The Cave

by Amanda McKinney

  Then, get the heck out and face whatever was waiting for her back at the lab—vacant desk or not.

  She stood. “Griffin get those burgers on the fire. I’ll go get some more sticks.”

  “I’m going to heat some green beans with bacon, too. Sound good?”

  “Like heaven.”

  “Try to find a hickory tree. There’re tons around here.”

  “Yes, sir.” Sadie smirked, then turned on her flashlight and stepped into the woods as Kimi and Griffin fell into their trademark flirty banter. Sweeping her light along the ground, Sadie made her way deeper and deeper into the woods until she spotted a soaring hickory tree with bright yellow-gold leaves a few yards away.

  The voices faded behind her, the darkness engulfing her. She darted the flashlight round, the beam bouncing off the surrounding trees, then dissolving into the pitch-black just a few feet away.

  A chill slid up her spine.

  Get the sticks and get back.

  She dipped down, grabbing an armful of sticks, twigs, and God knows what else. She hurriedly made her way back to the campsite, forcing herself to push away the warning bells in her head.

  Just a bad day, she thought.

  Tomorrow will be better.

  Chapter 12

  Owen clicked off his headlights as he rolled to a stop behind the excavation crew’s camper. He glanced at the clock—9:44 p.m.—then at the dim light glowing through the thin curtain over a small window.

  Sadie was awake… unless she slept with a light on, which considering the day’s events, wouldn’t surprise him. He turned off the engine, got out, and closed the door. Loud voices and laughter carried through the wind, scented with campfire smoke and hamburgers.

  Owen recognized Griffin’s boisterous laugh, followed by girly giggles. He pushed away the instant dart of possessiveness. He didn’t get the vibe that Griffin and Sadie had anything on the side, but he couldn’t help but wonder. Any man with a pair of balls would be crazy not to be attracted to Sadie, and even crazier to not make a move while being on an overnight trip. But more than that—why the hell was he feeling possessive of her, anyway? She wasn’t his. Far from it.

  And he was far from her type, he reminded himself as he stepped up to the camper and rapped on the door. He was there on a mission, and that mission did not include getting into Dr. Sadie Hart’s pants.

  When there was no answer, Owen knocked again.

  He waited a moment, then glanced over his shoulder before peeking through the small slit of the curtain. On the floor lay a travel bag with clothes spilling out of the top, muddy pants next to muddy boots, a box of wine on the counter, and no Sadie. He found himself looking for another bag, wondering if Griffin, and Kimi for that matter, were shacking up in there as well.

  Close quarters for a man and two women.

  Lucky bastard.

  After he was certain Sadie wasn’t in the camper, Owen took off through the woods, following the voices and flickering light of campfire through the trees. He crossed the rope bridge Crawly had secured, testing it every few inches. The sheriff might have been in law enforcement for decades, but an outdoorsman, he was not.

  The bridge held, and he stepped into the woods, taking a detour to the rock where Sadie had found Brian Russell’s body. Although they’d canvassed the entire area, he wanted a second look. Alone. Keeping his light low, Owen stopped next to the brown, wilted grass where Brian’s fluids had drained from his body sometime after death. He scanned the light to the red stains on the rock from where the kid had braced himself after taking two rounds to the chest, moments before falling to the dirt floor.

  Brian Russell didn’t die instantly.

  Owen surveyed the surrounding woods, recalling the position the boy’s body had been found, and the angle of the shots. Whoever had shot Brian had been close, and a decent shot. He scanned the trees, pesky obstacles that would have made any shot difficult. But whoever had done it, managed to land two kill shots, despite the thick coverage of trees.

  His mind started to race. Who had experience with a gun, and was a hell of a shot? Military? Former officer, perhaps? Hell, just about every redneck in damn Berry Springs.

  But who would kill a seventeen-year-old boy?

  Someone with a lot to lose. And he knew in his gut that Crypts Cavern held the answers.

  His gaze shifted to the campfire, a ball forming in his stomach.

  Brian Russell had been murdered in cold blood… just like his uncle. And he had a feeling the nightmare wasn’t over.

  Owen picked his way through the woods, zeroing in on Sadie’s laugh over the voices, a smooth, low escape of happiness sneaking out despite her serious, somewhat prickly demeanor. It was a soft, feminine laugh. The kind of laugh heard in a bedroom after an evening of too many drinks, and too little clothes.

  “Hey—” Griffin’s sharp tone halted the conversation as he spotted Owen’s flashlight.

  Owen stepped out of the tree line onto the rocky clearing that led to the cave, surprised they hadn’t noticed his light already. Maybe they’d had more than one box of wine.

  “Evening.” His eyes locked on Sadie in her baggy, grey hoodie, skinny jeans with a sexy little tear above the knee, and running shoes, loosely laced. Her long, brown hair fell over her shoulders, tousled and wind-blown reflecting a day in the woods—or his bedroom, in his fantasy—and in her hands, a splay of playing cards.

  The campfire sparkled in her eyes as she met his gaze. A small smile curved her pink lips.

  Christ, she was gorgeous.

  Her cheeks were flushed, from the fire or wine, he wasn’t sure. But something deep down in him hoped it was the wine… because Owen guessed that if Sadie ever let her guard down, she’d be hell on wheels. All that pent up emotion would dissolve with the pure grain alcohol, leaving a reckless woman who didn’t know how to handle the newfound emotional freedom of a hardcore buzz. Hell yeah, he wanted to see that.

  Griffin blew out a breath, waving his spatula in the air. “Shit man. Glad you aren’t a bear,” Griffin chuckled. “Want some food?”

  A guard dog, he was not. “No, thanks.”

  “Do bears carry flashlights?” Sadie asked with a smirk, earning her a flying bottle cap from across the fire.

  Owen glanced around the campfire—empty plates stacked next to a cooler, a half-drunk bottle of wine, empty beer cans and bottles stuffed in a trash bag, jackets and a flannel blanket. A stack of dollars weighed down by an empty beer bottle sat on top of a small folding stool next to the fire.

  No gun, or weapon of any kind whatsoever. Other than the spatula, of course.

  Kimi was busy peeking at Griffin’s cards he’d carelessly laid on his lap, while Sadie shifted toward Owen. “Didn’t expect to see you tonight.” The smile reached her eyes now.

  “Just came by to check on you guys.”

  “You mean, to make sure Atohi and his men hadn’t chopped us up?” Griffin grinned sliding a glance at Kimi.

  “Or to make sure there isn’t an inexperienced hunter lurking in the woods?” By the touch of sarcasm in her voice, he wondered if Sadie had heard his discussion with Crawly earlier. Did she know Brian was the one who called the bones in? Solidifying that there was a connection between his death and the skeleton? Owen glanced at the others. By the carefree look on Griffin and Kimi’s faces, he assumed they didn’t draw a connection. And that was good. He wasn’t in the mood to field questions that he couldn’t answer.

  “Is there any news? On the boy?” Sadie continued her quest for more information.

  “The autopsy will begin first thing tomorrow morning. We’ll know more then.”

  “Do you think it’s related to the bones found at the cave?” Kimi asked, earning a glance from Sadie.

  “No.” He lied. “Deer season just started up. A rogue bullet or two isn’t hard to imagine. He wasn’t wearing a vest or anything. Dark colors blend. But, like I said, we’ll know more tomorrow morning.”

  “Who was he?”
/>   “A local teenager.”

  “So terrible,” Kimi shook her head.

  “It is.” Sadie said matter-of-factly, and obviously wanting to change the subject now, she continued, “But bottom-line, we’ve got a job to do here. Our minds need to be right.”

  “You sound like a third-grade basketball coach.”

  “You’re playing cards like a third-grader,” she replied with a quick wit. “You keep this up, you won’t have any money to pay Kimi when she wins your bet tonight.”

  Kimi laughed. “Seriously. Have you ever even played poker before?”

  As Griffin smarted back to Kimi, Sadie glanced up at Owen. “If you’re looking to make some easy cash, pull up a chair.”

  “Here you go.” Griffin stood, pulled his empty chair next to Sadie, and motioned Owen to sit. “I’ve got another in my tent. Be right back.”

  Owen sat as Griffin pulled up another chair.

  “Beer?”

  “Thanks.” After all, what’s a campfire without beer? And by the looks of it, he needed a six pack to catch up with everyone else.

  Griffin tossed him a can. He caught it mid-air and popped the top. “So, what’s with the camper if you guys are sleeping in tents?”

  “I like tents, believe it or not,” Kimi said, grabbing another drink. “I camped a lot growing up. Always like a fun, little adventure. Minus the dead bodies and haunted caverns, of course.”

  “And I’m doing it because Kimi and I have a little wager on if she’s going to be able to make it through the night.”

  He looked at Sadie. “And you?”

  “Oh Sadie here will shack up wherever we won’t.” Griffin grinned and winked.

  “Now that’s not very nice.” Sadie narrowed her eyes.

  Owen titled his head to the side.

  “Griffin here thinks I’m antisocial.”

  “Not all the time. Just the evenings especially. You need your alone time, I get it. Hell, after the day you had, I didn’t even expect you to come out tonight.”

  Sadie’s eyes focused on the fire as she shifted in her seat. Was Griffin talking about the ravine incident, or her name being splashed all over the gossip columns? Hell of a morning, either way, he guessed.

  “Anyway,” she said with a touch of attitude, then tossed her cards on the table. “Kimi, your deal. I’ve got one more game in me before I need to go seclude myself in a black hole somewhere, away from all living organisms.” She winked.

  Kimi dealt the cards, and the game began.

  Owen decided against telling them that he and his buddies spent every second of their free time playing cards. Owen was the best poker player on the base, hands down. It wasn’t the money, or the bragging rights, it was the ability to read the hand across from him that made Owen love the game. The mind-fuck of it. The calculated risk and reward. Everyone had a tick, a tell, he just had to find it. And if he had to guess, this group had a lot of ticks. So, he decided to sit back and lose a few hands, taking some time learning his opponents before going in for the kill. By the crumpled twenties on the table, he estimated they were playing with around a hundred bucks. Enough to buy him a few more cans of paint for his father’s deck.

  Griffin pulled out the whiskey, and after the mandatory—apparently—pass around of shots, the games began.

  Owen watched each player.

  Griffin, typical macho-man, but this one had a major chip on his shoulder. Perhaps it was the fact that he was the intern and didn’t like being low on the totem pole. If Owen had to guess, Griffin came from a household where his father worked full time and mother had dedicated her life to raising her children. Men ruled the roost, and the kid didn’t like his current position in the group.

  Kimi on the other hand, might as well have had a flashing light announcing her cards. Her face sparkled with each decent card she drew—a tell that Sadie had picked up on. Inexperienced at cards, yes, but based on how her leg settled against Griffin’s, she was experienced with his deck, no doubt about it. Of the three, Kimi was drinking the least amount, and although she laughed and played along, Owen caught her gaze shifting to the woods, scanning from tree to tree as she had done on the ravine. What was she looking for, he wondered? It was a nervous tick that had nothing to do with cards.

  The first game went to Sadie, with a pair of Kings. To Owen’s surprise, Sadie was a damn good poker player. She was the type of woman to take her cards seriously—which was seriously sexy—and had no obvious tells. Sadie was smart, confident, and focused, with a killer calmness like a mountain lion waiting to strike—twice in a row, when she won the second hand, too.

  Owen subtly watched her, hyper-aware of every movement, giggle, every shift of her body, each stolen glance pulling him deeper and deeper into intrigue.

  To say that the woman he’d met in the woods was the same woman who dated billionaire brats surprised him, to say the least. Woods Sadie seemed like an uptight perfectionist with a touch of neurosis, who was dedicated to her job, and despite the fear of heights, seemed in her element being covered head-to-toe in dirt. His kind of woman—the dirt part, anyway. Woods Sadie didn’t seem the type to sit in a man’s shadow while spending hours in the beauty chair before attending her umpteenth charity event. No yapping, teacup sized dogs for her, no sir. He saw Sadie as someone who’s best friend would be a burly German shepherd, complete with full obedience training.

  The juxtaposition made him want to learn more about her. He didn’t like being surprised, or knocked off his game, especially with a woman that looked like that. He didn’t like how much she’d occupied his thoughts since he’d met her. He didn’t like the little flutter of excitement he felt just sitting next to her.

  He didn’t like how many times he’d imagined her naked over the course of the last few minutes.

  As time ticked on, he’d caught her glancing at him a few times, too, reminding him of the instant attraction the moment they’d met. Those damn eyes that seemed to burn a hole right through his skin.

  Dr. Sadie Hart was a box full of surprises. A box of soft, silky feline curves that he’d like to crawl inside of and…

  A doctor. What was he thinking? A doctor who dated rich kids would never have any interest in a military brat with a drunk as a father.

  He sipped and drew another card—full house.

  Owen looked up, catching Sadie smirking at him. She raised a brow.

  He narrowed his eyes.

  Alright then, time to drop the curtain. Like a hammer.

  He rose the bet which was met by everyone but Sadie, who folded. Yep, she was onto him.

  Smart little vixen.

  “Okay show us your hand, Kimi.”

  Kimi laid down a pair of eights.

  “Owen?”

  Owen tossed the cards on the table and plucked the bills from under the bottle.

  “Ah, dammit, man.” Griffin tossed his cards into the air and grabbed the whiskey.

  Sadie laughed and picked up her plastic cup. “On that note, I’m going to hit the sack, kids.”

  “Oh come on. One more game. I’m just getting warmed up.”

  “Sure you are.”

  Owen stood. “I’ll walk you. Need to watch out for those flashlight-carrying bears.”

  She snorted a laugh—super cute—then shifted her attention to Griffin and Kimi who were already beginning a new game. “Sure you guys don’t want the camper?”

  “Nope. I’m good.” Kimi winked.

  “Alright, well, door’s always open. Come in anytime.”

  “Will do.”

  “And you’ve got the SAT phone. We’ll meet up first thing in the morning.”

  “Night, boss.”

  Owen clicked on his flashlight and motioned her ahead. They fell into step together into the woods, two yellow beams of light cutting through the darkness. A cloud drifted from the moon, casting deep shadows along the forest floor. A bit creepy, and beautiful, he thought.

  “You’re a hell of a poker player, Dr. Hart.”
/>
  “You’re a hell of a scammer, Grayson.”

  “Ah, caught that, huh?”

  “You’re not the only person who could read people around that campfire.”

  He grinned. “Well, I wasn’t the only scammer around that fire. Your buddies seem to be pretty comfortable around each other.”

  “I’ve noticed. Can’t say I’m surprised. Griff’s something else. Good at what he does, though. He’s going to make a great anthropologist, if he can learn to keep it in his pants, of course.”

  “Rules,” Owen scoffed.

  She tilted her head. “Have trouble with that yourself, huh?”

  “Only while playing poker.”

  “Dodged a bullet, then.”

  “Bullet? No… more Mack truck.”

  “Or maybe more like your ego.” She winked and stepped over a rotted log. Owen lightly grabbed her elbow to help her over.

  “How did you get so good?” She asked.

  “Keeping it in my pants or playing poker?”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “Well, I actually became very good on both points when I entered the military. Played poker with my buddies during the little spare time we had.”

  “And let me guess, you won every time.”

  “My name’s on the wall. A plaque. Gold and shiny, forever immortalizing Owen Grayston.”

  “Grayston?”

  “Yep. Fuckers. ’Scuse the language. I know they did it on purpose.” She laughed, and he fought a smile, then said, “How about you? How’d you get so good?”

  “I played with my dad and his buddies when I was a little girl. Learned pretty quickly there was more to the game than getting good cards.”

  “Pretty cool dad.”

  “Well, yes and no. He was in construction. I’d go to job sites with him a lot, and the guys would play during lunch breaks. I’d force myself into the group.”

  Dr. Sadie Hart grew up playing around construction sites. Again, something else surprising about a woman who dated billionaire assholes.