Rattled

by Kris Bock

  Camie slid off the couch and knelt, hunching over the book. “And you think you can read this?”

  Erin traced a finger along the slightly wavy line that ran down the center of the rock. “This is the trail. These circles are landmarks.” She tapped a large one toward the bottom. “Here’s the tallest mountain in the area. I was going to show you on a topographic map—” She gasped.

  Camie twisted her head to look up at Erin. “What’s wrong.”

  Erin sat back slowly, staring straight ahead. “The map. I put a topo map in my waist pack. I was going to show you.” She looked down at Camie. “It’s gone. I forgot about it until now. I checked my pack at the hospital and everything was in there—except the map.”

  Camie pushed the coffee table back and moved up onto the sofa. “Had you marked the location?”

  “No. I knew where it was, so I was just going to point it out.”

  “Whew.” Camie laid her hand over her heart. “That’s something in our favor then. And it looks like they didn’t find the book, or didn’t realize what it was.”

  “I didn’t mark the page or anything,” Erin said. “I wasn’t trying to be sneaky, I just didn’t need to. I knew I would remember.”

  “One more point for us. Did you have any other clues in your waist pack?”

  Erin thought back to that day, getting ready to go see Camie. It seemed so long ago now. “My phone! I took a picture on my phone so I could show you the petroglyph.”

  “But you still have your phone?”

  Erin nodded. Her waist pack was next to the sofa; she must have dropped it there when she came in. She fished out her phone and brought up the picture. “It’s not even that clear a picture. But they could have, I don’t know, forwarded it or something.”

  Camie took the phone and pushed buttons. “There should be a log if they did. But it seems like a lot of work, when they could have just taken the phone. In any case, this doesn’t show that anything was sent.” She put the phone on the coffee table. Her hands clenched into fists. “They must have gotten to you when you were lying in that ditch. Unless that guy who rescued you took the map, or someone in the ambulance—”

  “It was at the ditch,” Erin whispered. “I remember feeling someone tugging at my waist. I thought they were trying to help me. Then a door slammed, and a car drove away.” Erin tucked up her knees and hugged them. A chill ran along her skin and the pizza sat heavy in her stomach.

  Camie sucked in a breath. “I’m going to kill someone. When I find out who....”

  “But how will we ever find out?” Erin rested her forehead on her knees. “This is such a mess.”

  Camie scowled and said nothing for a while. Then she settled back against the cushions with a faint smile. “It’s not that bad. They got the topo map, but it won’t do them much good. They missed the phone and the book. What about your computer?”

  “I had notes on my computer, but even if they get in, nothing will lead them to the treasure. I only found that clue right before I called you.”

  “So we still know a lot more than they do.” Camie’s fingers drummed on her thigh. “They have nothing. I don’t like how they came after you as soon as you found the clue, though.” She gave Erin a sidelong glance. “You do realize that car was probably an intentional attack.”

  Erin gulped and nodded. She didn’t want to believe it. It seemed impossible. She’d been attacked and robbed and then burgled. She forced herself to take deep breaths. She was all right. They hadn’t hurt her badly, they hadn’t stolen anything of value. She had to hold onto that.

  “I wonder how they knew,” Camie whispered. She shook her head. “We’ll have to figure that out. In the meantime, we have to keep you safe. You, and the clue. I’m staying the night.” She gave Erin a sly smile. “But what you really need is a big strong man to protect you.”

  Erin snorted. “Right. Where am I supposed to find one of those?”

  Camie’s grin grew more wicked. “Seems to me there were two of them at the hospital.”

  “Hmm.” Erin tried to imagine calling either Mitchell or Drew and inviting them to spend a few days. “I’m not sure I’d feel more comfortable with either of them here.”

  “Because you don’t trust them, or because they’re, you know, hot guys.”

  Erin grimaced. Leave it to Camie to zero in on her insecurities. “Either, I guess. Both. You said something about Drew maybe taking the map. You don’t really think it could have been him? I’m pretty sure there was someone else who left before he got there.”

  “It’s hard to say for sure. I’d like to trust him, if only because he’s so damn cute. But it could have been part of some complicated plan. He steals the map, gives it to someone in the car, and comes back to help you. Maybe to find out how badly injured you were, what you remembered. Maybe just to get an introduction, make you feel grateful, so he could get close to you.”

  Erin remembered those blue eyes gazing down at her. She did feel grateful. And attracted. It was a dangerous combination. She felt guilty for even thinking negative thoughts about him after he saved her, and she wanted him to be as good as he looked. She sighed. “You’re right. We can’t afford to take chances.”

  “Don’t look so miserable,” Camie said. “Maybe you can meet with him, get to know him better and uh… pump him for information.”

  Erin just gave her a look.

  Camie snickered. “All right, so what about Mitchell then?”

  Erin rubbed her temples. She wanted to go back to bed and forget all this. But they’d stumbled into something dangerous and had to figure it out. “I don’t know. He was acting odd at the hospital. We’re not really that close.”

  “He could have been defending his territory from a strange male.”

  “Yes. But he knows about the treasure hunt, more than anyone else besides you. He always seemed so interested, and....” She shrugged. “It was something I could talk about, without sounding boring.”

  Camie gave her a sympathetic smile and a slight shake of the head, but Erin knew she wasn’t exciting or fascinating. When she told people she was a history professor, you could practically see them resist the urge to yawn.

  “You didn’t tell him you’d found a new clue?” Camie asked.

  Erin shook her head. “I called you first thing.”

  “Good. So the mystery remains—how did someone know, or suspect, that you found an important clue? Because I can’t believe it was a coincidence. Tapped the phone, maybe, or bugged the house?”

  “I don’t know anything about that stuff.” Erin glanced around the room, wondering if someone could be listening right then. She’d been in her home office when she called Camie before. “Wait—what did I tell you, exactly? I found a clue and....”

  “You were going to show me where we had to go!” Camie sat up straight. “They must have listened in on the phone call and figured you were bringing something that showed the location. When they found the map, they thought that was it.” She slumped back and grinned. “Boy, I bet they were pissed when the map didn’t tell them anything.”

  Erin nodded. “So they came here and searched the house. But I had put the book back on the shelf and they didn’t know exactly what they were looking for.”

  “We’re still one step ahead.” Camie hesitated. “You’re not disappointed that Mitchell might be... you don’t care that we can’t trust him?”

  Erin thought about it. So much had happened that she felt distanced from her own feelings, like she was watching a play that couldn’t really have anything to do with her. But she’d gone out with Mitchell several times. He’d flattered her, been interested, made her feel like maybe she wasn’t such a bore. Other women had given her envious looks, a new experience that she couldn’t help enjoying. Shouldn’t she feel hurt, or guilty, or something, for even considering that he might be behind all this?

  She felt a little regret, but not much. “No. I guess I was flattered at his attention, but I wasn’t falling in love
with him.”

  “Good. He was always too slick for my taste. I was glad to see you going out, since it’s been a while—”

  Erin made a face. “Since Craig.”

  “Who was nowhere near good enough for you.”

  “You never even met him!”

  “I know you gave him five years, and he made you feel like no one else would ever want you. And then you moved out here and your long-distance relationship lasted less than three months before he found someone else. He’s a jerk.”

  Erin shrugged. She didn’t have the energy to go into all that now.

  “Anyway, I wasn’t suggesting either Drew or Mitchell as your bodyguard. In the morning, I’ll get Tiger. He’ll protect you.”

  Erin smiled.

  “Don’t scoff,” Camie said. “Tiger is twenty pounds of muscle, with claws and teeth.”

  “Tiger is a housecat.”

  “The best guard cat ever,” Camie said. “Just you wait and see.”

  Erin carefully erased her smile. “Tiger is a prince among cats. I’m sure I will feel much safer with the two of you to protect me.”

  Camie gazed at her. “We haven’t even asked the most important question. Do you still want to do this?”

  Erin hesitated. “Do you?”

  “You know me, always up for an adventure. And I hate to be bullied. I want to keep going, but if you need to stop, I’ll understand.”

  “You won’t be disappointed in me?”

  Camie’s face filled with sympathy. “Oh honey, no. Disappointed to give up the hunt, maybe, but never disappointed in you.”

  Erin sighed with relief. They both knew that Camie had way more courage than Erin ever would, but that didn’t stop them from being friends. That comforted Erin more than an alarm system, a guard cat, or even a handsome man could. Still, Erin didn’t want to disappoint Camie. And she realized suddenly that she didn’t want to disappoint herself. She knew she had done something remarkable in turning up a clue to a treasure that had been lost for over a century. She remembered the excitement, even if she couldn’t quite feel it anymore. She knew what such a find could do for her future as a historian. She could only guess what such an adventure would do for her as a person.

  Her gaze fell on the mantle. A few of her treasures had been rescued, but some were missing. Someone had broken into her house. They’d touched her things, destroyed some of them. Someone had run her off the road. If she hadn’t been wearing her helmet, or if she’d just been unlucky, they might have killed her. Had they realized that? Had they cared?

  She didn’t know how long she’d be able to hold onto the anger, but for the moment, she felt strong.

  She looked back at Camie. “I don’t like bullies either. To hell with them all. We’re going to do this.”

  Chapter 6

  After another 10 hours of sleep, Erin felt surprisingly good. Camie was gone when Erin came downstairs, but Tiger greeted her with a yowl and rubbed against her leg, leaving a smear of orange hairs across her tan slacks. He kept up a rumbling monologue as he followed her into the kitchen. She bent to scratch his head. “Whatever you say, buddy.”

  She fixed herself cereal and sat at the table. Tiger hopped onto a chair that was still pulled out from last night. He was big enough to comfortably look at her over the table with unblinking amber eyes. He meowed.

  “I don’t know what you’re complaining about,” Erin said. “You don’t have to go into the office today.”

  He made a noise that sounded like a question.

  “I have to post final grades. You can bet I’ll have students complaining.” She shook her head. “I don’t know why they imagine they should pass the class if they don’t show up or turn in homework. And yet somehow they’re shocked when they get an F. Then they come whining to me about losing their scholarships. Is that my problem?”

  Tiger grumbled.

  “It is indeed. Because I have to put up with all the complaints. It’s really fun when the parents get involved. It is my fault their precious darling doesn’t know how to use an alarm clock?” She rolled her eyes and Tiger gave a mewling grunt.

  Erin washed her cereal bowl and left it in the drying rack. She checked that Tiger had plenty of food and water and turned to him again. “Why do I put up with this?”

  Tiger gave a questioning mew.

  Erin paused to scratch his chin. “Yeah. Because I don’t have any choice right now. But just you wait. Things are going to change.” Tiger followed her as she retrieved her waist pack and made sure she had her keys. The book was already hidden in the best place they could think of, back on the shelf in plain sight. “I’m going to drive in today. I think that’s reasonable, don’t you?”

  Tiger made an encouraging mumble. Erin bent to stroke his back. “I don’t know how you are as a protector, but you’re certainly a better conversationalist than most men.” He hopped up to the windowsill and purred as she headed out the door.

  Erin hurried past open doorways in the Humanities building. If anyone saw her, they’d want to ask questions and examine her injuries. She had on slacks and a long-sleeved shirt, despite the heat, to cover the bruises and scrapes on her arms and legs, but she couldn’t hide the splint and bandage on her hand. She didn’t even bother to try plastering makeup over the raw skin on her face. It would probably look worse and delay the healing.

  She blew out a breath when she reached her office door. She’d made it that far unnoticed. As she fished out her keys, she could hear footsteps approaching from around the corner. She quickly unlocked the door, slipped inside, and closed it behind her.

  Something moved behind her desk.

  She gasped. “Mitchell!”

  He smiled from her office chair. “Erin! There you are.”

  She leaned back against the door, waiting for her nerves to settle. “What on earth are you doing here?”

  “Waiting for you, of course.” He glanced down and she was almost sure his hands were moving on her keyboard, but her computer monitor blocked her view.

  She started around the desk. “What made you think I’d be coming here?”

  He rose from her chair, blocking her view of her computer, and came toward her with his arms outstretched. “I figured you’d be in sometime today. Guess I got lucky.”

  She stood stiffly as he put his hands on her hips. He bent to kiss her, but she turned her head so he got only her cheek. “How did you get in?”

  “The door was unlocked. I had a few minutes free, so I thought I’d wait here, in case you came by.”

  Erin always locked the door behind her when she left the office and double-checked by turning the handle. Of course, it was possible that the cleaners had neglected to lock it or that her boss had come in to look for something in her absence. She decided to let it go, rather than start an argument she couldn’t win.

  “You’re looking better,” Mitchell said. “Come to lunch with me and tell me how you’re feeling.”

  “No thank you. I really want to get this work done.”

  “Surely no one expects you to get back to work so soon after your accident.”

  “You expected me to be here.”

  “I know your work ethic. But I’m sure it can wait.”

  “Not long, it can’t. Grades are due this afternoon. Anyway, I don’t feel like going out in public with my face looking like this.”

  “It’s not that bad. You’re beautiful, as always.” He brushed his fingers down her cheek. Erin resisted the urge to back up. If Mitchell wasn’t part of the attack on her, she didn’t need to insult him. If he was, she didn’t want him to know she suspected him. But she now saw what Camie meant by calling him too slick.

  “Please, I just want to get this done and go home.” She tried to look weak and fragile. “I’m so tired. And my head.” She lifted a hand limply to her brow.

  “Poor baby!” He put his arms around her. “You have been through a lot. I hope your injuries won’t interfere with your summer plans.”

 
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I’m just so tired. I may need a couple of weeks before I’m really back on my feet.”

  “Perfectly understandable.” He tipped her head back, his fingers smooth on her jaw, and smiled into her face. “I hope you’ll allow me to come by and look after you.”

  Erin managed to smile in return. “Thank you, but I think I’ll head to my mother’s for a week or two, as soon as I get everything squared away here.”

  He frowned. “Don’t tell me you’re giving up your treasure hunt. You’ve been so excited about it.”

  “The treasure can wait,” Erin said. “It’s been there for over a hundred years, so I imagine it will be there next month.”

  “Of course.” He released her and paced the small office. Erin glanced down and noticed that though her computer was off, her monitor’s on light still glowed. She always switched it off at night.

  Mitchell turned suddenly and crossed back to her. “Look, Erin, I need to talk to you about something important. About… about us.”

  Good grief, he sounded like he was about to propose or something. She raised her hand to her head, which really was starting to pound. “Please, Mitchell, not now.”

  “Before you leave town. Promise me we can have a long, quiet talk before you leave.”

  “All right.” Erin started to move toward her chair, but he caught her arms. Inwardly, she groaned. Camie might say she should be pumping him for information, but she just wanted to be rid of him, finish her work, and get out of there.

  He ran his hands up to her shoulders and back to her elbows. She didn’t bother to mention the bruises that throbbed under his touch. She looked into his eyes. She’d always thought them rather nice, a light gray that was almost silver. Now she remembered another pair of eyes, blue as the summer sky.

  “I’m so glad you’re not badly hurt,” he murmured. “You know how I feel about you, right?”

  Erin opened her mouth, decided she had no safe answer for that question, and closed it again.

  Mitchell leaned closer, his breath against her cheek. “We could go away for a long weekend... get to know each other better.” He pulled her against him and pressed his mouth on hers.