Page 94 of The Eagle's Vault

“No, you’re not,” said at least Scarlett, Rav, and Will at the same time.

Leigh was unphased, continuing her discussion with Brie. “There are twelve carved images on the door. I believe five of them are potential keyholes.”

There were three corridors leading into the chamber. The one I’d come through, its extension leading into the depths beyond, and a third which faced the door. Enzo had left through the first, but would he return that way? How well did he know the tunnels?

“Daniel.” I pointed to the tunnel beyond him. “Help her, but watch the exit for Enzo coming back.”

Isaac gestured to the corridor opposite the door. “I’ve got that one.”

Brie said, “The trick is figuring out which five are the keyholes.”

“The pipes.” Daniel gestured to the terracotta forms at the top of the wall, which were vaguely cylindrical. “If we had something pouring down the front, I think it would cover some of the symbols?”

“Do we have water?” Leigh asked.

Daniel shook his head. “Not enough.”

Brie said, “Leigh, hold the camera up to the door. Maybe I can get a reading and make some guesses.”

“The drone would be better for that,” I said. It had a special camera that could map distances and feed into a program of Will’s to construct 3D images. We’d used it for the London heist a couple of weeks ago.

“Yes,” Scarlett interjected. “But that drone’s doing something more important than satisfying your need to open vaults, Dec. This is non-negotiable.”

There were many rules at Reynolds Recoveries, and one of them was to never argue with Scarlett’s command voice. We were running out of time and options. We had to trust each other, and right now, that meant trusting Leigh’s brain and the technology she had available.

Emmett joined the conversation. “We’re at the alternate exit. Any luck mapping a way for us to—”

“Fuck,” Scarlett muttered. Not good. She was always in control of everything on an op, including her language. This was bad. “Will, find the bastard.”

“I’m tracking backward to where I last had him.” Will’s drone must have lost track of Enzo.

Rav said, “Jayce and I are en route to the vault.”

“Get back to the alcove, Dec,” said Scarlett. “He won’t suspect anything’s up if they’re working on the vault.”

I glanced at Leigh, who was holding up my phone, complying with Brie’s instruction. None of the emergency on the earpieces filtered through from Brie. She normally reacted to everything with nervous giggles, but she was controlling herself even better than Scarlett for once.

Scarlett was right. I should hide. But I wasn’t leaving Leigh.

The only questions were: Which entrance would Enzo come through, and how could I get the jump on him?

“If you knew the pipes connected to water, why didn’t you tell them to bring gallons of it, Daniel?” Isaac snapped.

“I thought they were a security feature at first, meant to flood the vault if anyone tried to break in.” Daniel’s gaze flitted from the corridor he was watching and back to Isaac. “I didn’t realize—”

A faint light appeared behind Daniel, rapidly brightening.

“Daniel,” I hissed, pointing to the door.

He didn’t take his eyes off Isaac. “—they might be part of the—”

Enzo burst into the room at a run, barreling into Daniel and knocking him forward. “Cazzo madre!”

Instead of hiding, I lunged for Leigh, pulling her away from the center of the room. We fell to the ground, rolling to avoid the commotion. With her safely out of harm’s way, I sprang back to my feet and charged at Enzo, who’d fallen when he collided with Daniel. “Isaac! Help me!”

No help came. Isaac grabbed Leigh instead. Close enough. If he protected her, I could do my job.

Enzo only had enough time to pull his gun before I tackled him, sending us both tumbling across the ground. And sending the gun skittering away. Something tore through my thigh, the warmth of the thermal suit faltering.

---