Dark Lake

by Clare Revell

  “Not great. The overspill and run off isn’t fast enough for my liking.”

  “How’s the pressure on the gauges?”

  “Still rising.” The tension in Ralph’s voice set Evan’s teeth on edge. “Did you want to raise the alert status from amber to red?”

  The short answer was yes he did. But that would cause a panic, and he didn’t want that on his conscience. “Not yet. Call the emergency services and warn them of a possibility of a red. I’ll be up there at first light. I’ll make a decision then.”

  “Sure, boss. I’ll call if anything changes overnight.”

  “Thanks.” Evan hung up. “I had wondered about the tanks when her air ran out too soon. She mentioned that also happened the other day.”

  “She shouldn’t be here,” Jack said firmly. “That’s three attempts on her life now—the hotel, the boat, the tanks. What is someone trying to hide? And who is it?”

  “That is a long story and one Lou needs to hear. As I’d rather only tell it once, do you mind if it waits until morning? I have an armed guard keeping watch on Lou. She’ll be perfectly safe tonight.”

  “That’s fine.” Jack stifled a yawn. “I’m calling it a night. It’s been a really long day, not including the jetlag.”

  “Of course. I’ll show you to your room. It’s right next door to the one that Lou is using.”

  32

  Lou watched the world go by from the hospital window. The sooner someone came and picked her up, the better she’d feel. If she’d had her purse with her, she’d have caught a taxi ages ago. At least Evan had the foresight to bring her leg in, so she wasn’t stuck in a chair.

  A bald man wearing a suit and overcoat came in and held out a warrant card. “Dr. Fitzgerald, I’m DCI Haniwell, Cumbrian CID.”

  “How can I help you?” she asked. Perhaps they were finally investigating the accidents and attempts on her life and wanted a more detailed statement.

  “I wanted to talk to you about a theft. If you could accompany me down to the station, please. I have a car waiting outside.”

  Lou sat still, shock running through her. “Theft? Someone’s accusing me of theft? Do I need a lawyer?”

  “Not yet.”

  “I haven’t been discharged yet,” she said. “I can’t go anywhere.” She glanced up as two men entered the ward. “Dad, Evan, this is DCI…”

  Evan nodded curtly. “Peter and I know each other. About time you got here. This is the third attempt on her life in less than a week.”

  DCI Haniwell frowned. “I don’t know anything about that. This is pertaining to the theft of documents and photographs from a dig site in Wales.”

  “And not in your jurisdiction.” Evan’s tone matched that of the police officer. “You know it and I know it. Can I have a word?”

  Lou twisted the sheet in her hands as Evan and the police officer headed into the corridor. “I didn’t take them. This is another ploy by Varian to discredit me. AJ brought the files up with him, but he’s dead.”

  “Your notes, I assume.”

  Lou lowered her voice. “Varian is putting the kibosh on me again. If he can’t kill me, then he’ll ruin me another way.” She broke off at the confusion on Jack’s face. It wasn’t often now she caught him out with an unfamiliar phrase. “Kibosh…wreck, destroy, wreak havoc, ruin,” she explained. “It’s always the same. I do all the work and Monty comes in and gets all the glory. Well, I’m sick of it. You know the zitahisji is here, don’t you? Varian dragged me off both digs and gave them to him. Or tried too.”

  “Mind your language,” Jack interrupted.

  She sighed, forgetting he’d picked up a little Agrihan from her over the years. The fact she’d only called him a weasel was beside the point. “Sorry. No, I most definitely am not sorry. I’m tired of being trodden on the whole time. That’s why I already published the Llaremont findings. That’s why I quit my job with Varian. Coming here was a mistake.”

  “All of it?”

  “Yes, Dad, all of it.”

  Evan coughed from the end of the bed. “So, I’m a mistake, am I?”

  Lou’s cheeks heated as her gaze travelled up slowly. “Not you. You are the one blessing this place has. Can I leave now, or am I under arrest?” She glanced past Evan for the police officer, but he was nowhere in sight.

  “I spoke to him, explained the situation. He’s looking into the attempts on your life and will be by the house tomorrow for a statement.” He paused. “I told him the only things you brought here with you from Llaremont were your personal belongings, clothes, and so on. That was right?”

  She nodded slowly. “AJ brought the rest down with him. All of my files from my folder on the computer at the dig site.”

  “Don’t worry about that now. The regulators on the tanks, and the tanks themselves had been tampered with.”

  She swallowed hard. “What? Varian provided those.”

  Evan nodded. “That’s what I told the police. We need to get you out of here. I’ll talk to you back at the house.”

  Lou slowly pushed off the bed.

  “Do you need a hand?” Jack asked.

  She shook her head. “I’m fine.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Let’s go. Sorry yesterday was a total waste of a dive.”

  “It wasn’t. Evan stayed by her side as they began walking from the ward. “I found a key in the crypt. I haven’t tried it yet as the box is still in your room.”

  “When we get back,” she said. “I want to know what’s in it.”

  “Me, too. However, I don’t want you diving again.”

  Lou glared at him. “Excuse me?”

  He held up a hand. “Don’t take that tone of voice with me. Let me finish…”

  “You are not my father. He is.” She pointed at Jack. “And for your information, I don’t do what he tells me either.”

  Jack rolled his eyes as he held the main exit door open. “Will you shut up and let the man speak?”

  She mimed zipping her mouth closed and tossing the key over her shoulder.

  “Thank you.” Jack grinned at Evan. “Miracles will never cease. She stopped speaking.”

  Evan shook his head. “I don’t want you diving alone and in non-Xenon gear. That includes tanks, valves, regulators, the whole shebang. I want Frank to check your wetsuit.”

  “Good luck with that,” she muttered. “It got cut off me. It was a bespoke one and cost a fortune. There is no way I can afford a replacement. Anyone would think you don’t trust anyone.”

  “I don’t, at least not with the important stuff that counts.”

  “Does that include me?” She caught her breath. Did she want to know the answer to that question? What if she didn’t count as something that mattered?

  “Of course that includes you, Lou.” Evan’s hand brushed against hers, the slight touch thrilling her very core.

  If Jack hadn’t been right there, she’d have grabbed hold of it. She glanced over at the car. Two men stood beside it and she stopped walking. One man she recognized, the other she didn’t.

  Evan tugged her sleeve gently. “You’re OK. You know Ira. The other man is your bodyguard.”

  “My what? Why do I need a bodyguard?”

  “Because I say so. Lou, this is Zach Roma, one of my security team. He’ll be guarding you from now on.”

  Lou eyed up the stocky, tall, bald man, wearing the trademark black suit, white shirt and black tie. Maybe she’d design a new outfit for bodyguards, something a little more casual that didn’t shout security. Something that would let the secret service blend in for once. She turned to Evan and pouted. “Why do I even need one?”

  “There have been three, if not four, attempts on your life in as many days. Varian made a direct threat against you. I’m not losing you.”

  Lou glanced at Jack. “Daaaad, Evan’s being mean to me. I don’t need a watch dog or a bodyguard.”

  “Don’t bother trying, kiddo. Evan and I discussed this over breakfast, and I’m in agreement with him. I
t’s either this guy or I get a detachment from the local air base to protect you.” He quirked an eyebrow. “Remember what happened the last time I did that? This time it would be ten heavily armed soldiers. Or one man. It’s up to you.”

  “So I’m not getting a choice.” She glanced at the bald security officer. “No offence, Mr. Roma.”

  “None taken, Dr. Fitzgerald.”

  Lou frowned. “That’s a mouthful. How about you call me Dr. F., and I call you Mr. R.?”

  “Sounds good to me.” He paused. “Actually, why don’t you call me Zach? Most people do. I’ll stick to Dr. F. for you though.”

  “OK.”

  “And before you ask, yes, he dives.” Evan told her. “Not that anyone is diving the lake today.”

  She crossed her arms. “How is it? The dam, that is.”

  “Not great. I just left it, having been there since first light.”

  “That makes breakfast rather early.” She looked from Evan to Jack and back again.

  Jack shrugged. “Jet lag.”

  “Ah.” She climbed into the car as Evan held the door open. “Evan, are you raising the alert status?”

  “It was escalated to amber last night. A low level evacuation order was issued at nine o’clock this morning. That’s for care homes, schools, hospitals, and so on.”

  She frowned. “You’re that worried the dam will fail?”

  Evan didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. The expression on his face alone gave away his answer.

  33

  Evan laid a clean white cloth over the table in the study and stood back as Lou set the box on top. He fingered the gold key in his pocket. Impatience tingled every nerve ending. It was like being a kid at Christmas, longing to open the presents and see what Father Christmas had brought him. He hoped desperately he wouldn’t feel the keen sense of disappointment which usually followed when what he got was nothing he wanted or even needed.

  Lou reached for the key, her gloved hands almost taunting him. “You don’t need to be here for this, Evan.”

  The way she spoke his name thrilled him, even though she was potentially throwing him out of his own study and away from something that concerned him. “Yes, I do.” He held the key out of reach and raised an eyebrow at her camera. “Is that really necessary?”

  “Yes. I need to log every part of this. The chain of evidence, so to speak, has to be clear and undisputable.” She switched on the camera and her tape recorder. “The box was found in the crypt of Abernay Parish Church by Lou Fitzgerald and AJ Wilcox.” She rattled off both date and time. “Present now, are Lou Fitzgerald, Evan Close, and General Jack Fitzgerald of the United States Air Force.”

  She glanced up. “Lurking in the corner of the room are security personnel, Ira Miles and Zach Roma. The key was found in the crypt by Evan Close.” She nicked the key from Evan and held it up to the camera. “As you can see it’s a small, gold key, rusted from prolonged contact with the water.”

  She picked up a bottle and sprayed the key, wiping it carefully to remove the rust.

  Evan stuck out his hand again. “May I open the box?”

  She held his gaze and then nodded. “Sure. You’ll need to put gloves on first.” She waited until he’d complied before she gave up the key. “Try not to break it in the lock.”

  The gloves made things more difficult than he anticipated. Could the others hear his heart beating? The pounding was so loud in his ears, he could barely hear anything else in the room. Above him the clock ticked and then chimed. Was it really only ten? They’d picked Lou up just after nine, and she’d wanted to do this as soon as they stepped over the manor’s threshold.

  Slowly, very slowly, Evan inserted the key into the lock. It fit like a glove.

  Lou spoke into the camera, detailing everything he was doing.

  He exhaled sharply. “I’d wondered if it wouldn’t work after all that. That this was some random key lying on the crypt floor.” His stomach tied in knots as he slowly turned the key. The Christmas morning feeling within him grew, and his heart leapt into his throat. With an audible click the lock opened. He tried lifting the lid, but it wouldn’t budge. He tried both hands, but nothing.

  “Let me.”

  “No.” The word came out sharper than he wanted, so he inhaled and tried again. “No. I have some stuff to clean brass in the desk drawer. Let me try that first.”

  Lou hesitated before answering. “OK, but be careful.”

  He tugged off the gloves and binned them. Crossing the den to the desk took ten long seconds. He was aware of the clock ticking and everyone in the room watching him.

  He needed to calm his nerves. The answers he sought might be in that box, and they also might not be. He shouldn’t get his hopes up. Whatever was in the box, he couldn’t keep any of it. Not yet. Perhaps when all this was over, Lou would let him at least keep one item. Evan rummaged in the drawer and produced a spray can. He liberally applied it to the hinges of the box and then grabbed a cloth.

  “Gloves,” Lou said.

  He scrunched up his nose. “I’m not touching the box,” he snapped. He rubbed gently to remove some of the rust. “Now I’ll put the wretched gloves back on.”

  Lou tossed him a clean pair.

  He pulled them on and slowly attempted to lift the lid. This time it opened like a charm. He reached for the contents, amazed they seemed dry. Whatever the box was made of had done a great job at protecting its treasure.

  Lou stayed his hands. “I need to document it in situ, first.” She picked up her camera and began taking several photographs.

  After what seemed like hours, but in reality was probably no more than a minute, if that, she glanced at him. “OK. Take the contents out one item at a time. I’ll need photos of all angles before you lay them onto the clean cloth.”

  Evan sighed. “Do you open your presents like this, too? Peel the tape off a millimetre at a time, before you then fold and reuse the paper?”

  “Yeah.” She glanced at him sideways, her face straight as a dice. “Doesn’t everyone?”

  “No.” Evan shook his head in despair. “Remind me never to use tape on anything I give you. String is faster.”

  Jack laughed as Lou pretended to sulk, crossing her arms in front of her, but being careful not to touch anything with the gloves.

  “Come on then. Let’s do this.” Evan lifted a pen from the box, holding it so Lou could catalogue it. “It’s engraved with Great-grandad’s name.”

  “It’s possibly what he wrote the diary with.”

  “It’s amazing none of this is ruined.” He placed the pen down and picked up a leather notebook. The craftsmanship on it was amazing. Fine tool work made it easily the best journal he’d ever come across, and far surpassed anything in his library. “May I?”

  “Sure.” Lou’s camera clicked constantly.

  Evan’s excitement built as he opened the book. Was this the promised journal containing the answers? There was nothing on the first page.

  He flicked through the remaining pages. Every single one was the same.

  Blank.

  Hollow disappointment replaced every other emotion in him. “It’s empty.” He put the book on the cloth. Just like Christmas. Never lives up to your expectations. He pulled out the rest of the contents. A few photos of the village, a few pictures of people, which he assumed were ancestors of his. There was a seal, a dried up ink pad, and sealing wax.

  “Is that it?”

  “Yeah.” He picked up the box, twisting and turning it in his hands. His fingers ran over the inside and outside.

  Lou frowned. “What are you looking for?”

  “It’s still heavy.” He shook it and nodded when it rattled. “There’s still something inside, but I can’t find a way to get to it.” His frustration got the better of him, and he slammed it down on the table.

  “Hey!” Lou glared at him. “You’ll break it. Let me.”

  Evan shoved it across the table at her. “Have at it.”


  “Sulking like a baby.” She grinned.

  “Am not.” He picked up the notebook again. “Why hide a blank notebook? Why even mention a hidden journal if there’s nothing to hide?”

  “Maybe he was afraid someone would do exactly what we’ve done. Dive down into the crypt and retrieve it.” Lou pressed the box all over, pushing and sliding her fingers expertly. “Maybe whatever was there was removed years ago. The box simply replaced with the blank notebook in it.”

  Evan rubbed the pages in desperation, not really sure he expected words to appear. “Perhaps I wave a stick at it or…”

  Lou shook her head. “No such things as magic wands. Not in the real world.”

  Click.

  Evan dropped the book in the sunlight, the open pages face up. “What was that?”

  “The bottom of the box opened. Here, hold it for me,” Lou held it toward him.

  Evan took the box, trying to turn it to face him.

  “Will you wait a second, Mr. Impatient?” Lou grabbed the camera. She rapidly snapped several pictures. “OK.” She reached into the space and pulled out the small file, crammed full of papers. She held it out to Evan. “Here.”

  He set the box down and eagerly made a grab for the file. He went through the papers and drawings one at a time, holding each one for Lou to photograph. “There’s nothing pertaining to the village or dam.” He laid the last one down on the table. “Just old family stuff.”

  “You’re a strange one.” Lou scribbled on her clipboard. “Most people would be jumping and leaping for joy at finding old family stuff. But you? You’d rather have blueprints or financial records that prove your theory.”

  “I’d rather have them disproved,” he muttered. “I want answers. Can’t you, of all people, understand that?”

  “Maybe there aren’t any.” She glanced at the notebook and raised an eyebrow. “What did you do to it?”

  “Nothing. Why?”

  Lou grabbed it and rotated it to face him. “You said it was blank, the photos show it was blank. Look.”

  Faint words now covered the two open pages.