LAST ASSAULT ON OAK ISLAND 40

Chapter 40

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Lauren and Miles waded into the cold waters on the Neeley shore where the reeds got thick. She half hoped the coldness would make Miles change his mind; on the other hand, if she could not prove there was a cave, she did not know what he would do with her. Already he was guilty of abduction and did not seem to mind adding more charges.

She led the way slowly, one hand trailing the grassy shore, her other wrist in Miles' vice-like grip. He tucked the gun in the front of his jeans and she hoped he was more comfortable with the situation. If he let his guard down even a bit, she could take the chance of getting away.

He wouldn't do this if he was in his right mind, she consoled herself. He was not thinking straight. She tried to keep her teeth from chattering.

"Saul isn't really that bad, is he?" she asked carefully.

Miles' frown sharpened. "There's a seventy percent chance he'll never come out of the coma," he admitted stiffly. "Even if he does he'll be brain dead."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't say that. No one cares. Don't act like you do. He may as well die."

"You don't mean that."

"Just find this damn cave, Lauren."

The bracingly cold water was now up to her chest. Her legs were numb with cold, the water dragging at her Capri's, and she gritted her teeth to keep them quiet. She sensed he was starting to doubt her story. She looked back at the dock farther behind them and judged the distance hastily. They had to be close to the cave opening.

Her groping hand broke through a grassy curtain into a void at the bank. She halted and reached in further. "I think this is it."

"You don't know?"

"We never came in from the dock." She looked up at the steep bank. "Yes. I'm sure."

"Go in."

The water rose to her chin as they entered. The tide was lower, making submerging unnecessary. His fingers tightened on her wrist.

"Where are the lights?" he asked as they passed the foliage hanging over the cave entrance. His voice echoed a bit off the stone walls.

She tried to recall the lay of the cave and how they had left it. Almost all the equipment Maruso had supplied was stacked against the wall awaiting transport out. The crew tomorrow would bring other supplies.

"We packed everything up. The excavation crew has their own equipment."

They waded onto the dry drift sand and clay near the tunnel opening. She located the pile of tarp-covered gear and rummaged around for several moments. Beside her, a flashlight clicked into luminescence.