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“I’M HERE,” Finn called from the other side of the cave.
Liam rushed forward, splashing through the small stream until he practically stumbled onto Finn. He was propped with his legs outstretched, leaning against the wall of the cave.
“Finn.” Liam crouched over him, gripping him by the shoulders. “It’s me, Liam. I’m here.”
“Thank God,” Finn said hoarsely. “I thought I was going to die down here.”
“You may still,” Liam quipped. “I’m trapped down here myself.” He flashed his phone light over Finn’s exhausted face, and Finn squinted, lifting his hands to shield himself. There was dirt streaked across his chin, neck, and arms, and a large bruise on his forehead. He also sported the remnants of a fading black eye, along with scrapes on his hands and arms.
“Are you hurt?” Liam asked. “Any broken bones?”
“No. Nothing like that. Just weak. Hungry enough to eat a horse. I’ve been down here ever since I followed Magnus. What day is it?”
“It’s Wednesday. You’ve been missing for over a week.” Liam quickly scanned the empty cavern. “How have you been getting by?”
“Water from the stream.” Finn scooted to sit higher against the wall. “Wasn’t sure how much longer I could last with no food, though. I kept hoping someone would realize what happened. How are you here?”
Liam quickly told him everything he’d missed, including how he’d become separated from Bear and Cora by falling into the lower cave. “What happened to you, Finn? The last we heard, you texted that you left town unexpectedly. Then today they found your car down in a ravine not far from the state park.”
“I drove here that day to spy on Magnus and find out who he was meeting,” Finn said with a weak cough. “When I saw it was Captain Thompson, I was shocked. At first, I thought the captain was there to apprehend Magnus for something, but then I realized they were working together. I followed them up into the woods. I thought I could get close enough to learn more. It was stupid of me, because by the time I thought to text you guys—”
“No cell service,” Liam said.
“Right. I heard them talking outside the cave about stealing hidden money from the Booze Dogs. ‘Every last cent’ was what Captain Thompson said. Anyway, I followed them into the cave, using my phone light to see. I thought I was far enough behind them to remain unnoticed, but Magnus and Boyd must’ve heard me trailing them. They jumped me in the tunnel, and it was too dark to get my bearings and fight them off. I fell and got trapped down here. I must’ve dropped my phone up there when we fought. Couldn’t even try to call for help, not that it would’ve mattered with no service.”
“That explains the text we got from you a couple of days ago,” Liam said grimly. “It was likely Boyd pretending to be you because Cora and I had just reported you missing. He seemed unconcerned, and he even made some assumptions that you killed Magnus.”
Finn jerked his chin back. “Magnus is dead?”
“We found him down in the parking lot in his car the day you went missing. Stabbed. Maybe he and Boyd had a fight over the money. We think Boyd killed him.”
“Would Captain Thompson kill his own accomplice like that?” Finn sounded jaded and resigned, as if he wasn’t that surprised because he’d seen and heard worse. In his line of work, he probably had.
“Boyd would sell his own mother down the river if there was enough money on the line,” Liam said, sliding to the ground beside Finn. He felt suddenly soul sick and world-weary. They finally had some answers, but that didn’t make the information any easier to bear. Between what was happening now, and everything he’d just learned about Boyd’s past betrayal from the angels, Liam needed a hundred years just to process everything. Unfortunately, he didn’t have that kind of time.
“How did Boyd find out about this place?” Finn asked. “I didn’t even know it existed, and I’ve been working with the Booze Dogs for years.”
“Magnus found out first. He was carrying on with Wally Jensen’s girlfriend. Wally let it slip to her, and she passed the information on to Magnus. Eli kept an antique map of the cave location in his office, and Magnus stole it the night he robbed the Doghouse. Magnus must’ve told Boyd, and they hatched a plan. Maybe they were going to work together to steal everything out of the caves. Maybe Boyd got greedy after Magnus showed him all the money, so Boyd killed him and framed you. They left you up here for dead, after all. Boyd probably figured if he dumped your car in the ravine, it would look shady enough for people to suspect foul play between you and Magnus. It was no secret that you and Magnus did not see eye to eye. Even your colleagues at work would’ve agreed, if interrogated.”
Finn swore under his breath and began to cough again.
“We have to get you out of here,” Liam said, worried. “You sound like a drowning cat, and you don’t look much better.”
“Thanks,” Finn said wryly. “But I’ve traced every inch of this place over the past few days. Until Bear and Cora come back with a ladder, we’re stuck.”
Liam dragged himself up to stand. “Perhaps not.” Using his phone light to cut through the inky darkness, he walked the perimeter of the cave. Above them, he could just make out an overhanging ledge, and the floor of the main tunnel appeared about six feet above that. A plan began to take shape in Liam’s mind. He glanced at Finn, shining his light on the exhausted man’s face.
Finn raised a hand to shield his eyes. “I’ve been living like a bat down here for days, Liam. That’s like sunlight to a vampire.”
“Sorry.” Liam swung his phone light in a different direction. “Finn, how strong are you feeling right now?”
Finn’s choked laugh ended on another cough. “Right now? About as strong as a newborn foal.”
“That’s actually quite strong,” Liam said thoughtfully. “They’re able to walk almost right away, you know. Unlike humans, who need over a year to take their first step.”
“Then a dying newborn foal. Why are you asking?”
Liam shone his light back to the ledge that was about twelve feet off the ground. “See that outcrop of rock? If I stood on your shoulders, I could reach it.”
