Legend of The Lost: (Z & C Mysteries, #4)

by Zoey Kane

  The mule brayed in protest.

  “Have it your way, Roy. I’m going to by myself, then.” Zo started the walk up all on her own, hoisting her big purse over her shoulder. “Goodness. Is that why they say stubborn as a mule ? I still love you, but I’m going.”

  Next thing she knew, the mule was following her, so she mounted him again. But he promptly turned around and headed back down the trail.

  “That’s it! I’m walking. You had your last chance.” She slid off.

  “Mom, did you change your mind?” Claire called down at her.

  “No. Roy changed his. I’m coming up on foot.”

  Clouds suddenly showed up out of nowhere, and a bit of a drizzle came down, moistening her hair and face. The mule followed her.

  When Zo reached the plateau again, Claire said, “Well, that was strange. To what do we owe this personality change, I wonder?”

  “I don’t know. I always thought my friend, Roy, was so smart. Maybe he’s not feeling well. We’ll leave a little earlier than we previously planned.”

  They entered the mouth of the cave. There were plenty of footprints from the police investigating the crime scene thoroughly. Goldstrike stood patiently where he was found the first time they were there, his reins tied to his mane and Roy beside him, looking at the ladies with worried eyes.

  Taking a small battery-lantern from her oversized purse that Zo bought at K.K. Fashions and Gas, she turned it on. It lit all the corners of the cavern. They decided to follow the trail until it split. They chose the passage to the right, where they first found Ed and George. There was nothing remaining. Not the table, maps, tin cans—nothing. They inspected the walls and ground—not even a trace of blood. It had all been cleaned up. So they left and decided to go further up the main passage.

  The path narrowed, and when they passed a craggy, large rock, they saw a ledge, dropping off into unknown depths. A trickle of water echoed from somewhere beneath them.

  “Careful,” Claire said from behind. “Watch your step.”

  Zo lifted the lantern higher. The path was well worn, and shoe prints were visible for a few yards, but stopped mid-path. She went ahead anyway, and what was that? One shoe print that turned right, pointing at a stone wall where a huge, dead vine clogged up a crevice. Claire took the lantern for a better look.

  “Mom, what doesn’t fit here?”

  “This lone footprint?”

  “Yes, but there’s one more problem.”

  “What would that be?” her mom asked.

  “We have dried foliage here, but where is the sunlight that would’ve made it grow in the first place? Plants require sunlight, Watson.”

  “Okay, let’s give it a pull.”

  The limbs cracked and snapped away in their grasps. Claire grabbed the trunk and it, too, collapsed. She threw it over the ledge. What remained was a good-sized entry into blackness.

  Claire pushed the lantern through and entered, followed by her mom. There were rolls of paper, a chair beside a table with a couple of computers and printers, and a generator for electricity, although nothing was plugged in at the moment. It smelled strongly of ink.

  “Oh! Uh-oh! We are on dangerous ground here,” Zo said.

  Claire took a sheet of paper off a printer. “Untrimmed twenty-dollar bills,” she said. “You know what this means?!”

  “A counterfeit setup.”

  Claire took out her cell phone. “No reception this far inside the mountain.”

  “Put that sheet into my purse, and let’s get out of here.”

  “Right!” Claire folded the funny-money. “They will surely know somebody was here. We destroyed the old bramble vine that concealed this place.”

  “We don’t care. We should get out and conceal ourselves until we can call Daniel and get him this proof. But take a couple of pictures first.”

  Claire obeyed, aiming her phone’s camera. “Look!” She pointed to some clutter under the table. “There’s a stack of what looks like mail or something; grab it.”

  Zo shoved some into her purse. Claire quickly eyed everything one more time. She spotted a beaded piece of leather draped on the edge of the chair. She stuck it deep down into her pocket as her mom was already heading for the exit.

  “Okay, let’s get out of here,” Zo strongly urged.

  Zo slid through the orifice in the wall, and Claire came through a long moment later, since she was busily scuffing away their boot prints as she went.

  “Oh, thank goodness,” Zo said. “There you are. I didn’t know who might jump out at us. I’m sure it’s giving me blotches.” She backed up to get out of the way, when her heels slid over the pathway’s ledge. Zo screamed as she fell, her arms flailing like propellers in a desperate attempt to save herself, a vision of the black pit below consuming her thoughts.

  TWELVE

  The lantern was flung out of Zo’s grasp, and she caught the ledge by the tips of her fingers just in time, her nails digging into the cold dirt.

  “Mom! Oh, God! Mom!” Claire’s voice was shrill.

  “Hurry, Claire! Help!” Zo scraped her boots against the dirt wall, but she didn’t have enough strength to pull herself up, and her purse was still over one shoulder, weighing her down.

  Claire dropped to the earth, and locked her hands around her mother’s wrists. The lantern was against the wall, so there was a bit of light. Zo’s fearful expression was emphasized by the dim glow, her lips quivering over clenched teeth.

  “Don’t you fall in trying to save me,” Zo managed to say.

  Claire pulled with all her upper-body strength, feeling the blood rushing to her face as her pulse pounded. It wasn’t making any difference. Her own wrists felt brittle and weak, like her hand bones could detach from the added weight. “Mom, oh, Mom!” Tears were forming in her eyes, as she dreaded the inevitable. There was no help to even call for.

  One of Zo’s hands slipped off the edge, followed by the other, although Claire still had a hold of her. It was just Claire now, clasping her mother’s life in her hands. Her hands and arms began to tremble under the weight and she could feel her mother slipping further.

  Clearing her throat, and forcing as calm a response as she could gather, Zo said, “Claire, if I fall, I don’t want you to be stupid by making something of this accident that it’s not. Stuff like this happens. You go on with your life. I expect that. I’ll be very mad at you if you don’t pull yourself together and go on to live a successful, happy life… with Slobber!”

  Claire remembered the goodhearted man they met in a gas station during their last adventure, who had several teeth missing. They both really liked him, as a friend.

  Claire laughed in a desperate sort of way. Zo’s hands slipped some more in Claire’s weakening grasp. “Shut up, Mom!” She squeezed her mother’s fingers.

  “Don’t speak to your mother like that!”

  Claire broke into sobs. “I can’t pull you up and I can’t hold you much longer.”

  “It’s okay. I know you love me. I love you. I mean it—I’ll be very angry with you if you don’t go forward with confidence and strength.” A bit of gravely dirt tumbled down, scattering around Zo.

  Claire strained, squeezing the pads of their fingers in their last moment together. “No!” She lost her grip and screamed, “MOM!”

  It was dark and the dirt sifted in the stillness.

  Uproarious laughter came from down below. “Hang that lantern down here.” Zo was standing up. “I was barely six inches from the bottom. Pretty funny, huh?”

  “No.” Claire held the lantern over the edge. Her mother was standing in shallow water. “That wasn’t funny at all.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m just happy to be alive, I guess.” She laughed some more.

  A dull roar came from afar.

  ‘“What’s that?!” Zo asked. “It sounds like water.”

  “Sounds like rapidly moving water.” Claire’s vocal chords tightened as she spoke, and she frantically motioned for her mother. “Yo
u have to get up here. You’re standing on a riverbed and it’s probably starting to flood from the storm outside.”

  The laughter abruptly vanished. “I can’t climb back up.”

  “I’ll be back in a second.” Claire set up the lantern, using the light of her cell phone to head out.

  A couple of minutes went by nervously for Zo before her daughter showed up again, followed by Roy.

  The mule looked over the edge in curiosity at the stranded Zo, and let out an amused bray, “Haaa-hee-hee-hee.”

  “It was an accident!” Zo protested flatly.

  The roaring grew louder.

  Claire threw the dangling reins over the edge. “Wrap your wrists around these and let Roy pull you out.”

  Zo did that, but her wrists and fingers felt feeble from tightly holding onto the ledge for so long.

  Claire helped guide Roy backward. He held his head high with purpose and strength. Zo emerged, being dragged along, while dirtying and scuffing her weary arms. Claire grabbed her mom as soon as she could assist. When Zo was securely safe on the path, Claire quickly unwrapped her mom’s wrists from the tight reins and tied them back up on Roy.

  “We did it,” Zo said, standing up, her knees shaking. Claire gave her a big hug.

  Roy began to turn around on the narrow path, with his head out over the ledge and all four feet together, like on a circus stool. It was startling because they thought they were going to see their friend, a big mule, fall; but it didn’t happen. The turnaround was done skillfully, with practiced agility. Claire picked up the lantern and took a branch to brush away their tracks. Then they began their trek out. The water had a rushing sound to it, and kept getting louder. Just as they reached the rock by the passage, a thunderous flash flood exploded through the cavern along the smooth riverbed Zo was previously standing in.

  Heading back to the ranch, Zo rubbed her aching wrists in the wet weather, large drops pelting her scalp, and streaming down her face. “You know, sweetie? I wouldn’t be surprised if that was why Roy got so anxious and kept turning around with me, trying to go home.”

  There wasn’t much else said as they rode along. Deep thought seemed to be the matter of the moment. Zo asked, “After all of that, do you still have your cell phone?”

  “In my back pocket. Of all the things we’ve experienced, Mom, I think that was the worst. I won’t get over it easily either.”

  Zo only answered softly, “I know.”

  When they finally arrived at the gateposts of The Lost Miner’s Dude Ranch, Claire pulled back on Goldstrike’s reins, stopping him. The rain finally let up. Puffy gray clouds were still gathered together, looming ominously above, like they had a bone of contention with the resort. Thunder crackled in the distance. Despite everything, it was warm.

  Her waterlogged clothes sticking against her wet skin, Claire asked, “Do you think anyone saw where we went?”

  “Can’t be sure.” Roy settled beside Goldstrike, waiting for somebody to open the gate. “Call Daniel. I forgot to do that.”

  “Yeah, that’s right.” Claire dialed. “It’s ringing. Hi. Is this Daniel? Hi, it’s Claire. Come as fast as you can. We’ll be in the lounge. No red and blues. Isn’t that what I heard you say one time? Okay. It’s still ASAP.”

  Zo leaned down and shoved the gate open, and they rode through.

  “I think that flood is going to keep any bad guys from going up that narrow path to the counterfeit room. They should have no idea we were ever there.”

  Claire was still stressed over her mother’s near-death experience. “From now on, I’m putting you on a harness and leash like they do toddlers, so you don’t run away and get lost.”

  “I got it pictured.”

  People were out at the various booths, eating treats, and buying. A little, or a lot, of rain couldn’t prevent them from having fun.

  The man on stage asked, “What did the duck say to the chicken driving across the road? Be careful. It’s raining, you might quack up.” He got a few isolated laughs.

  “What did the chicken then say when the duck crossed the road? That’s all right—here comes the tow duck!”

  He didn’t wait for the crowd’s response. “I’ve got a million of ‘em folks. Get on over to Mackey’s portable bar for a hot toddy that’ll warm your bones right up.”

  The two rode their valiant steeds back to the barn to be brushed down. When finally returning to the foyer, they decided to wash up and change into dry clothes. Eventually, they entered the lounge and took a booth. Comfort was all they sought. Zo ordered a shrimp salad and garlic bread with green decaf tea. Claire chose a tuna melt, large fries, and a chocolate milkshake with extra whipped cream and four cherries on top.

  “Don’t judge me, Mom. I’d suck my thumb if I thought it’d work.”

  “I didn’t say a thing.”

  Daniel came walking across the room in his uniform, hat and all, and silver-toned sunglasses. He slid in beside Zo. “I can hardly wait to hear what you want to tell me.”

  Claire pulled up the pictures on her phone. With a shaky hand that was hardly able to support its own weight, she passed her cell to Daniel.

  Daniel took off his glasses. An amused smile was exchanged with a narrowing of eyes. “Where did you see this?” he asked.

  “The notorious Box Caves,” said Zo.

  “We went over everything there.” He handed the cell back to Claire. “We didn’t find anything like that. Send it to my phone. Is this what it looks like it is?” he asked.

  “Lean over my way.” Zo discreetly pulled out the sheet of twenty-dollar bills and set it between them.

  He refolded it before putting it inside his hat band. “All right then,” he replied. “Could you take us there?”

  “A flash flood came through,” Claire said. “I’ll give you directions, but Mom is grounded. She fell off a ledge and Roy had to save her.”

  “No kidding?” Daniel furrowed his brows in visible concern.

  Cindy brought the women their food. Daniel ordered a burger and Pepsi. Zo tried to stab her salad, but couldn’t hold the fork firmly enough in her hand to do so. Claire had trouble lifting her large sandwich, so it fell apart, leaving her hand trembling.

  Daniel leaned back, eyeing them. “What is the matter with you two?! You both look kind of funny to me.”

  “I’m awfully hungry,” Zo said. “Could you take my fork and just spear some of that salad, maybe with a bit of shrimp, and maneuver it into my mouth?”

  Claire was sucking up her milkshake with a salacious hunger.

  Daniel did as Zo asked. “You two are scaring me. What all happened?” He grabbed Zo’s limp hand and she yelped.

  Claire went into detail about the fall, and Daniel’s face froze. He took his phone and said, “I’m going to get someone to look you two over, just to make sure you’re both okay.”

  Zo said, “Oh, I forgot to give you this.” She reached back into her purse and tried to bring out the paperwork they grabbed before they left the counterfeit hideout. Daniel ended up retrieving it because all Zo could do was pet the papers with her overstrained fingers.

  “What more do you have in there?”

  “A lantern.”

  “Is that all?”

  “No.”

  “What else?”

  “A loaded gun.”

  “Dang, woman! You’re going to have me up all night, dancing around a campfire, and eating roasted marshmallows in a spirit dance for your safety.”

  Zo opened her mouth, looking into his eyes. He stabbed more salad, including a shrimp at the end, feeding her.

  “Do not, I say do not talk about this to anyone else. This has now become a federal crime. No talking to anyone, unless I give you the okay! Got that, too, Claire?”

  “Uh-huh.” She finished her milkshake and four cherries, even though she dropped two of them on the table a few times. “Does anyone mind if I plow my face into this sandwich?”

  Daniel grabbed Claire’s sandwich and pushed
it against her mouth. He held it there for a while, so she could take big, grateful bites. His eyes shifted self-consciously around the room, as if wondering what others were thinking. Sure enough, there was a booth full of old ladies staring at them. The three of them waved at the blue-haired grannies, and Claire’s smile revealed some bread poking out, while her lips and cheeks were smeared with mustard.

  After the Kanes finished eating, the captain decided to get the paperwork investigated and all the important calls made. He went to the kitchen counter and asked for his burger and Pepsi to go.

  A doctor showed up at Daniel’s request, and checked out their scuffed, sprained wrists, giving them the good news that a little ice and rest could work wonders. If they still hurt in the morning, they were to call him for X-rays.

  Brooks also walked in, all serious-looking. Claire cautioned her mom in a low voice, “Remember, we can’t say anything to Brooks either.”

  Zo nodded.

  “Oooo, ow!” remarked Brooks as he slid in beside Claire, his attention focused on the frozen bags of peas over her reddened wrists. “I heard you two had an accident. Daniel called me an’ said I should escort you around tonight an’ take care of any needs you may have. Man, is it as bad as it looks?”

  “Nothing’s broken.” Claire smiled.

  “I know what—let’s get chairs an’ sit on the porch. We can watch the rest o’ the night’s festivities there. And if you like, I can run around an’ get your drinks, cotton candy, whatever. That way, you can be as comfortable as possible an’ still have a little fun. Whaddya say?”

  *

  It was mid-afternoon now, and Zo, Claire, and Brooks sat together, rocking their chairs on the porch, with a good view of the stage in the distance. The rain diminished to a soft drizzle, but they were comfortable under the extended rooftop regardless. A vendor brought out their order of sodas and battered, thick onion wedges with dipping sauce, and they settled in to enjoy themselves.

  Mackey walked over from his portable bar. “What the heck have you two been up to?!”

  Zo was chewing a bit of onion followed by a slurp of 7-Up through a straw. Claire answered, “We were weekend warriors, rock climbing and sustaining casualties.” Claire spoke in a joking, sing-song voice.