Clive Cussler - Pirate

“Besides the centuries of silt covering it? No one knows quite where it is. Only a general idea. And, trust me, many have looked.”

Nigel, however, wasn’t willing to give up on Castle Rising, and when he spotted a fellow tour guide that he knew, he decided to ask about the secret tunnel that Queen Isabella might have used. “He was in our Historical Society… Maybe he knows something we don’t. Be right back.”

Sam and Remi waited for him near the walkway to the car park, not expecting that Nigel would gain any information they didn’t already know. As far as Sam could tell, there was nothing here that indicated the ruins were hiding anything more than an old keep.

“That was a bust,” Sam said.

He glanced out to the car park, surprised at the number of cars and school buses that now filled it. A blue BMW cruised through the lot, searching for a parking space, catching Sam’s attention when a black, boxy head of a massive dog popped up in the backseat. As the vehicle turned into the next row, then pulled into a space, Sam recognized the driver — the white butterfly bandage on his forehead further proof. Right where Ivan was bleeding from the night at the museum. “That’s Ivan driving.”

“You’re sure?” Remi asked.

He pulled Remi back, hoping they hadn’t been noticed. “Positive. Jak’s riding shotgun. And that dog that we thought was about to attack us last night? I’ll lay odds it’s in the backseat.”

“So much for the legend of Black Shuck,” Remi said as Jak hooked a leash to the collar of a dog that if any dog looked like it belonged to the Devil, this one fit the bill.

“I don’t see Fisk.” No sooner had the words left his mouth than another vehicle, a black Mercedes coming from the opposite direction, stopped behind Ivan’s car. Fisk was at the wheel. The passenger door opened, and a blond woman wearing a white parka got out, walking over to Ivan’s car as Fisk pulled away. Interesting that Fisk and his crew ended up at this location. Especially considering that he and Remi were dismissing the castle as a possible lead. “What’s here that we don’t know about?” Sam asked.

“Maybe that rumored tunnel Queen Isabella used is real.”

“We better find Nigel.”

Remi started to follow him, then stopped, taking a photo of Ivan, Jak, and the woman. “Maybe Selma can find out who she is.” As they hurried back toward the tour guide’s post, Remi tried to send the photo. “No signal.”

“Where is he?” Sam asked, looking around.

Remi looked up from her phone. “He was talking to his friend right there.”

But both Nigel and his friend were gone.

Sam took the binoculars from his backpack, searching the grounds. “I don’t see him,” he said, sweeping his binoculars up the stairs of the castle wall. “This many people and cars, they could be anywhere.”

“Maybe we should go up. Get a better view.”

“Worth a try,” Sam said. They weaved their way through a group of schoolkids coming down the stairs as they went up. On the next level, Sam looked down and saw Ivan talking to someone who looked like a guide, but no sign of Nigel or his friend. “Wish I could read lips. It’d be nice to know what they’re talking about.”

Remi moved beside Sam. “They’ve got to be here for a reason. What are we missing?”

“Considering this place made our short list of possible locations, it certainly could’ve made theirs.”

Sam watched a minute longer. Whatever the conversation was, Ivan was in a hurry to leave. He turned and walked quickly in the other direction. “He found out something.”

“There’s Nigel!” Remi said, pointing down below.

He peered through the binoculars, his relief at finding Nigel short-lived when he realized that Jak and the blond woman were heading straight toward him.

Alexandra Avery looked up to see the tour guide they’d robbed the night before standing just a few yards in front of them. He, at least, didn’t appear to see them. “How on earth did he get here?”

Jak handed the dog’s leash to Alexandra, then drew his gun. “I’ll take care of him.”

She reached up and pushed his arm down. “Put that away,” she said. “At the very least, keep it out of sight. This place is crawling with tourists, never mind we’re in Great Britain. They don’t do guns here.”

“You realize who that is?” Jak asked.

“Of course I do. What you should be asking yourself is why he’s here.” She glanced over at Ivan, glad to see that he’d not overreacted. Instead, his hand was in his pocket, undoubtedly gripping his handgun. “What’d you find out?”

“No tunnels here,” Ivan said.

She turned her attention back to the tour guide. Nigel something or other. Ridgewell. That was it. She smiled at him as she approached. “Mr. Ridgewell. What a surprise.”

He stopped in front of her, looking anything but pleased. “You were on my tour last night.”

“And found it fascinating. I take it you work here as well?”

“Where is it?”

“Where is what?”

“My notebook.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You, or maybe one of these two,” he said, nodding at Jak and Ivan, “stole it.”

“I assure you, I had nothing to do with it.”

“You were asking questions about Old English on my tour. And now here. Why?”

“Sightseeing.” She didn’t like the way he was grilling her. People were starting to stare. A large group of tourists were heading straight toward them. The place was becoming entirely too crowded. “You, of all people, should know that.”

“Were you following me?”

Ivan stepped forward, shoved his pocketed gun in Nigel’s side. “I’ve had enough of your questions.”

Great. So much for believing he was the cooler head, Alexandra thought.

She began to wonder if Fisk didn’t have his own designs on the treasure. And wouldn’t that be ironic? Of course, if that was the case, she was going to have to watch her step.

At this point, it didn’t matter. What did was making sure someone didn’t call the police. With these two, and their happy trigger fingers, that would be disastrous. She placed her hand on Ivan’s arm. “Let’s keep it low-key. Maybe take it somewhere else where we don’t have the entire countryside acting as witnesses.”

He nodded, then leaned in close to Nigel. “My suggestion? If you walk very slowly to the car park, I promise not to pull the trigger.”

Ten seconds later, they were jostled by a dozen tourists, trying to squeeze past them. One woman, bundled up like an eskimo, ran straight into Nigel, mumbling an apology as she hurried past. If they weren’t careful, they’d lose him in the next group that was headed their way, and so Alexandra handed Jak the dog’s leash, then moved to Nigel’s other side, linking her arm through his. “Best to cooperate. These two are loose cannons, and I can’t guarantee your safety.”

The man swallowed, his face turning pale, as he suddenly realized the danger he’d stumbled into. “I won’t tell anyone. Just let me go.”

“Actually,” she said, “we were coming to see you next. But since you’ve saved us the trouble, this works out fine.” She smiled at him, hoping to get him to relax, at least until they were at the car. “I promise you won’t be hurt if you come along quietly. We need a few more translations that have come up.”

The moment Remi and Sam had seen the blond woman confront Nigel, and then Jak draw a gun on him, they had very little time to put a plan into action.

Remi, armed with a Sig P938, tucked her hair beneath the hood of her jacket, put on her oversized sunglasses, then took Sam’s cell phone and hurried down the stairs after them, passed them, and then doubled back until she reached the walkway to the car park. Ivan, Jak, the woman, and Nigel were just a few yards in front of her when she caught up with them.