Page 72 of Trapped with the Covert Ops Soldier

“Put it back where I found it, or close to,” Abby said. She met Smitty’s gaze. “Thank you. I’m going to return them while you find some rope.”

“Be careful,” he ordered, the smile sliding off his face. “That cavern isn’t stable.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t go into it any farther than the point where this tunnel and the cave meet.”

He nodded.

“Them?” Jack asked in a tight voice. “How many of those things did you pick up?”

“Two, but not to keep.”

“What the hell were they doing in your pocket then?” he asked, hysteria making his voice squeak.

“They were part of plan B or C and are no longer needed.”

“Let her go so she can come back,” Smitty said to Jack.

Jack shooed her away with his hands. “Go, go!”

Abby went.

The tunnel seemed longer, despite the fact that she’d just traveled the full length of it. Darker too, but not quieter. The sound of stones moving, rolling, and smashing in the cave echoed more often than before.

Finally, she reached the end of the shaft and crouched on the verge of the cave. She set her lamp down and reached into her pocket to pull out the second gold nugget. The two of them weighed down on her palm more than her head told her was possible.

Maybe it was the burden of all the souls this gold had claimed that made it so heavy. So many people had died for it, too many.

“Rest in peace,” Abby said, looking out into the cave and swinging her hand back to toss the nuggets into the black maw of the mountain.

Someone grabbed her hand from behind and yanked hard. She cried out as she landed on the uneven surface on her back.

Virgil crouched over her, his lips pulled back in an enraged sneer. “Liar,” he snarled at her. He pried open her hand and took the nuggets. A horrible smile spread across his face, a smile composed of greed, lust, and triumph. “No gold, huh?” He looked down at her. “I knew you were lying.”

“It has to go back,” she said.

His smile widened. Instead of arguing, he put the nuggets on her palm, closed her fingers around them, then patted her hand like he was a benevolent uncle. “You go right ahead and take them back where you found them.”

Her skin itched, and if he hadn’t been holding onto her wrist, she’d have dropped the nuggets. “What? No, I’m just going to toss them inside—”

He grabbed her arm in a grip tight enough to leave bruises and shook her. He bent so close spit landed on her face. “You’re going to take me to where you found this gold.”

Where was Jack and Smitty?

She tried to look over his shoulder, but she couldn’t see anyone or hear any noise from either man. A cold shiver washed over her body. “What did you do?” It came out as a dry croak.

His smile was composed of mocking malevolence. “I gave Jack a little of his own medicine.”

And Smitty? Was it possible that he got away? If he had...she needed to keep Virgil’s attention occupied. “Is Jack still alive?”

“Probably. He has a habit of rising from the dead.” Virgil pushed her out of the tunnel hard, and she would have fallen on to the rocks if he didn’t have such a good grip on her arm.

He slithered out and shook her again. “Where did you find the gold?” He pulled out a knife from his pocket and held it like a man who knew what to do with it.

She pointed to the left, down the dry riverbed. “That way.” Something off in the dark fell with a crash. “Virgil, this cave isn’t safe. The entire ceiling could come down on us at any time.”

“Shut up and show me.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but he brought the knife up so the tip was just beneath her jugular. “Not another word out of your mouth. Pick up a lamp and start walking.”

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