Dark Lake

by Clare Revell

  Her hand rested on his arm. “I’m sorry.” She peered out at the lake. “You can see the entire spire now.”

  Evan rubbed his hand over his eyes. Now wasn’t the time for sentiment. He glanced out of the windscreen across the lake, and his gaze narrowed. There was a huge hole in the side of the church spire. “It appears as if it’s leaning to one side.”

  “And it wasn’t yesterday.” Lou heaved a sigh. “It’s possible it was being supported by the weight of the water, but I doubt that, given everything else that’s happening. I need to get down there and fast.”

  “You’re not going alone. I’m diving with you.”

  Surprise crossed her face, making her look cute. “You dive? I thought you said…”

  “No, I said I left my wetsuit at home. I assume your suit has a universal helmet lock?”

  “Yes, but—”

  He cut her off again. “Good. I have a wet suit and dive gear in the boot. It goes with me whenever I travel, which is usually on business when I need it. My master’s degree is in civil engineering. I know dams and buildings. You know diving and history. We should make a good team.”

  “Wow.” She let out a slow whistle. “And there I was thinking you were just a pretty face.”

  He chuckled. “Not even that. And I’m far from the lord of the manor who sits on his backside all day drinking coffee.” He laughed as a rosy hue spread over her cheeks again. “Sorry to disappoint you. I run my own company in London, called Xenon. It’s an engineering firm. One of our contracts is the Thames Barrier. Another is the Aberfinay Dam. So yes, I know what I’m doing. I already have police permission to dive what is essentially still a crime scene.”

  “Impressive.” She tilted her head. “Then you should dive the rest of the lake with me. See for yourself what’s down there, or rather what’s left of it. Help me search for this key or anything else that might help the investigation.”

  Evan nodded. “I’d like that. We’ll use my helmets. They have radios fitted.” He got out of the car and opened the boot. “Give me a sec to put the wetsuit on, and I need to check in with the office. Then we’ll dive the dam.”

  She nodded as she climbed out of the car and shut the door. Then as he stripped off his jumper and unbuttoned his shirt, she pirouetted, facing out over the water.

  He grinned. “Is the prospect of me undressing that frightening?”

  “You flatter yourself,” she said. “I’m just not ready to see you scantily clad this early in the morning.”

  “Probably wise. No doubt I’m not a sight for sore eyes.” He tossed his clothes into the boot and tugged on the wetsuit. Then he slid his feet into sneakers. “Come on then.”

  “I’ll give the boat a thorough inspection and get the gear checked. Especially the air tanks,” she said. “After yesterday, I’m leaving nothing to chance. We’ve also been running out of air much sooner than we anticipated.”

  “Then I’ll leave the boot open for you.” He tossed her the keys and headed up towards the office.

  Jasper came out to greet him, a scowl on his face instead of the customary smile. “Morning.”

  Did he ask, or just assume the worst? “How is it?”

  “Not good, boss. We drained off seven foot overnight, but the pressure is still too high.”

  Evan wrinkled his nose, his mind whirling. “I want to go down and check the inside myself before we dive.”

  “I wouldn’t. Wait until you come back.”

  Evan shook his head. “It’ll take me five minutes tops to get down there and check the gauges and come back. Dr. Fitzgerald will need that long at least to check the tanks and get the equipment ready for the dive.” He paused. “I suggest you call the Environment Agency and get the panel inspectors out ASAP.”

  “Varian said he’d already called them. They’re sending someone out today.”

  Not believing that for a second, Evan grabbed the clipboard, resolving to call the Environment Agency himself once he got back up from the tunnels. “Back in a few.”

  26

  Evan headed outside and took the lift down to the concrete service tunnel which ran the length of the dam. His footsteps echoed as he exited the lift. He studied the chart in his hand and checked the places Jasper had marked. The walls were damper than he’d have expected, but nothing unusual.

  The pressure gauges, on the other hand, set alarm bells ringing in his mind. He spun to leave the control room, his trained eye catching a glimpse of something in the far corner. He crossed to check. A tiny hairline crack snaked down the wall from ceiling almost to the floor.

  He trotted back to the lift, punching the call button. Once on the surface, he ran to the office. “Jasper, I don’t want anyone going down there until I’m back.”

  Jasper raised an eyebrow. “Not even the panel inspectors?”

  “No. I don’t trust Varian not to send his own men in their stead. I have a contact over at the Environment Agency, and I’ll call them myself. Pull strings if need be.”

  “You’re the boss.” Jasper turned back to the dials. “I’ll give you a shout if anything changes up here.”

  “Thanks.” Evan headed outside into the chill morning.

  Fog drifted down off the mountains as he crossed over to where Lou hefted several tanks of air into the boat.

  “Lovely weather for ducks,” Lou said, barely glancing up as he approached.

  Evan grimaced. “Oh, yeah.” He drew his phone from the glove box. “I need to make a couple of quick calls before we go.” He dialled quickly. “Yes, this is Evan Close from Xenon. I need to speak to Wallace Teague.”

  He leaned against the car and filled his friend in quickly. “So what I need to know is who’s coming out and what time.”

  Typing came over the phone. “No one is coming.”

  Evan closed his eyes in dismay. “Figured as much. Someone is sabotaging things up here. I need panel inspectors here today. We have a situation at the Aberfinay Dam—right now it’s a yellow. There is a strong possibility it’ll become a red. I’ve checked the service tunnel, and I’m now about to dive and check the outer wall. The run off isn’t enough to reduce the pressure.”

  “I’ll send a team out now. As a courtesy to you, I’ll tell you who. Even though it’s not normal procedure.” More typing clicked. “OK, Cliff Barnes and Pat Stewart will be with you by three at the latest.”

  “Thank you. I’ll speak to you later.” He hung up and gave Lou a thumbs-up. “Let’s go.”

  “Do we have a problem?”

  He locked the car, tossing his keys and phone into the boat. “Quite possibly. There’s a crack in the internal service tunnel. I need to check the outer walls and see if there are any corresponding marks. So, get in the boat and let’s go.” He helped her in. “You got everything?” As she nodded, he cast off and headed across to the dam. “And, for the record, I’m not jealous. Well, maybe a little.”

  She frowned. “Huh? Jealous of who? Varian or the Environment Agency?”

  “Neither. Of Professor Cunningham. I’ve gone back to that train of thought I told you to hold in the car on the way here.” He glanced at her. Oh, she was beautiful when she was confused or angry or passionate about something. In truth, she was beautiful all the time.

  He grinned. “I like being with you. I shouldn’t. I admit I came to this point from being ready to hate you, or at least distrust you. I was afraid you’d unearth my deepest, darkest secrets and tell the world.”

  She tucked her hair behind her ears. “You’re really that bothered by your great grandfather’s involvement in all this?”

  “Yeah, I am. I was afraid I’d lose everything because of this.”

  “Like what? I don’t understand how, because you weren’t even born when all of this happened. So you can’t be held responsible for his actions.”

  “He may have murdered or had a hand in the murder of half the village. If he profited from any of those deaths, then my company, this land, everything I own is built with blo
od money. The manor was renovated with that money. I know that, and I still live there, own the land, the dam…” He broke off, staring out over the water, trying to rein in his emotions and control the embarrassing wobble in his voice.

  Her hand touched his cheek. “Evan, look at me.”

  He blinked hard, before doing as she asked.

  “He didn’t kill them. Not unless he unleashed a plague virus. And if all this ‘blood money’ as you called it bothers you that much, then sell it. Give the money to the church or a charity. If you work in London, you must have a flat or something there.”

  He nodded. “Yeah.”

  “There you go then.”

  He sighed. Maybe he should. “I guess it depends on what’s in that box you found, if we ever get it open.”

  The boat stopped by the dam and Lou tied the rope to a ring on the side of the concrete structure. “First, let’s see how much of a problem we have here.”

  Shouts came from above them. Lou shifted on the seat. “Great, we got trouble.”

  Evan winked at her. “I reckon that’s trouble with a capital V.”

  Lou giggled.

  Evan glanced upwards. “Morning,” he yelled, waving at the figure glowering over the edge of the dam.

  Something rectangular and black fell from the top of the dam. Evan caught it and rolled his eyes at Lou. “Radio.” He turned it on. “Morning, Varian. Can we help you?”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Checking the dam. Care to join me?”

  “The explosives are set to go. It’s not safe.”

  “I’ve notified the environment agency about the potential threat to life this dam currently holds. I’m diving the dam in an official capacity as head of Xenon. There will be no more blasting until they, or I, deem it safe to do so. In any event, the police will not give you permission to destroy any more of this crime scene.”

  Varian’s scowl was evident from here. “Lou, I told you the dig was off. There’s no reason for you to be diving again.”

  She snatched the radio from Evan and hit the button. “That’s why you’re sending Monty up here, right? To take over, hide things. The way you’re so good at doing. And you need to check your e-mail once in a while.”

  “You dive off that boat, and you’re fired.”

  Lou tugged up the hood of her wetsuit. “Sorry, I can’t hear you.” She seized her helmet and fitted it securely. Then she unstrapped her leg and rolled backwards off the side of the boat.

  Evan laughed.

  “Tell her she’s fired,” Varian yelled.

  “Actually, she’s on Xenon’s time this morning, not yours. You need to check your e-mail from last night. You can’t fire someone who’s already resigned. Don’t wait up. We may be some time.” He dropped the radio into the bottom of the boat and waved at the figure leaning over the dam. He fitted his helmet and eased back over the side of the boat. He turned on his helmet light and hit the mic. “Radio check.”

  “Right behind you.” Lou swam over to him, the concrete wall of the dam looming through the dark water behind her. “I like being able to talk to the person I’m diving with. Varian would never buy these.”

  He grinned. “Perks of being the boss. I choose the equipment. By the way, Varian says you’re fired. And please don’t make any dam jokes.”

  “Really? Because I’ve got several I could come up with.”

  Evan shook his head. “Anyway, I told him you’re working for me this morning. We’re diving the dam in an official capacity as part of the Xenon contract.” He began to swim downwards.

  Lou followed him. “I am, am I?”

  “Will that be a problem?”

  “So long as your orders are sensible ones, nope.” She tapped him on the shoulder. “That crack isn’t good, is it?”

  Evan grimaced, his fears confirmed. His headlight illuminated the walls of the dam. Even given the lower lake level, he still wasn’t happy. The slight hairline fracture on the outside walls, combined with the pressure, could escalate quickly into a full scale collapse. He was ready to recommend draining the lake completely, but a controlled release of that much water would take weeks. They didn’t have weeks.

  Lou swam back and forth, taking photographs every foot or so, while Evan carried out a detailed check of the walls. She made her way over to him. Even with the mask on, concern etched his handsome face and chiselled jaw.

  “What do you think, Evan?”

  “I don’t like it. We can’t swim the rest of the village yet. I need to get this information top side, and call my team in.” He headed upwards, breaking the water. He glanced around, treading water. Lou was nowhere to be seen. “OK, where are you?” he asked.

  Her voice came over the comm. “Evan, get down here. You need to see this.”

  He headed back down, following her light to find her. “What—?” The word died in his throat as horror struck him with the force of a mallet.

  The light illuminated a decided crack on the dam wall.

  27

  Evan strode past Varian, ignoring him, and into the office. “Jasper, a word.”

  Varian followed him. “What’s going on?”

  “This doesn’t concern you,” Evan didn’t bother to hide his irritation with the man. “I don’t care if you own the hydroelectric company and think you have a right to poke your nose into dam business. But this is my dam, my land, and I’ll thank you to leave my office now.”

  “And if I don’t.”

  “I’ll call the police and have you escorted off. I don’t have time to deal with you at this precise moment.”

  Someone knocked on the door.

  Evan groaned. “Come in.”

  Two uniformed officers entered. “We’re looking for Mr. Sparrow.”

  Timing, Evan decided, was everything. He pointed. “Right there. Please take him. He’s trespassing on private property.” He turned his back and stared at Jasper. “We have a serious problem here.”

  “How can I help you officers?” Varian asked.

  “Your office said we’d find you here. We need to ask you some questions down at the station about Bart Manchester, the bombing of the power station, and the death of AJ Wilcox.”

  “Are you arresting me?” Varian raised an eyebrow, and Evan envied his ability to remain so calm.

  “Not yet. If you could come with us.”

  Varian glared at Evan. “This isn’t over.”

  Evan shook his head. “Don’t threaten me in front of the police, Varian. That’s not clever or wise under the circumstances.” He waited until Varian left with the officers then turned to Jasper. “You need to see this.” He showed him the photos on the camera and pointed to the blueprints.

  Jasper shuddered. “It’s worse than we thought.”

  “I’m going to wait here for the panel inspectors. Make sure they’re the ones the Environment Agency are sending. We need to continue the run off and see if we can increase it.”

  “Do you want an alert put out?”

  “I don’t want to start a panic.” Evan tapped his fingers on the desk. “We issue a red, people will assume the dam will fail. It could simply be a surface crack caused by the blast or normal stress. Get someone down to the control room to monitor the pumps and gauges. I’ll get a team from Xenon up to go over the dam completely.”

  “Sure. So, the warning?”

  “Yellow. That’s normal with a run off anyway. I’ll draft a press release in a bit.”

  Jasper moved to the window. “What is Dr. Fitzgerald doing out there?”

  Evan glanced up in time to see the boat tied to the remains of the steeple and Lou vanish over the side. “For Pete’s sake! I’m taking your boat. She can’t dive alone. There’s too much debris out there. The inspectors are Cliff Barnes and Pat Stewart. Due around three. Don’t let anyone else near the dam unless it’s the team from Xenon.”

  He ran from the office, calling on his mobile. “Ralph, it’s Evan. I need the whole shooting match up at Dark Lake A
SAP.”

  “Big problems, boss? You did say …”

  “Yes. We could be looking at a total dam failure. How soon can you get the whole team up here?”

  “We can be ready to leave as soon as everyone gets into the base—twenty minutes or so. After your phone call last night, I put them all on standby.”

  He reached the boat. “That’s great. I’ll send the jet for you. I need you all here no later than two o’clock.” He jumped into the boat and started the engine. “Be ready.” He ended the call and dialled Ira. “It’s me. Send the jet to London to pick up the team from Xenon. I need them at the dam by two. I also need a press release. There are three in a file marked alerts on the computer in my study at the manor—red, amber and yellow. Make sure you change the dates for today.”

  He guided the boat to the church spire. “Before you ask, we have huge problems at the dam. For now issue a standard yellow alert, stating the run off is due to damage from the explosion at the power plant. Let me see it before it goes out. The amber and red are just in case. I also need you to contact Judge Derbyshire and get an injunction against Varian to prevent any further blasting here. The cops took him in, but knowing the scoundrel he’ll be out before long. I got to go.”

  Evan tied the boat next to Lou’s. Fitting his helmet and tank, he dropped his phone into the boat and dived. “Lou, you’d better answer me, right now. You are not the only one who has rules about diving alone. And right now you’re breaking an unbreakable one.”

  “I’m fine, Evan.”

  Light came from inside the church. He swam inside and found Lou by the crypt door. He grabbed her arm. “What are you doing? We have to go up. Now.”

  “No way. I have to finish here.”

  “Humour me. I need to talk to you. Preferably not over the radio.”

  “Fine.” She kicked for the surface and broke the water, glaring at him. She yanked off her helmet. She tossed it inside the boat and pulled herself in after it. “OK. The helmet is off. What’s so important you drag me back up here?”

  Evan heaved himself inside the boat and sat as close as he could get. “What are you playing at?”