He forced the fear away. They weren’t clear of this yet. Unless he missed his guess, the way they’d come in was now blocked.
He made himself focus on the situation at hand. He needed to make sure Anderson was no longer a threat. How many times had Bob fired his weapon? He wasn’t sure. Jason looked in the direction that he’d last seen the man. A beam of light pointed upward in the alcove where Anderson had fallen, catching on the fine particles hanging in the air.
Jason used the narrow beam of his flashlight to pick his way over the rubble as it shifted and rolled beneath his feet. Beth started to follow, but he turned and told her, “Stay there.”
“Help me!” Anderson’s voice was faint.
Jason turned toward the sound. “Anderson?”
“Here!”
Jason moved forward cautiously, shuffling and crawling, playing his light over the uneven ground. And then his beam fell on nothing.
Jason stopped abruptly. The floor of the alcove was gone. Edges of shattered wood that had once covered a shaft now peeked from beneath dust and rock. Jason braced himself on the wall and looked down. Twenty feet below, Anderson lay twisted at the bottom, impaled on a broken board. His face was gray with dust and blotched with blood, his hands empty of a weapon. His hard hat lay cocked at an angle, the lamp shining upward.
“Help me.” Anderson lifted an arm in supplication.
Jason gagged as emotion swamped him. Horror. Anger. Grief. Satisfaction. This bastard had Chris and Ellie murdered, and had nearly killed Beth twice. He deserved whatever he got.
Anderson’s labored breathing echoed off the stone.
Jason examined the crumbling walls of the shaft. There was no way to get down there without breaking his neck. There’s nothing I can do for him, anyway.
The other man’s mouth worked gruesomely, like a dying fish, but no sound came out. The smell of blood and bowel mingled with the dust.
Jason’s throat tightened. He did not want to feel sympathy for this bastard. He wouldn’t. He looked up at the dim ceiling, willing away his unwanted feelings. When he looked back, Anderson’s chest was still.
Jason stood for a moment, eyes closed, getting himself under control.
“Jason?”
He returned to Beth’s side, and folded her into his arms. “It’s all right, Bethie. He’s dead. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
BETH NODDED, STARING AT the beam of light shining up from the pit where Anderson had disappeared. She wouldn’t have wished him dead, but he’d killed Ellie and Chris and he’d brought this on himself. She couldn’t feel sorry for him.
And she and Jason were alive! Relief flowed over her like a river. They were trapped in a collapsed mine, but they were alive.
She started to shake, and the tunnel started to tilt. She clutched at Jason’s bare arms.
“Here, sit down.” Jason guided her to a relatively clear spot on the floor of the tunnel.
Beth’s stomach started to lurch. “I think I’m going to be sick,” she said, just before proving herself right. She pulled down her makeshift mask and doubled over, bracing one hand against the wall, while Jason steadied her and rubbed her back.
It was more than embarrassing to lose it like this, but her stomach didn’t care. It tossed her dignity onto the floor along with the remnants of her breakfast. When she’d caught her breath, she said, “I’m sorry, I—”
“—Don’t worry about it,” Jason cut her off. “It’s the adrenaline. I’ve seen seasoned agents do the same thing.”
Beth made a face. “I wish we had some water, though.”
“Here. I don’t have any water, but maybe this will help.” He pulled a roll of breath mints from his pocket and offered her one.
Beth took it gratefully. “Thanks. You’re better than a Boy Scout.”
Jason gave her the three fingered salute and a sheepish grin. “Be prepared.”
They stared for a moment at each other, smiling. She could barely see him in the limited light. His face and hair and clothing were gray with dust. She probably looked just as bad, but right now she didn’t care. She had a future again. A life to be lived, as Ellie used to say.
And what was that future? Jason had said things to Anderson a few minutes ago about family and kids that had implied—what? Or had he just been playing Anderson?
Beth shook her head. They had other things to worry about now. “How are we going to get out of here?”
“We’re going to sit here and wait for the sheriff to dig us out.”
“Connor?” Beth echoed, feeling stupid. “Shouldn’t we look for a way out?”
Jason shook his head. “I wasn’t lying to Anderson. The sheriff knows where we are. Montgomery came back with some papers and saw you and Anderson driving off. That’s how I knew where to find you. I told him to tell Connor, and I left a note on my windshield to let them know we’re inside the mine. It’s just a matter of time before Connor gets us out of here.”
A rock the size of her fist dropped from the ceiling, barely missing them.
Jason jerked her away. “Shit!”
“Maybe we should wait a little further down the tunnel, away from the loose rock,” she suggested.
“Yeah, maybe we should.”
JASON PLAYED HIS THIN light over the ceiling. The support timbers overhead were split and bent. So far they were holding, but he’d feel better if they found a place to wait where the roof didn’t look like it would collapse if they sneezed too loudly. He took Beth’s hand.
They’d gone about twenty feet, when he pulled them up short. “Wait. We need to leave a marker, to let the sheriff know we’re alive.” He led them back near the wall of rubble. “Help me build a cairn. They’ll probably put a camera through first, and we want them to know someone survived the cave-in.”
There were plenty of stones at hand. They were almost done erecting a two foot tall pyramid when Beth exclaimed, “Hey! I found Anderson’s gun. Not that we need it now.”
“All right!” Jason took it from her, released the clip and cleared it. The weapon still looked operational and it had three rounds left. He slammed the clip home and stuck the gun in his belt. Then he held out his empty hand and laced his fingers with hers.
As they navigated the passage, the rock strewn floor sloped downward. The tunnel curved to the right and they lost the small benefit of Anderson’s still glowing headlamp. The dark crowded around them, undaunted by his tiny flashlight. Further from cave-in, the air was cool and still and less dusty. It was weirdly quiet, as if the rest of the world had disappeared, and their footsteps and breathing echoed off the stone walls. Beth gripped his hand tightly. He was glad of the contact.
Jason pulled down his mask. “How’re you doing, babe?”
Beth pulled hers off too. “I’m okay. What about you?”
“I’m fantastic.”
“What? You’re a closet spelunker?”
Jason laughed. “Not hardly. But I have found us a place to rest.” He shined his light on the beams above them. They looked as straight and strong as the day they were put in place. “Let’s sit down.”
“Do you think any animals live in here?” Beth asked.
Animals. He hadn’t thought of that. What kind of animals might be in here? Mountain lions? Rattlesnakes? Bears? “Not this far in.” He tried to sound confident. “And if there are, the shooting and the cave-in probably scared them off.”
BETH SAT AND LEANED against the rough wall; Jason joined her, pulling the gun from his belt and laying it beside him on the floor. They touched at shoulder and hip, still holding hands.
“I’m going to turn off the flashlight.”
She didn’t want to sit in the dark, but Jason would be with her. “Yeah, we should save the battery.”
A moment later the dark enveloped them.
“How long do you think we’ll have to wait?” Beth asked.
“I don’t know. Several hours, at least.”
“Maybe we should go back to the rock-fall. Start digging from our s
ide.”
Jason squeezed her hand. “Believe me, I’d rather be doing something too. But without the proper tools we might bring the whole thing down.”
Beth shivered. What if Montgomery didn’t call the sheriff? What if Connor takes the wrong road?
“Don’t worry. At worst, we might get a little thirsty by the time they find us, but we’ll be fine.”
“Okay. It’s just that … there’s all that rock hanging over our heads.”
“Don’t think about it. Pretend you’re in a movie theater waiting for the show to start. Or even better, that you’re in a darkened bedroom with me.” He kissed her. It was gentle and tender and warmed her blood.
His attempt to ease her fears made her love him all the more. “I admit that several hours in the dark alone with you does stimulate the imagination,” Beth said when they broke apart, “but the location isn’t exactly comfortable.”
“Sad, but true,” Jason agreed, kissing her temple. “Okay, we’ll save the passion for later.” After a moment’s silence, he asked, “So, what now?”
What now? They’d found Chris and Ellie’s killer. Would she ever see Ell again? Or was her sister gone now that she and Chris had been avenged? Beth hoped her last memory of Ellie wouldn’t be that horrible face she’d shown to Anderson.
Jason rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. It was just a small movement, but it was somehow comforting and erotic all at once.
“I don’t know.”
What was going to happen with him? What do I want to happen? Beth stared into the dark, hungry for some light. It was easier if she closed her eyes. It doesn’t matter what I want. She leaned her head against the wall. She’d never wanted to care so much about another person. She and Ellie had seen how their father’s obsession had destroyed him. But that hadn’t stopped her sister. Ellie had risked falling totally, hopelessly, in love. Even when Chris died, she hadn’t regretted her choice.
Beth had told herself it was Jason’s friendship she’d missed when he dumped her, but that wasn’t completely true. It was his love she’d wanted. Still wanted. When she’d seen Anderson’s gun pointed at Jason’s chest … The memory of that fear almost choked her.
If she was honest with herself, if she let herself imagine her deepest desires here in the quiet dark—
“Beth …”
Beth jumped, startled out of her thoughts.
Jason put his other hand on hers. “Hey, take it easy.”
“Sorry. I guess I’m a little skittish.”
“Don’t. You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one who should apologize.”
“Whatever for?”
“I didn’t keep you safe.”
Beth blinked in surprise. “Are you kidding? You stood up to Anderson even with a gun pointed at you. If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead now. Anderson would have shot me, or pushed me down that hole. Ellie might have scared him to death afterward, but I’d still be dead. I can’t believe you stayed so calm.”
Jason was quiet. Beth wondered if he’d heard anything she said.
Then out of the darkness, his warm voice said, “Marry me.”
Beth drew in a sharp gasp and her heart pounded in confusion. “What?”
“Marry me. Please.”
JASON HELD HIS BREATH, waiting for Beth’s answer, but she remained silent. “Beth?”
“I … I don’t …”
“I hadn’t planned on asking you like this. I should have waited, taken you out to dinner, bought you a ring. And I’ll do all those things. But we’ve already wasted so much time. I know that you want stability in your life. After what you’ve been through, I don’t blame you. There are other things I can do for the Bureau. I don’t have to work undercover.”
“But—”
“Wait, let me finish. Seeing you with Anderson’s gun to your head, I realized …” The fear he’d felt tightened his throat even now. “I blew it four months ago. I should have been straight with you about my job. Given you a choice.” He took a deep breath. “Four months ago I thought I was immortal, in control of my life. I found out that isn’t true. Not as much as I’d like to think, anyway. If I’ve learned anything in the last four months, in the last four days, it’s that life is short. You have to grab happiness when it comes.
“I love you, Beth. Will you marry me?”
OH MY GOD. BETH took a deep breath, then another. Her heart was doing a happy little jig, but her mind was stunned. She couldn’t think. Marriage?
“Please say something,” Jason said.
“Are you asking me because you think I might be pregnant? Because if you are—”
“No. I would love to have children with you, but no, that’s not the reason. I’m asking you because I want you in my life.”
Beth’s thoughts stumbled. He wants to have children with me? She wanted his children too. Then a horrible alternative occurred to her.
“You’re not asking because you think we’re going to die in here, are you?”
“No! I’m asking because we’re going to live, and I don’t want you to get away.”
But change his job? “I can’t let you do that.”
“Do what?”
“Change your life. For me.”
“It’s my job. I’ll change it if I want to.”
“But—”
“No ‘buts.’ I want you in my life, and in my bed, forever. And besides, you owe me. You said you wouldn’t let anyone into the house, and you did.”
Her head was swimming. He’s right about that. She should have left Anderson cooling his heels on the porch until Jason got back. Or warming his heels. It’s pretty hot outside. Beth suppressed a giggle.
“Hey, what’s so funny? I’m serious,” Jason said almost petulantly.
“I know. I’m sorry.” Beth tried to focus. Forever. With Jason. It seemed like a dream, out of reach, beyond possibility or understanding.
She couldn’t make sense of it. Beth closed her eyes on the darkness, and passed out.
“WAKE UP!”
Someone was shaking her violently.
“Wake up you slugabed! Wake up!”
It was Ellie. Again. “Leave me alone. It’s still dark out. It’s not time to get up.” Beth tried to pull the covers over her head but she couldn’t find them.
“You’ve got to get up! The air is bad! You’ve got to get out of here!”
Beth opened one eye. “What?”
Ellie sat beside her, beautifully coifed and dressed in her lavender prom dress. “The air. It’s poison.”
“Poison?”
“Yes! Now get up! If you stay here, you’ll die. And I am not going to let that happen.” Ellie faded a little, and her voice seemed to come from a distance.
How odd.
“You’ve got to get Jason up and keep going down this tunnel. That way.” She pointed. “The air is better there.” Suddenly Ellie solidified, and her voice grew louder like she was shouting in Beth’s ear. “Now MOVE!”
“Oh, all right.” Somehow Beth found the strength to sit up.
Jason’s head leaned back against the wall. His eyes were closed and his breathing was shallow. Beth gave him a gentle shake and his head lolled from side to side. “Wake up, sleepyhead.”
“Wake up, Beth! Wake up! Please!” Ellie’s fingers dug into her shoulders painfully.
“Leave me alone. I’m awake already!” Beth flung her arm wide, trying to dislodge Ellie’s grasp. Her hand hit the wall with a sharp blow.
“Ow!” Beth opened her eyes on darkness.
“JASON, WAKE UP!” BETH shook him, coughed, then shook him again. Her head felt full of cotton. “Come on!” She felt for his face, then slapped him.
“Wha—?”
She had to push herself to speak. Her voice sounded dull. “We’ve got to get out of here. The air is bad.”
She felt Jason roll sluggishly to his hands and knees beside her. “Whish way?”
Ellie had pointed. There’d been light in her dream, but now th
e tunnel was dark. Her head was fuzzy. Her heart pounded. If she chose wrong, they might never get out of here. Which way? A slight breeze, cooler than the air, touched her left hand, and she knew. “This way.” She found Jason and tugged on his sleeve.
Beth tried to stand, but her legs wouldn’t hold her. They crawled. Grit bit into her hands and knees. She could hear Jason crawling beside her, but she stopped every couple of feet to touch him. She needed that reassurance in the dark.
The tunnel rose. Beth’s head grew clearer. She felt like a bear struggling out of hibernation. She heard Jason get to his feet. Then he pulled her up. She held onto Jason with both hands, and this time she was able to stand. When they both were steady, they started forward again. Beth trailed one hand along the wall, the other held Jason’s.
In another minute they were walking more normally.
“What happened?” Jason asked, turning on his flashlight. It seemed amazingly bright after total dark.
“The air was bad. We must have stopped in a low spot, and it got to us before we knew we were in trouble.”
“Damn.” A moment later he said, “You saved our lives.”
“Not me. It was Ellie. She nagged me to get up just like she did when we were kids.”
They walked hand in hand until they came to a fork in the tunnel.
“Which way?” Beth asked.
Jason looked down one passage, then the other. “I think I feel some air movement to the left.”
“And it goes up instead of down. Let’s take it.”
What seemed like an eternity later, Beth thought she saw light ahead.
“I WISH WE HAD a flare gun,” Jason looked up the ventilation shaft to a square of cloudy gray sky some fifty feet above. The surface was too far, and the sides of the shaft were too smooth to climb safely.
The pistol. That might make enough noise to attract attention, if anyone was around. Unfortunately, he’d left it behind, back in the pocket of bad air. He locked eyes with Beth. She’d obviously had the same thought.
“No! You cannot go back there.” Beth clutched his arm. “The air is poison. It’s too dangerous. I can’t lose you.”
Jason smiled. “Does that mean you’ll marry me?”
VEILED MIRROR Page 24
