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“Maybe he thinks Vincentia lived long enough to pass on information,” Lugh said. “Just because we presumed he was at the museum when he rang us doesn’t mean he was.”
“We talked to Eljin,” Sgott said. “He hasn’t been sighted for a couple of days, though he has been ringing in to ensure everything is proceeding as normal.”
“Kind of him,” I muttered. “I take it you’ve tried tracking his phone?”
“His phone was at his house. He must have a burner.”
“He’s using the same number though,” Lugh said. “I would have noticed if he’d changed.”
“He’s likely only slotting the SIM into his new phone whenever necessary,” Sgott said. “SIM cards can’t be tracked in and of themselves. We’ll be notified the next time he uses it, of course, but I wouldn’t be betting on the fact we can get to the location before he removes the SIM and moves on. You on your way back to Deva?”
“Not yet. We’re spending the night near Blaenau Ffestiniog and will be exploring one of the mines there tomorrow morning.” I paused then added, “If you don’t hear from us by tomorrow night, send in a search party.”
“I will, but I’d much rather not have to.”
“I’d much rather you didn’t have to, too.”
He bid me a gruff “Be careful” and then hung up.
None of us said anything. There was nothing to say, in all reality, though I daresay that would change if Rogan did crawl out of the woodwork and was somehow caught.
Night had well and truly settled in by the time we reached Blaenau Ffestiniog. We found two rooms in a lovely old stone hotel not far from the mine site, grabbed a meal—fish and chips and the best apple crumble I’d tasted in a long while—then headed upstairs. I was asleep within minutes of my head hitting the pillow. I didn’t even have the energy for a lingering kiss goodnight.
Lugh had collected the keys and directions to the mine after dinner, which meant we could head out before dawn and didn’t have to wake anyone at an ungodly hour. We’d parked in the designated area at the base of a mountain of discarded slate and were making our way up the steep incline toward the lake at the top. According to directions, the mine’s entrance was located close to the waterfall that ran from one end of the lake and behind a recently refurbished old mine manager’s office, which apparently was used by hikers to escape the rather changeable weather conditions. Thankfully, there was no hint of wild weather in the air just yet, but it was crisp and cold, and a deep frost covered everything. The ground crunched under our feet, and our breath hung like little clouds in the air.
Even so, I was overly warm by the time we reached the old mine manager’s office. We moved around it, found the fast-flowing waterfall, and then finally the fenced-off area into the mine. The gate lay in the middle of the river’s overflow and meant wading through knee-high icy water. Lugh unlocked it, tucked the key safely back into his pocket, and led us into the mine.
It was cold, wet, and smelled like mud. Fouled mud.
The one bright note was the fact there was plenty of water running down the tunnel. If it was this wet here, then there were likely to be lakes deeper down. Whether any of them were the one we were looking for was something we’d undoubtedly uncover.
I hoped it was. I really didn’t fancy yet another journey into a dark, dank, and dangerous fucking mine.
We came out onto a wide, flat platform that formed a semicircle around a man-made cavern. Three tunnels ran off to the left, one to the right, and emptiness lay directly ahead. Near the edge of the ledge lay a coiled climber’s rope that was attached to a thick metal anchor bolt that had been sunk deeply into the stone. I carefully stepped past it and pointed my flashlight into the pit’s darkness. There was nothing to see. Nothing but black ink.
I could smell water though.
“According to the directions, the zip line will take us down three levels and land us in a shallow lake,” Lugh said. “We’ll then need to walk down two more levels, which will bring us to the limit of the approved caving routes. From there, sister dearest, it’s up to you.”
“Let’s hope my second sight decides to play the game, otherwise we could be wandering around this wretched place for days.”
My voice was glum. Lugh smiled and patted my shoulder. “I have every faith in your abilities. But just in case, I’ve brought along a two-day supply of beef jerky and chocolate.”
“You couldn’t possibly carry enough chocolate to last me two days.”
“You can have my share,” Cynwrig commented, smokey eyes bright with amusement. “I’m not that keen on the stuff anyway.”
I cast him a look of mock horror. “That right there is grounds for breaking up.”
He laughed. “I think we all know it’s not my culinary tastes you’re interested in.”
“Well, no, but it’s still a shocking revelation. I mean, that takes body chocolate right off my to-do list.”
“Oh, there are much better things to paint a body with than chocolate, I assure you,” he replied, his smokey tone sending my pulse rate spinning.
“Can you two quit the verbal foreplay for two seconds, and put the harnesses on?” Lugh grumbled.
I accepted said harness with a grin. Once it was on, he checked everything was done up properly, then attached the caving descender and said, “Do you remember how to use this thing?”
