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“Look at Nigel,” Remi said. “I think he’s trying to make a break for it.”
Alexandra’s attention was fixed on Fisk and Jak. Nigel edged away from her toward the ivy, then bolted through the vines, disappearing from view.
“I don’t know if that was brilliant or idiotic,” Sam said, one hand on his gun, the other on the door.
“Can’t be any more brilliant and idiotic than our plan trying to get them to move.”
They watched as Jak and Ivan seemed to balk at entering the cave, until Fisk pulled a gun on them. Alexandra shook her head as though exasperated, walked up to the ivy, parted the vines, and followed them in. Fisk lifted the vines, then stepped back, and Sam wondered if he was trying to decide if the phone call about Nottingham Castle was worth following up. He turned, tossing something to one of the new guys, probably the keys, since they both walked toward the Mercedes. And then Fisk followed the others into the cave.
“Guess our plan worked after all,” Sam said as the Mercedes drove off.
“Not quite how we wanted.”
“We got rid of two of them. That’s a start. Text Selma that we’re going into the caves to get Nigel.”
“So she knows where to send the cavalry?”
“Gotta have a backup plan.”
They waited a minute to make sure no one was popping out of the ivy before making their way down the long drive and across the street to the park.
Remi followed Sam through the heavy, gnarled ivy vines into the dark passageway. They stood there a moment, guns drawn, acclimating themselves to the dim passage. The rain fell harder, splattering against the ivy leaves behind them, covering any noise they made as they started down the steep passage. They had to walk single file, following the twisting path down, the tunnel floor gritty beneath their feet. Sam gripped his flashlight in his hand, covering up most of it so that only a sliver of l
ight escaped to illuminate their path.
The floor dipped sharply, then raised again. Eventually the tunnel widened into a chamber, much like the one they’d been in with Percy. They stopped, and Sam peered out, then backed quickly and held up his hand.
They heard the scrape of footsteps, then someone saying, “Down this way.”
They waited until the echo of footsteps faded from the chamber before stepping out.
Sam shined his muted light across the sandstone walls and saw several rough-hewn tunnels leading off from the main chamber. Something caught Remi’s eye at the top and she pointed. The Celtic knot Percy had mentioned, carved in the sandstone above the opening. She checked each of the other tunnels that led off the cavern. Five tunnels in total, four with an identical Celtic knot carved above it. The fifth, with no marking at all, was the upper tunnel that led up to the park.
Sam eyed the symbols again. They must lead to the four chambers Lazlo had told them about. He flicked his light at the opening of each passageway, then pointed to the third. Footprints in the sandstone floor. The other passageways had none.
The space was wide enough for two to walk abreast, but took even more twists as it descended. Unlike the tunnel that led in from the park, this one had several smaller passages breaking away on each side.
The main passage started narrowing as it made a steep slope downward, then curved to the right about twenty yards ahead. They hit a dip, and their feet scraped against the ground. The sound carried.
Sam shut off the light, and they stopped.
“What was that?” It sounded like Jak. “Someone’s coming down from that main chamber.”
“It’s Victor and Rogen,” Fisk said. “Hopefully, back with flashlights since you idiots only brought cell phones.”
Their plan didn’t work, a fact confirmed when Ivan asked, “What about that call from Larayne? Why isn’t anyone going to the castle?”
“Because the cipher is for the four caverns.”
“You mean chambers,” Alexandra corrected. “That could be a completely different place.”
“You want the treasure?” Fisk sounded annoyed. “Find the tour guide. If it’s not here like he says it is, I’ll break every bone in his body right before I kill him.”
The sound of their footsteps faded as the group continued down the tunnel.
Sam and Remi started to follow when they heard the heavy scuff of boots coming from the main chamber.
Victor and Rogen were back.