more than passable for any of us.” His eyes traveled over Ian, who was the largest of the four of them. Matthew suspected even he’d fit through. But none would fit with the bulk of a pack on his back.
The men rummaged through their belongings to get out what they saw fit to take. Matthew grabbed his machete, and he already had his flashlight.
“When you’re all ready, follow me.”
Less than two minutes later, the men were all gathered at the edge of the lagoon, each wearing goggles. The fact Ian had a pair surprised Matthew. He also noticed that Ian had a satellite phone in a waterproof case attached to a pants belt loop now, and the Bolivians had their machetes.
“Now it’s down and to the left. It is a ways down so take a big breath to hold before you dive in. Also, remember how cold the water is. Prepare your brain for that.”
Juan nodded. “We can do this.” There was his toothy grin.
Ian simply scowled.
“All right. Ready?” Matthew asked.
“Ready.” Juan and Lewis gave the go-ahead.
Ian was quiet, but when Matthew looked at him, he nodded.
Matthew observed the water, not really looking forward to plunging beneath the surface again, but there was no other option. He dove in as he had before and gave the odd glance back to ensure the rest were following as he swam.
Once inside the cavern, Matthew was quick to get himself onto the land to allow space for whoever came next.
Juan surfaced first, then Lewis.
Three seconds passed. Five seconds. Then ten.
“Where’s Ian?” Matthew asked, heart racing for a new reason now.
Both Bolivians pointed to the water, neither giving any impression he was willing to leave land.
Matthew dove back in, not considering why he was going to save a man he had recently thought about killing.
-
Chapter 56
IAN’S HEART WAS SEIZING. Was he having a heart attack? The water was colder than he remembered it being when he’d fallen down the waterfall.
As he plunged beneath the surface, his childhood flashed before his eyes. His older brother had found it all fun and games to push him under the water and hold him there until he pitched enough of a fit that he was released. No sooner would Ian gulp a lungful of air than he was pushed back under.
All of it came rushing back to him with such stark clarity. More clarity than he cared to recall. And right now the fact that he had gotten even and murdered his brother while he’d slept, did little to compensate for the trauma induced when his brother had tormented him. It was a buried wound that would never scab over. A scar that remained sealed within his soul. It wasn’t visible to others. It was worse than physical wounds.
As he kicked his legs, he tried to get himself to swim to where the others were, sensing it was the only course of survival. Yet the haunting memories from his childhood consumed him. They constricted his lungs, squeezing, squeezing… Instinct had him wanting to go up, not down.
He made out the faint glow of light first and then felt the grip on his arms. He was being pulled to the surface of the lagoon.
No, that’s the wrong way!
He fought against the hold on him, imagining the face of his brother at thirteen years old. He heard the mocking laughter and saw the arrogant contortion of his face.
He shimmied and bucked, trying to free himself, but to no avail. He was ascending. He was moving away from where he was supposed to be going. With arms flailing, he broke the surface of the water. His vision cleared, and he realized it wasn’t his brother. It was Matthew.
“What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to kill us both?”
Ian blinked as the images lay one over the other, and eventually, his brother’s face disappeared, leaving only Matthew’s behind.
“Did you hear me? That was just damn stupid. I was trying to help you.” Matthew breathed heavily as he spoke, each word labored from exertion.
“I didn’t know.”
Matthew screwed up his brow, and it was enough to snap Ian out of his unpleasant reverie. He gathered a few gasps of air, filling his lungs.
“I’m ready when you are.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Ian hated the way Matthew was looking at him like some kind of emotional freak. “Let’s go.”
Matthew shot off a derisive look before slipping beneath the surface.
Ian followed him. The past threatened yet again to sabotage him, to drag him down to death’s abyss, but he wasn’t ready to reunite with his brother just yet. He had come this close to the City of Gold; he sure as hell was finishing the job.
This time he stayed close to Matthew’s feet, keeping back just enough not to be kicked.
Matthew’s flashlight and pointing finger directed Ian to the crack in the rocks. He followed through the opening, and Matthew had been right. The fit was tight, but with some twisting and contorting, Matthew made it through. He disappeared, and Ian hoped it meant what he thought it did.
As Ian followed Matthew’s movements, he noticed light above him now and realized he was about to surface.
Thank God!
He pulled himself to land, his legs shaking like jelly while doing his best to present himself as a man composed. Somehow he managed to find his voice. “Tell me we found it.”
As he looked around the space, it was nothing more than a small cavern. As panic began to set in, he noticed the entrance to a cave or tunnel. Not that he’d ever say it aloud, but whoever said grown men don’t cry was full of shit.
&nb
sp; -
Chapter 57
WILLIAM KNEW THE BEST WAY TO get answers was face-to-face. Over the phone, it was easy to smear on a smile, bury your attitude in a tone—if you’d mastered the art—and feign interest in the subject matter. It was even easier to divert a touchy subject. Plainly put, talking without seeing the other person was a conversation of a single dimension. There was no body language to analyze, no telltale signs to detect, no posturing. It’s why William preferred to speak in person. At least when he wasn’t utilizing the benefits of a phone call himself. But today he had nothing to hide and neither did his son.
His stomach churned as an iota of doubt seeped in with his conviction. While it wasn’t common for him to experience uncertainty, when it did arise, it had the tendency to settle into his system.
He had his driver take him to Chief Snyder’s office and directed that he wait at the curb with the car running.
“You can go in now, Mr. Connor.” The receptionist, who was probably around twenty years old and had model-like good looks, smiled at him. The expression struck William as sincere, but he also noticed the flirtatious glint in her eyes and the way she angled her head, elongating her neck.
Women had always found him attractive, but this girl was younger than his son. He just smiled back and said, “Thank you.”
Erik was perched behind his desk, his hands clasped together, torso leaning forward. His body language was a mixed bag. He communicated openness by the forward tilt, so he was willing to accommodate William, but he was also guarded, as disclosed by the hands.
“Please, sit,” Erik said with a smile.
William gauged the expression as professional. And again, the word accommodating came to mind. He tugged down on his jacket and undid its buttons before taking a seat. He sat, relaxing his posture, a technique he had mastered even when under attack from opposing parties. It was necessary for a politician to appear composed, emotionally stable, and clear minded at all times.
“What can I do for you?” Erik asked.
An obvious throwaway question as a man of his intelligence would know full well what he wanted. William held eye contact. “I just want to know if you’ve made any progress with Sophie’s case. I assume if you found her, I would have been notified.”
“Of course, you would have been.”
There was an underlying suspicion to Erik’s words, and William recognized it as being a potential land mine. But he needed to be as close to this investigation as possible just in case it blew up in his face. There were two options available to him at this time, and that was to fish for information or lie. He chose the former, for now.
“I am just heartbroken by this tragedy. I pray for her family and that she will return home safely. I can’t imagine anyone plotting this against her. Do you think it was possibly a random act?”
Erik rubbed his jaw. “It could be, but it’s unlikely. If someone spotted her and took her, I’d expect some violent indicators. At least signs of a struggle. Her disappearance seems planned and well orchestrated.” The man attempted to temper his words with a flair of diplomacy, but the fact remained: until Erik or his detective spoke with Matthew, he was a potential suspect.
Now came the time to stretch the truth. “I do have word in for Matthew. But you know what it can be like when he’s on-site.” Of course, the man had no idea.
“Yes, I can imagine.”
“All right, then.” William stood, did up his jacket, and extended his hand to Erik. “Please keep me updated, and the moment I hear from Matthew, I will have him call you.”
“I appreciate it.”
William left feeling good about having put in an appearance. It wasn’t that he didn’t care about the safe return of the girl, but he had a career to protect. To others that may sound like a harsh statement, but it was fact. He had sacrificed everything for this life, and he wasn’t about to let it burst into flame.
He walked to his waiting town car, and the driver tipped his hat before he opened the door. As he did, an idea struck hot and bright. Matthew was close to Daniel, so maybe Daniel could provide him with other information. The two did talk.
William realized the answer was one of two things: either Matthew was involved with Sophie’s abduction, or he was working to provide ransom for her freedom. Both scenarios circled back to the missing girl, and knowing his son, even the little he did, William found it easier to believe the latter. Hopefully Daniel would be able to provide some clarity. He wondered why he hadn’t thought of talking to Daniel about Matthew sooner.
-
Chapter 58
MATTHEW, JUAN, LEWIS, AND IAN entered the tunnel that led away from the underwater cavern. It was approximately the same height as the tunnels before the waterfall but narrower. Maybe the Incas had tired of making passageways by this point. If that was the case, Matthew took it as a good sign. Normally exhaustion comes at the end of a journey.
This tunnel moved downward. And as their flashlights hit the dirt floor and the stone walls, it was apparent it was about to get steeper.
All four men traveled in silence, and that suited Matthew just fine. He was worried about his friends. They had to be okay because…well, they just had to be.
People always spoke bravely of facing death until it was theirs to face. Or when loved ones passed away, suddenly the world took on a profound intensity. It was then that the larger questions were asked.
Matthew had learned this when he’d lost his mother. But right now, he wanted to avoid the philosophical riddles about what came after death. He needed to realign his mind and create a positive outcome. At least faith in the law of attraction dictated that sinking oneself into a vision made it come true. And, given the circumstances, Matthew was willing to give it a try.
“Let’s just stick close. Keep the light on the floor, doing interval sweeps to the walls,” he said to the group.
“Si, Matthew. I don’t want any spears spiking me through the head,” Juan replied. “Especially when we’re so close.”
The tunnel shrunk as they walked, and Matthew eventually had to hunch over. A pain shot through the back of his neck, but he pushed on.
The ground started to level off after a while, and Matthew heard something. Of course, with everyone’s footsteps and so little sleep, Matthew wasn’t sure if he had truly heard it or imagined it. But then it came again. This time it was unmistakable.
ROBYN WAS TIRED OF THE shadowed pathways that led them this way and that. Even though she’d insisted on putting faith in the fact they would find Paititi, with each passing minute, fatigue threatened to overpower her resolve. The little bit of shut-eye she had gotten earlier wasn’t enough to offset the hours her body craved. She wished that treasure hunting were easier, but at the same time, she knew it wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable if it were.
She glanced back at Cal, who was trudging along behind her. He was stooped over, and it was only then that she noticed how the tunnel’s height had pressed in on them. It was a good few inches shorter than it had been in other sections.
“How are you making out?” she asked.
“Oh, hunky-dory.”
She laughed. If she had to be stuck with someone, Cal made good company. He made her glimpses of negativity seem minute by comparison.
“Well, Mr. Hunky-Dory, I’m good to get out of here anytime now.”
“Don’t even get me started.”
She laughed again.
When she looked forward, the tunnel seemed like it went on forever. The only sounds in the space were their labored breathing and their boots scuffing the dirt with each stride. At least those were the sounds she could recognize. She swore she heard something else.
The beam of her flashlight hit the path ahead, and it seemed like the ground was leveling out. They were no longer going downhill.
“Do you hear that, Robyn?”
She turned
to Cal. At first it had seemed like a trick her mind was playing on her, but that didn’t explain his hearing it, too.
“I do,” she confirmed.
They both stopped walking.
“It sounds like…” Cal pressed his head to the wall and then pulled back. “I’d say a waterfall.”
“It can’t be.” That wasn’t what she had originally heard. She put her ear toward the wall. “It sure does sound like it, though.” She paused a beat. “Now what?”
“Shh. There’s—”
“Don’t shh me. I hear it, too.” Her heart leaped at the sound of Matthew’s voice. It seemed she hadn’t imagined it.
THEIR VOICES DIDN’T SOUND TOO far away. Matthew shot into a run, moving as fast as he could bent over. “Robyn? Cal?”
He didn’t look back while he ran, but he could hear the others picking up their paces, too. As he moved along, the tunnel leveled out even more. When he saw them, they struck him as an apparition, his imagination at work, but when they both took turns hugging him, he knew they were real.
“Thank God you’re okay,” Robyn said.
“Me? You guys were the ones trapped in a tunnel.”
“How did you end up here?” Cal asked.
“Long story. We’ll get into it eventually but not right now.” Matthew’s words stalled as he considered what all this meant. They had gone one way, and Robyn and Cal had gone another, but they had met up. Was it all one big labyrinth meant to keep treasure hunters away from the gold and, ultimately, lead them to their deaths? One couldn’t claim the fortune when one was a rotting pile of bones. Maybe the Incas didn’t need booby traps after that early stretch of tunnel. Instead, they played mind games, making people think they were almost there, when boom! The tunnel takes another direction, and around and around she goes. It would make sense given the Inca’s battle tactics of feigning withdrawal and then attacking from the flank.
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