27

Evan strode past Varian, ignoring him, and into the office. “Jasper, a word.”

Varian followed him. “What’s going on?”

“This doesn’t concern you,” Evan didn’t bother to hide his irritation with the man. “I don’t care if you own the hydroelectric company and think you have a right to poke your nose into dam business. But this is my dam, my land, and I’ll thank you to leave my office now.”

“And if I don’t.”

“I’ll call the police and have you escorted off. I don’t have time to deal with you at this precise moment.”

Someone knocked on the door.

Evan groaned. “Come in.”

Two uniformed officers entered. “We’re looking for Mr. Sparrow.”

Timing, Evan decided, was everything. He pointed. “Right there. Please take him. He’s trespassing on private property.” He turned his back and stared at Jasper. “We have a serious problem here.”

“How can I help you officers?” Varian asked.

“Your office said we’d find you here. We need to ask you some questions down at the station about Bart Manchester, the bombing of the power station, and the death of AJ Wilcox.”

“Are you arresting me?” Varian raised an eyebrow, and Evan envied his ability to remain so calm.

“Not yet. If you could come with us.”

Varian glared at Evan. “This isn’t over.”

Evan shook his head. “Don’t threaten me in front of the police, Varian. That’s not clever or wise under the circumstances.” He waited until Varian left with the officers then turned to Jasper. “You need to see this.” He showed him the photos on the camera and pointed to the blueprints.

Jasper shuddered. “It’s worse than we thought.”

“I’m going to wait here for the panel inspectors. Make sure they’re the ones the Environment Agency are sending. We need to continue the run off and see if we can increase it.”

“Do you want an alert put out?”

“I don’t want to start a panic.” Evan tapped his fingers on the desk. “We issue a red, people will assume the dam will fail. It could simply be a surface crack caused by the blast or normal stress. Get someone down to the control room to monitor the pumps and gauges. I’ll get a team from Xenon up to go over the dam completely.”

“Sure. So, the warning?”

“Yellow. That’s normal with a run off anyway. I’ll draft a press release in a bit.”

Jasper moved to the window. “What is Dr. Fitzgerald doing out there?”

Evan glanced up in time to see the boat tied to the remains of the steeple and Lou vanish over the side. “For Pete’s sake! I’m taking your boat. She can’t dive alone. There’s too much debris out there. The inspectors are Cliff Barnes and Pat Stewart. Due around three. Don’t let anyone else near the dam unless it’s the team from Xenon.”

He ran from the office, calling on his mobile. “Ralph, it’s Evan. I need the whole shooting match up at Dark Lake ASAP.”

“Big problems, boss? You did say …”

“Yes. We could be looking at a total dam failure. How soon can you get the whole team up here?”

“We can be ready to leave as soon as everyone gets into the base—twenty minutes or so. After your phone call last night, I put them all on standby.”

He reached the boat. “That’s great. I’ll send the jet for you. I need you all here no later than two o’clock.” He jumped into the boat and started the engine. “Be ready.” He ended the call and dialled Ira. “It’s me. Send the jet to London to pick up the team from Xenon. I need them at the dam by two. I also need a press release. There are three in a file marked alerts on the computer in my study at the manor—red, amber and yellow. Make sure you change the dates for today.”

He guided the boat to the church spire. “Before you ask, we have huge problems at the dam. For now issue a standard yellow alert, stating the run off is due to damage from the explosion at the power plant. Let me see it before it goes out. The amber and red are just in case. I also need you to contact Judge Derbyshire and get an injunction against Varian to prevent any further blasting here. The cops took him in, but knowing the scoundrel he’ll be out before long. I got to go.”

Evan tied the boat next to Lou’s. Fitting his helmet and tank, he dropped his phone into the boat and dived. “Lou, you’d better answer me, right now. You are not the only one who has rules about diving alone. And right now you’re breaking an unbreakable one.”

“I’m fine, Evan.”

Light came from inside the church. He swam inside and found Lou by the crypt door. He grabbed her arm. “What are you doing? We have to go up. Now.”

“No way. I have to finish here.”

“Humour me. I need to talk to you. Preferably not over the radio.”

“Fine.” She kicked for the surface and broke the water, glaring at him. She yanked off her helmet. She tossed it inside the boat and pulled herself in after it. “OK. The helmet is off. What’s so important you drag me back up here?”

Evan heaved himself inside the boat and sat as close as he could get. “What are you playing at?”

“Diving while I still can. I want to check the crypt before it gets blown up, too.” The radio in the bottom of the boat crackled. Lou grabbed it. “What now?”

“There’s a Monty Sparrow here for you, Dr. Fitzgerald. He says you’re expecting him.”

Lou muttered something under her breath in what sounded like a foreign language. “Tell him to wait in his car. I’ll be a while yet. No, better idea, tell him to go home. He’s not needed here. This dive is over.”

“I can’t do that, Lou.” Monty had obviously taken over the radio as his voice came over the airwaves. “Dad sent me to help.”

“Your father was the person who shut this dive down. And I no longer work for your father. So, no, I don’t need your help. Besides aren’t you busy in Llaremont?”

“Not since you stole all the files and wiped the computers.”

“That wasn’t me,” she snapped. “But I don’t intend to debate this with you. I am not being pushed around anymore. As I just said, your father stopped this dig last night and this whole area is a crime scene following AJ’s murder. If you don’t believe me, ask him yourself.”

“I would if I could find him. And if the dig is over, what are you doing out there?”

Evan held out a hand. “May I?”

She tossed him the radio. “Be my guest.”

Evan grinned. “Mr. Sparrow, my name is Evan Close. I own all the land around here along the dam and lake. As of this morning, Dr. Fitzgerald is working for me.” He ignored the expression of sheer amazement on Lou’s face. “We need to check out the structural integrity of the dam and surrounding lake bed following the explosions.”

“What explosions?”

“The ones your father set, when he blew up the power station and the remains of Abernay. I suggest you call him a lawyer and go to the local police station to find him. Out.” He turned off the radio and smirked. “That was fun.”

“Are you serious?” Lou still had that I-can’t-believe-what-I’m-hearing look on her face.

“About what? It being fun baiting Monty or Varian being down at the local cop shop, because, yes, I meant them both.”

“No, me working for you.”

He nodded. “You want to dive and find answers. So do I. You also need a job as Varian fired you. Therefore, I’ll give you thirty quid an hour until we finish unearthing all the secrets Dark Lake has to offer.”

“Thank you, but there’s no need…” Her face changed. “Wait a sec. Did you say thirty quid an hour?”

“Isn’t that enough?” He checked the gauges on her tank and his. “I can go to forty, but don’t tell the other lads that when they arrive.”

“Thirty is more than enough, thank you. It’s double what Varian was paying me.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“No problem.” She smiled.

Evan grinned and put his helmet on. “Then Dr. Fitzgerald, I suggest we dive.”

“Wasn’t there something you wanted to discuss? Not over the radio.”

He held her gaze. “I wanted to remind you of my unbreakable rule. No diving alone. And since you’re working for me, I expect you to keep it. At all times. Or there will be consequences.”

Lou smirked and fired off a mock salute. “Yes, sir, Mr. Close, sir. When did you want to go to that cave you mentioned?”

“My priority right now is this dam. So maybe tomorrow.” He nodded and dived below the surface of the water, trusting her to follow him.

~*~

As much as she hated it, Lou had to admit Varian was right about the church. The tilt of the spire was becoming more pronounced every time she saw it. And as she laid a hand on the stone walls, she was aware of a vibration that hadn’t been there before. She glanced over at Evan.

His face was downcast as he surveyed the piles of rubble. “Should have come earlier. I would have liked to have seen the house before it was destroyed.”

“You weren’t to know,” she said.

He swam over to where something glinted in the light from their helmet. He picked it up, wiping his glove over the metal surface. “It’s a plaque from my great grandfather’s house,” he said.

“The crypt is this way.” She didn’t get an answer. “Evan.” Still no answer, so she swam over and touched his arm. “Hey, are you all right?”

“Yeah.” He held out the plaque. “Can we take this?”

“Sure. Tie it to the descent rope, and we’ll get it on the way back.” She watched as he did so. “This way.” She led the way over to the door to the crypt. “That’s strange.”

“What’s that?”

“I left this door open.”

He glanced from the door to her and back again. “It’s closed now. What could have caused that?”

“I don’t know.” She pushed against it, but to no avail. “It won’t budge.”

“Allow me.” Evan shouldered the door and opened it enough for them to squeeze through.

“The box was over here.” Lou swam to show him. She began to search on the ground for a key or anything else that might prove valuable.

She touched the wall. The vibrations had increased. A wave of apprehension swept over her. “Evan, we need to get out of here. Right now.”

“Why?”

She captured his hand and placed it on the wall. “That’s why.”

He frowned, worry tingeing his gaze. “OK.” He headed to the door.

A huge disturbance in the water knocked Lou off balance as she followed him. Debris cascaded slowly around her, twisting her around. “Whoa!”

“Lou?” Evan asked.

“I don’t—” Something hit her, forcing her to the ground. More debris fell, blocking her view of Evan. She raised her hands to protect her face and head as the falling rocks buried her.