Seagrass Pier

  Elin swallowed and touched the rope. “Maybe.” She didn’t want to believe some criminal might be doing harm to her best friend. Turning away, she shone her light around the area. “Looks like something was dragged here.”

  Marc stooped. “I see it. That crate maybe.”

  She swept her light up the rock face. A tiny sliver of an opening peeked out at the top of a pile of rocks. “Do you think this is a recent cave-in?” She prodded the rock pile with her foot and small pebbles rolled off. “Look up there. Could this have been a cave?”

  Josh began to climb the rocks, but he kept sliding back down. “I think it’s recent. Call Curtis, and let’s try to remove the rocks.”

  “You don’t think she’s in there, do you?” The thought of finding Sara’s crushed and broken body under this pile made her shake.

  Marc grunted. “I hope not, but there’s evidence she’s been here. I think we have to consider that she might be inside.”

  Her hands shook as she tried to raise Curtis on the walkie-talkie. When he answered, she spoke quickly. “Curtis, it’s Elin. We need you right away. We have clues to Sara.” She told him where they were.

  “On my way,” he said.

  Marc paused to wipe the dust and sweat from his face. The same dust coated his throat and mouth. They’d made little headway on the cave-in. Had it been done deliberately? He didn’t want to find Sara’s body on the other side.

  The moon had gone behind some clouds, but their lights lit up the place and illuminated the graffiti on the rocks.

  Josh worked tirelessly at the pile, not pausing or even showing any signs of weariness. Marc took his arm. “Have some water, Josh.”

  “Sara has none.” He didn’t look up and renewed his efforts.

  “I think we need to regroup and think about this. It might take days to get through this by hand. Maybe we should call for some equipment.”

  Josh finally paused and wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. He looked from Marc to the rock pile. “Maybe. This thing seems to go on forever. We have to find her. She has to be all right.” His shoulders slumped as he joined the rest of them by the backpack of water and snacks.

  “We’ll find her. I’m sure she’s fine.” Marc wished he felt as confident as he sounded.

  Elin came from the other side of the pile. Her face and hands were black with dirt. “I’ll take some water.” Her voice was hoarse.

  He handed her a bottle of water, and their hands touched. If only she didn’t have to be working out here so hard. She appeared so fragile in the glare of the halogen lights. He wanted to protect her from what they might find in that cave. With every minute that passed, he grew more concerned.

  Josh accepted the bottle of water Curtis offered. “Let’s mobilize some assistance.”

  “I’ll call it in.” Curtis walked a few feet away, out from under the tree cover. His low voice echoed back to them.

  Josh glanced around. “I used to come out here when I was a kid with my dad. He liked hunting deer. Something keeps bugging me. I have this memory of playing in a cave, but it wasn’t here.” He gestured to the north. “It was that way, I think. I wish he were still alive so I could ask him about it.”

  Marc capped his water. “Think, Josh. It might be a branch off this one. If you can find it, we might be able to use the lights and wind through the passages to find her.” He couldn’t help the leap of hope he felt, even though it was a long shot.

  Josh rubbed his head. “I’m thinking. It was a long time ago, and it’s hard to remember.”

  Curtis jogged back to join them. “Ben is sending out some equipment, but it will be daylight before they get here. I say we keep working in the meantime. We might get through.”

  “Yeah, I agree.” Marc set down the bottle of water and started for the rock pile.

  “Wait a second.” Josh turned and looked to the north. “I seem to remember it being by a waterfall. Anyone know of a waterfall around here?”

  Elin frowned. “I haven’t explored this area, but Sara said something about a waterfall. She said it was at the head of Larson Creek.”

  “I know where that is!” Josh ran off to the north, his light bobbing ahead of him.

  “Wait for me!” Marc grabbed his light. “You two want to come or stay here and keep working on moving the rocks?”

  Elin grabbed a light and stepped toward him. “I’m going with you.”

  “Let’s split up and maximize our chances,” Curtis said. “I’ll keep working here. Ben was going to see about sending out some manual labor in the meantime too, and I’ll need to guide them here.”

  Marc took Elin’s hand. “Stay close. Curtis, call us if you break through.”

  “Will do.” He bent over the rocks again.

  Marc kept hold of Elin’s hand as they chased the bobbing, weaving light ahead of them. “Josh seems to know where he’s going.”

  “I just pray it’s a passageway that will lead us to Sara.” She sounded out of breath.

  The chances of that were slim. Marc was beginning to lose hope altogether. They crossed a stream and climbed up a hillside covered with clover that filled his nose with its scent when they stepped on it. Josh’s light had stopped at the top of it, and they found him bending over a small opening.

  Marc stooped and stared. “That’s it? It hardly looks big enough to crawl though.”

  Josh kicked a clump of dirt out of the way. “It’s bigger inside than it looks out here. Of course, I was a kid then, so even this opening seemed bigger than what I’m seeing now.”

  “I think I can fit through if you men can’t,” Elin said.

  Josh laid on his belly and shoved the light through, then poked his head in. “The room is still there. Looks to be about five feet high, and it branches off to the south. I’m going in.” His voice was muffled.

  “I’ll be right behind you.”

  Josh’s head emerged, and he looked up at Marc. “I don’t know what we’ll find in there. It may be very unsafe. No sense in both of us getting killed. Let me go, and you stay here and guard this entrance. Whoever caved in the other opening might try to do the same here.”

  The man made sense. Marc nodded. “If you haven’t found anything in an hour, come back. We need to get those rocks moved if this doesn’t lead to her.”

  “I’m not coming back without her. This is the answer. I just know it.” Josh wriggled through the opening and was gone.

  Marc glanced down and saw tears in Elin’s eyes. “You okay?”

  She nodded. “We have to find her.”

  The leather pouch was important. Ruby clutched it to her chest and huddled in the corner of the attic. The darkness outside frightened her, but she had to do this. Elin had told her the story of Georgina’s pouch. It must never be found. She must guard it with her life.

  For a moment, she saw a girl with long brown hair standing on the parapet with this pouch in her hands. Where would Georgina want her to hide this? Ruby didn’t like her new aide anymore. She’d been so insistent on having this treasure, but it was not for her. Not ever.

  Ruby’s gaze fell on a space under the stairs to the roof. Would there be a hiding place under there? She rose and examined the wall encased in oak paneling. There was a screwdriver around here somewhere. She put down the leather pouch, then found it in an old toolbox. She used the tool to pry a corner of the paneling loose to reveal the cavity under the stairs, then she opened the pouch and withdrew the old map inside.

  It didn’t look that important. Hand drawn, it looked old and faded. She stuffed the map behind the paneling, then tapped the nail back into place. No one would ever find it unless she told them where it was.

  This secret would go to the grave with her. Owen would be so proud of her. Smiling, she carried the pouch to the chest and put it in the hidden compartment in the bottom.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  Kalianne checked on the guests, but they didn’t stir when she spoke their names loudly. Mr. Everton’s breathing was lou
d and labored, so she hoped she hadn’t harmed him. She didn’t want another murder on her conscience.

  Maybe she should search this room while they slept so soundly. She hurried to the living room and took Ruby by the hand. “Let’s go find my pouch now, okay? It wasn’t very nice of you to hide it. It’s mine, Ruby.”

  Ruby blinked, and tears filled her eyes. “I didn’t take anything, Kalianne. I’m sleepy. I want to go to bed now.”

  “You can’t go to bed until we find my pouch.” She jerked on Ruby’s arm and led her up the stairs. “Let’s look here first.”

  Ruby dug in her heels. “That’s Christine’s room. I’m not supposed to go in there.”

  “They’re sleeping and won’t notice.” Kalianne opened the door and dragged Ruby inside the bedroom.

  The old woman huddled in the corner and wouldn’t budge. She was going to be more trouble than she was worth. Gritting her teeth, Kalianne went to the closet and flipped on the light, then went through every bit of the closet. Nothing. She pressed and tugged on anything that might be a hidden panel, but she didn’t find the pouch. She checked every inch of the room and attached bathroom.

  When she came out of the bathroom, she saw Ruby sitting in the corner with her eyes closed. Kalianne shook her, then pulled her up. “Let’s go to the attic, Ruby. Maybe you’ll remember where you hid it.”

  She’d been certain the old woman had put it up there initially, but after searching when she could, she’d thought maybe Ruby had moved it. But it was likely still up there. She flipped off the light, then urged the old woman up the steep stairway to the third floor. Even with the light on, there were too many shadows to be able to perform a good search. This was never going to work.

  And she was tired, emotionally exhausted from what had happened in the forest. Maybe she should just go home tonight.

  “I remember where it is.”

  Kalianne whirled and saw her heading to a chest against the wall. Joining the old woman, she watched as Ruby lifted everything out of the chest, then opened a hidden compartment in the bottom.

  “The pouch!” She snatched it from Ruby’s hands and clutched it to her chest. Finally.

  “What are you doing?” said a tiny voice to her right.

  She turned to see Josie standing near the top stair. Dressed in white pjs, she held her pink bunny in one arm. “What are you doing out of bed, honey?”

  “I heard Grandma crying. Why is she crying?”

  “She just cries sometimes. You know that.”

  Josie nodded and climbed the last step. “Why are you up here? It’s dark.”

  Kalianne did her best to hide the leather pouch behind her. “I like to come up here and imagine watching for a ship.” She needed to get that kid out of here and back to bed. Maybe she should drug her after all.

  “Mommy likes to read the diary up here.”

  Diary.

  “What diary?”

  “You know, the lady who used to live here a long, long time ago. Mommy likes to read about her. She had twins. Mommy read it to me.” Josie lowered her voice and leaned forward. “She hid a leather pouch here.”

  “Your mother did?”

  “No, silly. The lady who lived here. Mommy read me that part the other day. A friend asked her to hide it forever, to never let anyone find it. I think she hid it really, really good.”

  Kalianne gave her best smile. “Where did your mommy put the diary?” Maybe it would be helpful for Devi as well.

  Josie shook her head. “I don’t know where it is.”

  All she had to do was come back when Elin was here and grab the diary. Kalianne took Josie’s hand. “We’d better get to bed. Your mommy will be upset that you’re still up.”

  Josie’s fingers curled around Kalianne’s. “Where is Mommy? She always tucks me in. And I want a horsey ride with my daddy. I’m not sleepy.” Her lower lip trembled.

  “How about if I read you a story? Then when Mommy and Daddy come, I’ll send them to tuck you in. Okay?”

  She breathed a sigh when Josie nodded and didn’t object to moving toward the stairs. Finding the pouch was a jolt of adrenaline. Devi would be so happy with her.

  “Come along, Ruby.” When she turned to look, Kalianne felt a cool breeze on her face. Ruby had opened the door to the outside. “Josie, I’ll be along in a minute. You go pick out the book you want, okay?”

  “’Kay.” Holding on to the railing, Josie went back down the stairs.

  Kalianne hurried up the steep rooftop access. When she stepped out into the sea breeze, she saw Ruby with one foot half over the railing. Kalianne rushed to grab the old woman’s arm and got there as the other leg swung toward the railing. If she hadn’t been here, Ruby would have fallen from the parapet.

  Kalianne dragged her back to safety. “Ruby, what were you doing up here?”

  The old woman cried noiselessly, the tears leaving tracks on her face that gleamed in the moonlight. “I want to be with Owen. I miss him.”

  “It’s not time yet. Come to bed.” She led Ruby toward safety.

  That had been a close call. The last thing she needed was to get the police out here.

  Sara’s light was beginning to flicker, and she fought back the rising panic. She was going to die in this inky blackness. No one would ever find her bones. She slid to the ground and turned off her light, plunging the cramped space into utter darkness.

  She pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face as she tried to pray. The words wouldn’t come, but she felt God’s presence, and her panic began to edge into peace. She and Josh were not to be. She’d never hear him finally tell her he loved her. She’d never rest in his arms.

  The hard rock bit into her head as she leaned back and tried to think of what to do. Her flashlight wouldn’t last much longer. Should she try to go back the way she’d come and see if she could dig out of the cave-in, or would that be futile? Should she press on, hoping she’d find another tunnel out? There was no easy answer. She sat in the inky blackness and listened to her shallow breathing. It was the only sound.

  She couldn’t curl into a ball and die here. If she was about to step into eternity, she would do it on her feet, still fighting. Her fingers curled around the tiny flashlight, but she resisted the impulse to flip it on. She would turn it on every few minutes, just to orient herself. Sidling along the cold rock face, she shuffled forward a few feet. Her feet struck something in the way, and she flipped on her flashlight.

  It was another branch in the trail. Which way now?

  She stared to the right, but it was too dark beyond three feet. The left passageway went only two feet, then stopped at an impassable wall. Or was it? The wall was only six feet high. Was that a glimmer of light from above it? She shut off her flashlight to make sure. Yes, it was! She moved to the wall in her path and ran her fingers along its surface to see if she could find indentations to use to climb it. The dim light gave her courage.

  She found several likely spots and fitted her right foot in the first one, then reached above her head for the tiny sliver of a grip she’d found. Grunting, she hoisted herself off the floor, then reached for the next hold. Her fingers began to cramp, and she paused a moment to try to fit her toe into a better spot. There it was. Little by little, she crept up the wall until she could peek over it. The faint light didn’t show her much, just more rock.

  Her fingers lost their purchase, and she slid down a few inches below the top of the wall. Resting a moment, she leaned her head against the cold rock, then tipped her head at a sound she couldn’t place. It seemed to emanate from the other side of the wall. A kind of shuffling sound. Her heart seemed to stop as she realized it was probably Devi coming to kill her.

  Where could she hide? Or would he even look on this side of the passage? Maybe he would come to the wall and stop. The opening at the top might be too small for a man. She didn’t want to slide down the wall for fear he would hear her, so she waited with her face pressed against the rock.

  Someone
coughed, a short bark, then more shuffling came to her ears. She waited, barely breathing, to see what he might do.

  “Great, just great,” came a barely discernible mutter.

  Her eyes widened. It sounded like Josh, but it couldn’t be. Could it? The Coasties would have put up a hue and cry when she didn’t return, but why would any of them be in this cave? Cautiously, she stretched onto her toes so she could peek over the top of the wall.

  A familiar Dodgers ball cap was right below her. Josh leaned against the wall and wiped his forehead with his forearm.

  “Josh?” Her voice was barely a squeak.

  His head jerked up, and he brought up the flashlight. The beam hit her full in the face and blinded her after being in the dark so long.

  “Sara!” He dropped the flashlight and began to climb the wall.

  She reached for the top and pulled herself up, her toes scrambling for purchase in her urgency to reach him. His fingers touched hers as she struggled up the final few inches. Both panting from exertion, they faced one another at the top.

  “Josh, I can’t believe you’re here. How did you find me?”

  He leaned forward, and his lips found hers. She struggled to stay glued to the wall as the press of his lips brought tears coursing down her cheeks. She thought she’d never see him again, never smell his cologne or feel the roughness of his evening whiskers. Her fingers itched to plunge into his hair, but all she could do was hang on to the wall for dear life.

  He lifted his head. “I thought you were dead.” His voice was choked. “We saw the cave-in, and we thought we’d find your broken body inside. I couldn’t stand it.” His gaze bored into hers. “I love you, Sara. I’ve always loved you. My life has no meaning without you. Forget everything I said earlier. It was fear talking.”

  “I know.” She could barely whisper past the lump in her throat. “I’m going to try to get through this opening.”

  “I’ll catch you.” His feet thudded back onto the cave floor.