Into the Fray (Daring Escapes #3) - Margaret Daley Page 0,42

spooked one of them.

Guerrero’s dark eyes lit on Tory’s face. “Okay?”

“Just as soon as you can loan me some of your stamina.”

He chuckled. “If I could, I would.”

For a long moment, their gazes forged a tie that Tory didn’t think she could break. She’d come to rely on Guerrero. Not only did he know how to protect others, but he was knowledgeable about archaeology. When he wasn’t walking the dig site, keeping vigilant, he was with her, helping her to reveal the woman’s remains in the small room in the building under the Temple of the Stars.

Guerrero had used a different path when they left yesterday in the dark with the horses. It had taken longer because he’d had to machete his way through the thick vegetation, but he didn’t want to use the usual path down to the village in case someone was watching them. It had added an extra hour on their trek, but she’d felt safer. Whoever shot at her could still be out there even if he’d been shot and left a trail of blood. Her biggest concern was if there were others like the shooter at the pool. Having a remote, hard to get to dig site was definitely an obstacle, especially if it could produce expensive artifacts that others would try to steal. Greed was their motive while hers was to discover what the past was like. What treasures would she discover, explaining thousands of years of history?

Guerrero led the way, hacking away any greenery in their narrow path through the jungle. The slashing sound filled the air.

Tory hurried forward before the brush got too thick and tapped him on the shoulder. “I thought we were going back the same way.”

“Like before, I’d rather take a little time and go in a different direction. We’ll merge with some of the path then divert again closer to the campsite.”

An hour later, darkness totally surrounding them, Tory, wearing her night vision goggles, emerged from the rainforest on the opposite side where the pool of water was. Twenty feet away, Guerrero stopped, his gun in one hand while the other held the machete. She gripped the lead rope for the three horses.

Tory scanned the empty campsite. Usually at this time, the place would be filled with most of the workers, all hungry. None of the torches had been lit nor was there a fire for cooking. Had someone found a unique artifact? When she shifted her attention to the top of the temple, the rope in her hand slipped from her slack grasp. Shock trapped the air in her lungs. There were no guards around the site, especially the one who had the best view on the top of the ruin.

Her heart thudding against her ribcage, Tory quickly pulled her handgun out of her holster and hurried to Guerrero.

Before she could say anything, he whispered, “There’s something wrong. Stay here while I check this out.”

“No, I’m coming with you.”

He quickly tied the lead rope around a branch nearby. “Okay. But you have to do what I say.”

From their vantage, the crew could be around the back of the temple where Katie and Mario had been working. “I’m praying they’re in the pit because someone discovered a big find.”

Guerrero’s frown deepened. “Keep alert. Stay behind me.” He started forward.

With no lights visible as the sky darkened, Tory kept on her night vision goggles as did Guerrero. They rounded a partially revealed building from the first excavation four years before. He halted suddenly, and Tory nearly stumbled into Guerrero’s backside.

“Maybe everyone fled?” she whispered close to his left ear.

He stepped to the side and gestured toward the bottom of the steps to the temple.

The earlier pounding of her heartbeat resumed, the rate doubling.

Several yards away laid Aapo on the ground, motionless.

Chapter Nine

“Stay here. Cover me.” Guerrero moved quickly toward Aapo. Please be alive. Guerrero had been friends with Aapo for years. The Mayan had worked on this dig site when Anna had been involved in it. Aapo was here because he needed him to protect the ruins.

Guerrero knelt next to Aapo and felt for a pulse. Although he had a gut feeling his friend was dead, he needed to make sure. Another death Guerrero felt he was involved in. He would personally let Aapo’s family know. “I’ll find your killer,” Guerrero whispered, a quietness hanging over the site.

He rose and walked back to Tory, who had moved closer to him. He looked at her. Tory was a good shooter.