She thought of her grandfather and how much she missed him. She thought of Gage and how much she had come to care for him. Abby could no longer convince herself that what she felt for Gage was purely sexual attraction. In her heart, she knew it was far more than that.
She picked up a stick and stirred the coals. “Were you there when . . . umm . . . Cassandra was killed?”
Mateo’s head came up. His eyes found hers in the darkness. “Yes.”
“I don’t think Gage has ever really gotten over it. Will you tell me what happened?”
“It is his story to tell.”
“If you tell me, I might be able to help him.”
Mateo fell silent. Abby waited, sure he wouldn’t say more.
“It happened in Honduras. Gage was escorting a pair of archeologists to newly discovered ruins near Pacavita. Cassandra’s father worked for an American company in San Salvador. That is where they met. Cassandra was beautiful and smart. She was in love with him.”
“Gage said she loved him, but he wasn’t in love with her.”
“I think that made it worse for him. He enjoyed her in bed, so when she begged to go with him, he agreed. It was not supposed to be a difficult trip.”
“What went wrong?”
“Cassandra could not handle the jungle. She was miserable, and she let everyone know. We had only been gone a few days when the accident happened. We were crossing a rope bridge over a gorge. Gage went first to make sure it was safe. Two men went next with no problem. I waited with Cassandra. When it was her turn, Gage encouraged her to go slow and not look down.”
“What happened?”
“Halfway across, she panicked. One of her feet slipped off the rope, then she fell partway through. For several seconds she just hung there, but instead of waiting for Gage to reach her, to help her back to her feet, something went wrong. Gage nearly died himself trying to save her, but it was too late. She plunged to her death at the bottom of the gorge.”
“Oh, my God.”
“Gage brought her body home. The expedition failed, and Gage never went back.”
Abby’s eyes burned. Her heart ached for the woman who had died so young. And for Gage. “Thank you for telling me, Mateo.”
“You are not like Cassandra. Gage knows this. I believe he cares for you, but it may not be enough.”
Abby said nothing. She could only imagine the guilt and pain Gage had suffered. He wouldn’t risk that kind of pain again.
She told herself it didn’t matter, that her heart wasn’t involved, and she would make certain it never would be.
“You must sleep,” Mateo said, rising to his feet. “Tomorrow you hunt yourabuelo’s gold.”
“Yes . . .” Abby stood up from the rock. “Tomorrow we search for it. Good night, Mateo, and thank you.”
He made a faint movement of his head. “Good night, Abby.” She climbed back into her sleeping bag and closed her eyes, but her mind raced with thoughts of Gage and the woman who had loved him.
It was nearly dawn when she finally fell asleep. The echo of a woman’s cries as she plunged to her death crept into her dreams.
CHAPTER TWENTY
SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GROGGY AS SHE ROLLED OUT OF BED AFTERa mostly sleepless night. Instead, Abby felt invigorated, excited clear to her bones.
Kyle made coffee, then went to tend the mule while Abby took photos and video of the camp. They powered up on protein bars, drank boiled water for hydration, then refilled their bottles. Kyle and Mateo both headed off to stand watch on different sides of the camp as she and Gage searched. Mateo would be scouting their back trail, looking for any sign of the men, but Gage was clearly worried.
“Keep your eyes open,” he’d said to them. “Watch for sunlight reflections, anything that might signal their location.” He glanced at the peaks and ridges that could provide a hiding place. “If they’re out there, they’ll be somewhere above us. Keep your weapons handy.”
Kyle’s hand went to the Glock holstered at his waist. Mateo was armed only with a knife, but Abby figured he knew how to use it a dozen different ways, including self-defense.
Gage headed for a flat rock at the edge of their campsite and spread open the various maps they had brought with them. Abby took out King’s notes and joined him.
