43

A team of people in hazmat suits sprinted over to them holding out gear.

Lou shivered as she climbed into hers. She’d always hated these things. Her eyes blurred, and she leaned back against the car, closing her eyes tightly. She pinched the bridge of her nose, wishing the headache would go away. Maybe driving wasn’t such a great idea.

Evan’s hand landed on her shoulder. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

She picked up the empty sample case. “Yeah, tired from not sleeping and sick from the drive, never mind the headache. I’ll be fine. Come on. Let’s do this.”

Evan checked that her suit was secure before he walked with her to the office. His hand gripped hers tightly until he pushed open the door.

Ralph and another man, both suited up, stood by the table.

“I thought I said evacuate out of here.” Evan’s tone was icy, his eyes piercing.

“Boss, this is Colonel Davies,” Ralph said. “Jasper was just leaving. He brought all the plans he could find in the library.”

Evan nodded. “You leave, too, Ralph. This dam will collapse, and I don’t want anyone near it when it does. Colonel, I’m Evan Close, this is Dr. Fitzgerald. We spoke on the phone.”

Colonel Davies tilted his head. “I wish I could say it was a pleasure. Peter Dorchester called a few minutes ago. His team will be here within the hour.”

“Good,” Lou said. “Don’t let anyone up here unless it’s him. No one named Sparrow is to come anywhere near this place.”

Colonel Davies blanched. “I wasn’t aware of that. Monty Sparrow went below five minutes ago. He had all the correct Xenon papers. I assumed he was part of your team and sent him down.”

Evan would normally have sworn, but he managed not to. “Where were you, Ralph?”

“Organizing something else,” Ralph muttered. “Else he wouldn’t be within ten miles of this place, never mind two.”

Evan gritted his teeth. “Well, it’s done now. Where is he?”

“In the control room,” the Colonel said, “with what he claims are original blueprints.”

“He stole them. Monty Sparrow is not part of Xenon, nor will he ever be. He’s part of the whole reason this dam is about to collapse. Call him back up here now.” Evan trembled with fury. “I gave explicit instructions…”

Lou tuned him out. There really wasn’t time for this. “I’ll head down there.”

None of the three men were listening to her. Gripping the case in one hand and the stair rail in the other, she trotted down the stairs as fast as the dizziness would allow her.

Monty glanced up as she entered the control room. “I was wondering when you’d get here. You had to stick your nose in, didn’t you?”

“Your father sent me up here,” she retorted.

“I know. According to him he couldn’t simply fire you or discredit you because you’re the best in your field. No one would believe his side of things. This way you investigate, he fires you, whatever you say looks like a vendetta against you.” He pointed to the blueprints. “What you’re searching for is here.”

“Where?” Vibrations ran through the dam, causing her to lose her footing. She gripped the table.

Monty pointed. “The problem is, even if we reached the vault, when this thing goes it’ll take the vault with it.”

“What?” Evan spoke sharply from the doorway.

Monty grabbed Lou and pulled her towards him. “Don’t come any closer.”

“For Pete’s sake, Monty,” Lou hissed. “Are you really doing this now? We have a bigger problem here than you, me, and your father.”

“You think I like what he does? Letting me tidy up after you? Take what should have been your glory, your papers, and put my name on them first? He treats me like a child. I made one mistake, and he’s making me pay for that the rest of my life.”

“You’re acting like a child now.” Evan moved slowly across. “Why don’t you show us what you found? You could share the discovery.”

Lou raised a hand and gripped Monty’s arm. “Evan’s right. We should do this together. I no longer work for your father. I quit and have no intentions of going back. He doesn’t deserve my loyalty any longer.”

“You did? I thought he was winding me up with another promise he wasn’t keeping. I never wanted your job. I still don’t.”

“I quit all right, and if I were you, I’d do the same before this all comes crashing down on him. What did you want to be growing up?”

“A fireman.” Monty let go of her.

“Then do it,” Lou told him. “Do what your heart tells you and not what Daddy wants for once in your life.”

Evan stepped to her side. “I’d phrase it differently, but I agree with her.”

Lou nodded. “Let the docs check you over first. It’s the same for everyone who’s been around the dam and the lake. I need you to bring me up to speed first, and tell me what you know.”

Monty frowned. “I always thought the stories of the sickness were to keep me away from here when I was a kid.”

“What?” Evan exploded. “He knew all along before he did the blasting down there?”

Monty nodded. “He’s always known from his Grandad’s journals.”

Lou shook her head, instantly regretting it. She closed her eyes, head reeling.

“Lou, are you sure you’re all right?”

She forced open her burning eyes. “Yes, Evan, I’m fine. Stop fussing.” She focused on the blueprints on the table. “I love the overlay of the two. Did you do this, Monty?”

“Yes.”

“It’s a great job. So we’re here.” Her finger ran along the tunnel. “The crack runs down to there and…there’s the sealed vault. How come no one knew about this?”

“I haven’t seen these before. May I?” Evan pored over them. “These are original plans from when it was first built, and these show the vault and access tunnel. These were supposedly lost in the fire at the manor.” He glanced at Monty. “Where did you get them?”

“Dad had them in his office. There’s other stuff there that belonged to your family, too. Didn’t you know that his grandad set the fire at the manor?”

Evan’s eyes glowed hot. “He. What?”

Lou put a hand on his arm. “We can discuss that later. Monty, why don’t you go and get checked over and find those other papers for us? You can take them to Evan’s offices in London. They’ll be safe there.”

“OK.” He headed over to the door.

Evan studied the blueprints. “So, if I’m right, there should be an access tunnel right behind that panel.”

The ground moved beneath their feet. Lou’s gaze flicked up, locking with his. The same terror shone in his gaze that she knew was in hers. “Tremors are getting worse. Whatever you’re gonna find, do it quickly.”