The man snarled and took a menacing step forward. Kinley startled and edged closer to Shane.
Christine stopped him with a raised hand. “Is that true?”
“El Capitán’sorders. He wanted the notebook without the difficulty of the girl.”
Christine’s eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips.
“Let’s go.” She spun on her heel and marched toward the temple entrance.
Kinley looked at Shane. He winked at her. Winked! She gaped at him.
Pulling her close, he put his mouth to her temple. “Easiest way to get the upper hand when you’re outgunned and outnumbered is to sow discord and discontent.”
What?Upper hand of what? Of who? More importantly, what was he planning?
“Let’s go!” Christine shouted from the entrance.
“Vámonos.” The man behind them pushed her between the shoulders. Shane resisted and tried to turn to face him.
“No,” she said under her breath. “Come on.”
Shane went reluctantly, but herded Kinley ahead of him and placed himself between her and the guy.
“Not you.” Christine pointed at the two guards. “Go back to the camp.”
The men exchanged glances before shrugging and leaving them.
“Dickheads,” she muttered. “Follow me.”
Kinley ducked her head to follow Christine through the entrance. Glancing behind her, she saw Shane hunched at the waist, his wide shoulders brushing the sides of the tunnel as they walked.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Dandy.”
She smiled at his surly tone. In any other situation it would be hilarious. With her mentor losing her mind and men pointing guns at them, it was only mildly amusing.
Whoever was funding the operation had run lights through the tunnel and the dim glow cast deep shadows on the walls. After a few yards, they entered a small chamber about ten feet square. Tunnels led in each direction and Christine turned left. At the next chamber, she continued straight and ascended steep, rough-hewn steps.
Kinley didn’t think to count the steps until they’d already climbed a dozen or so. Numbers were important to the Mayans and she knew the number of steps would be significant. In the chamber at the top of the steps, Christine turned right, then straight through the next chamber followed by a right, left down some steps, then left and down again until their path dead-ended in a chamber much larger than any of the others they’d passed through.
“Oh my god,” Kinley whispered in awe.
“Gods,” Christine said. “This is the chamber of the gods. At least that’s what I’m calling it.”
“I don’t give a shit what you call it as long as she can figure out where the fucking tomb is.”
Kinley gasped and spun toward the center of the chamber. Shane shuffled her to the side and stepped in front of her. A man rose from the altar and she flinched back. The same man who’d offered her a ride at the airport in Flores. It was all starting to make twisted sense.
Disappointment, shame, and a host of other ugly emotions swirled in her stomach with the sharp bite of acid. All this time, she’d trusted Christine. Confided in her. Shared her discovery with her and then had been betrayed by her.
“Who is he?” The man pointed at Shane.
“My boyfriend.” Kinley stepped from behind Shane and took his hand. If they knew he was more than just an average Joe, they might hurt him. She wasn’t too proud to admit she was out of her element and royally screwed if she had to fend for herself.
The man looked at Christine, who shrugged. “Whatever.” He swung his legs over the side of the altar and kicked his heels against the stone. “We are going to set the charges today.”
“I told you, we are not blowing up the walls. We can’t make it look like there was never any treasure if there’s a fucking hole blown in the wall,” Christine said through clenched teeth.
