“Twisting the subject around does not get you out of this,” he said drolly.
“Where was the explosion?” she asked, changing the subject altogether.
“Over that way. Precisely where I was headed,” he said.
“With my notes,” she said.
He grinned. “You caught me.”
“You weren’t very quiet,” she said. “What are you doing with them?”
“My dream.” He shook his head. “’Tis foolish, I realize, but I dreamt of that illustration, the treasure lying upon those bones. I thought to find it today.”
So he hadn’t dreamt of her at all. Her abdomen tightened. “Well, let us go and see,” she said. She started off in that direction, but Graeme grabbed her elbow and stilled her. “What?” she asked.
“You are a stubborn woman, do you know that?” But he didn’t wait for her to answer. Instead, he lowered his mouth and kissed her firmly. “I know I won’t be able to convince you to return to the house for your safety, so at least allow me to go in front. And Duchess, be mindful of your step.”
She nodded. “I may have been referred to as stubborn a time or two in my life. But I do not believe I am alone in that quality, husband.”
He chuckled, looping his fingers through hers and pulling her along. They walked in silence for several moments, their footsteps and their breathing the only sound. Their lanterns lit the way through the narrow cavern tunnel. Then the area opened up, and they could see where the explosion had occurred. Over to the right was a crumbled wall, and fallen stones were piled nearly floor to ceiling. Dust still hung heavy in the air.
Graeme stepped over to the area. He placed his hand on his waistband where Vanessa knew he secured his pistol. “Niall, are you in there?”
“Graeme?” Niall’s voice filtered through the crumbled stone. “Is that you?”
“Yes. We’re going to get you out.” Graeme immediately went about moving stones out of the way. But even as he cleared, Vanessa could see more stones behind.
“No, you can’t,” Niall said, his tone strained, his breath labored. “It’s too late. I’m injured, and I’m bleeding.”
“Keep talking,” Graeme argued. “I’m going to get you out of there.”
“Listen to me, Graeme. I’m a dead man.”
But Graeme merely shook his head and continued to move stones, one at a time. But no matter how many he moved, he made no progress. It was as if there was a never-ending wall of stones in that pile. He’d remove one and three more would fall into its place. The small opening on the left was shrinking.
“Graeme.” Vanessa put her hand on her husband’s arm. “Listen to him. He’s hurt. You can hear it in his voice.”
“He’s got my family,” Niall said, his voice cracking with desperation. “Penny and Jonathan.”
“Who has them?” Graeme asked, but before he could allow Niall to answer, Graeme knew. “The Raven. That’s why you’ve been working with him.” He cursed.
“Yes. I didn’t want to, God knows I didn’t. But I had no other choice. I tried to find them. For two weeks, I did nothing but search, but I never even found a clue that would indicate where he would have taken them.” Niall paused for a moment before continuing. “I refuse to believe they’re already dead.”
“You could have come to Solomon’s. To me. I would have helped you,” Graeme said.
“I wanted to. Believe me I did. But he threatened me. Said he’d kill them if I went to anyone to ask for help. It was then that I came here to find the bloody treasure.” Niall laughed then, though there was no humor to be found in his tone, only irony and sadness.
“I found it. Here, this morning. I’d set the dynamite up last night to blow through a different wall, and that bastard must have followed me and switched things around. I set off his trap, and now I can’t get out. Ironically enough, the explosion opened up the correct area, and there it was. Lying amidst a pile—”
“Of bones,” Graeme filled in.
“Yes,” Niall said. “How did you know?”
“Doesn’t matter, Niall. We’ll get you out of there,” Graeme said again. “How badly are you hurt?”
“I’m bleeding. A stone fell and hit me on the head,” Niall said. “Hurts like a son of a bitch. Several more fell on my leg. I’m trapped on the ground. I think it’s broken.”
“Graeme,” Vanessa said softly. “Look.” She pointed down at their feet. They were now standing in a quarter-inch of water. “The loch is coming in,” she said softly. “We’ve got to get out of here before the entire cavern is flooded.”