“Another storm is forecast for tonight,” Tag warned. “Which means you’ll all need to get up there before it strikes.”
Sharyn searched the blue skies but saw no evidence of this threat. Still, mountain weather was notoriously unpredictable. She also noted the worried cast to Tag’s eyes, along with the hard set to his lips, which had a bluish tinge to them.
Tag would not join them on the trek into the mountains. Already the elevation here challenged her friend’s breathing. The steep climb into the highlands would certainly prove too daunting, even dangerous, for him. More worrisome, he had run out of his supply of Zanaflex, a strong muscle relaxant needed to counteract the crippling spasms from his palsy.
All of this frustrated him. He clearly hated to be left behind. But what bothered him most was that Naomi had been consigned to stay with him. It mortified him that he required babysitting, especially as it would keep Naomi from participating in the possible archaeological discovery of the ages.
Still, the two left behind were vital to the efforts ahead.
Laurent had assigned them to be a point of contact if the group should run into trouble in the mountains—or if they discovered anything up there. The best way to protect an archaeological site of this magnitude was to shine a large light on it as quickly as possible. To alert local authorities, the media, even the military. They needed to employ any and all means to keep theConfrériefrom being able to whisk this golden fortune off when no one was looking.
It was a treasure that belonged to the world.
Such a discovery also potentially served another purpose, one more personal.
Tag raised this possibility, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Do you truly think finding those relics will help clear our names?”
“It had better,” Naomi said bitterly, still angry at being pushed aside.
Her words made Tag wince, clearly wounding him.
Sharyn frowned, knowing how much hinged on this discovery. “It’ll be easier to prove we’ve been framed if the reason behind it is a fortune worth hundreds of millions versus a single old book of questionable value.”
The boys returned with full plates.
Duncan dropped heavily into his seat. “First, though, we have to find out if I was right about the location. Otherwise, none of this will matter.”
Naomi shrugged. “At least no one will think to look for us way out here.”
“Maybe,” Sharyn said, unconvinced, too suspicious to think any differently.
Duncan agreed. “We still don’t know if whoever hacked into theGardiens’ mainframe was successful. They might have breached it before Laurent could destroy our work.”
Sharyn pictured the smoking computer at the Barbiers’ library. “And Laurent can’t reach out to his group to find out, not with an unknown number of traitors in their midst.”
“So, we’re on our own again,” Tag said.
Archie shrugged. “Not much we can do about it. If the hack failed, then Naomi’s right—we’ve shaken the enemy for now. If the bastards successfully broke through, then it leaves us no other choice.”
Sharyn turned to the windows. “We must get there first.”
A gush of frigid air from the chalet lobby drew her attention. Laurent entered, hauling two large shopping bags, along with a heavy backpack slung over his shoulders. He searched, breathing hard, then spotted them.
He crossed in stiff steps to the table. “We must go. Now.”
Duncan stood, abandoning his plate. “Why?”
“Weather’s turning quickly. We must duck the storm if we hope to reach the site. If it gets buried in snow, any search may have to wait until spring.”
“There’s no way we can keep this secret for that long,” Sharyn noted.
“No, we can’t. It’s now or never.”
From the worry in his eyes, Sharyn knew what he had left unsaid:
Especially if the enemy knows about this place.
39
