Christy Swanson. Landau’s gallery manager. The one he’d questioned several times after the Hamilton murder. Only then she’d been a tight-mouthed suit who hadn’t given him more than a cold shoulder every time he’d stepped into her gallery. Now she was a black widow about to devour her prey.
“You should have stayed in the Windy City, Detective.” Her Italian accent was thick now. “My friend is not so happy you’re here.”
Rafe’s heart started again in deep, soul-pounding beats as he stared at the cave floor. A square three-dimensional outline stuck out of the silty sediments. It was too symmetrical to be anything other than a man-made object; didn’t look like anything that would occur naturally.
Lisa’s fingers wrapped around his forearm, and he glanced up at her wide eyes. Slowly, he nodded for her to go for it. Then watched in amazement as she reached down and fanned the sand away from the object.
Sediment swirled through the water. The number three was clearly carved into the bottom right corner. Lisa lifted the square object and flipped it over, and time seemed to stand still as they both stared at the marble relief. It was exactly as Rafe had expected from his research. Tisiphone, with her wings spread wide, floated in the air, looking up toward the heavens. Notches were carved along the right side of the marble relief, a small chip across the top the only evidence it had taken any kind of beating when it had fallen thirty meters below the surface more than a hundred years before.
Lisa’s eyes glimmered with excitement when Rafe looked up. She smiled around her mouthpiece, hooked one arm over his shoulder and spun him in the water.
His arms came around her waist as her body pressed against his. As much as he wanted to celebrate with her, he wanted out of this darn cave more. He pointed up, and she nodded. She stowed the relief in her pack, and he waited so she could take the lead. They swam quickly toward the surface, using the guideline to propel them.
Relief swept through Rafe. In a matter of minutes they’d be free. Out of this cave and on the verge of a future he was looking forward to starting. For the first time in as long as he could remember, thoughts of next week, next month, next year didn’t leave a pit in the bottom of his stomach. And it was all because of Lisa.
He breathed deeply, thinking about what came next. He’d been keeping Magaera’s location a secret, but now there was no reason not to tell her. He knew she’d be shocked when she found out he already had it locked up safe and sound with Alecto.
Lisa hit the surface a good minute before him. He could see her feet dangling in the water, then disappear, as she hauled herself and her gear up onto the rocks. A smile pulled at his mouth as he swam up. When they got back to the boat he was going to break open that bottle of champagne he’d been saving for this moment, lock her in the stateroom and tell her about Magaera. Together they’d have to decide what to do with the Furies, but he was confident they’d work it out.
Then he was going to tell her he loved her and make sure she believed him. He’d be stupid to let her get away from him now that their business partnership was nearing an end.
He broke the surface. Excitement and anticipation coursed through his veins as he yanked off his mask.
Lisa’s stark white face stopped him cold.
Strong hands gripped Lisa at the shoulders and hauled her out of the water.
She gasped as the regulator was wrenched from her mouth and managed one shrill scream when she realized it wasn’t Shane tugging her up. The man with the death grip on her arms was buff and bronze and no one she’d ever met before.
“Welcome back, Dr. Maxwell.”
She jerked around at the female voice. Confusion swamped her as she was dropped on the flat rocks and drew air into her lungs. Her tanks were jerked from her back by the silent man behind her. Looking up, Lisa tried to get her bearings. Recognition flickered through her hazy vision. “Who…? I know you.”
The blonde woman knelt at her side. Her eyes were a chilling blue, as blue as the inside of an iceberg. “I’m sure you do.”