her as if he were trying to telegraph thoughts.
‘‘He’s going to kill you,’’ he whispered so silently Diane had to read his lips, ‘‘and us.’’
‘‘No,’’ whispered Diane. ‘‘Trust me.’’
Mike’s stare had an urgency as he looked at her. ‘‘He won’t let you...’’
‘‘What are you two cooking up?’’
‘‘Nothing. I’m trying to comfort Mike. What could we possibly be cooking up? You have a gun, and three- quarters of us are incapacitated. I’m almost finished.’’
She looked deep into Mike’s eyes. ‘‘Trust me and trust my love of caves.’’ He looked at her, puzzled. ‘‘It’s your job to stay alive.’’
Diane looked at MacGregor’s wound. It wasn’t bad, she was relieved to see. She put a bandage on it. She took another space blanket and draped it over Mike and MacGregor.
‘‘Watch the others. I’ll come back with help. Don’t let Mike move. Talk to Neva occasionally. Tell some jokes. You have a captive audience.’’ He gave her a weak smile. ‘‘I’m counting on you,’’ she added.
Diane stood up. ‘‘I’m ready to go.’’
Chapter 45
‘‘Well, finally. We can get out of this damn place.’’ LaSalle worked his way around the rocks to Diane. ‘‘Move.’’ He waved his pistol in the general direction from which he had entered the chamber.
Diane had walked in front of him for several steps when two shots went off behind her. MacGregor began screaming. Diane whirled around, dread filling her chest. Mike was halfway up, leaning toward MacGregor, who was screaming and sobbing. Blood was flowing from both his boots.
‘‘You son of a bitch,’’ Diane yelled at LaSalle.
Diane rushed to MacGregor and kneeled down be side him, but LaSalle pulled her up and began drag ging her from the chamber. He dropped his flashlight and it clattered on the floor.
‘‘See what you made me do.’’ He shoved her to the ground.
Her hands stung as she broke her fall.
‘‘I ought to just shoot you and cut my losses. Pick that up and hand it to me.’’
Diane picked up the light and handed it to LaSalle.
‘‘Why did you have to shoot him? He was no threat to you.’’
‘‘The hell he wasn’t. He was just winged. After we left, what was to stop him from walking out and calling the police? He can wait and suffer with the rest of your group. Now, listen and understand this. I showed compassion by not putting a bullet in their heads. That’s my show of good faith. Now it’s your turn. We’re going to get out of this fucking cave and get my diamonds. No more delays, no more problems. You got that?’’
Diane turned to Mike and MacGregor. ‘‘Dick, don’t take your boots off. Put pressure on your wounds. Stay warm and still. Keep that space blanket around the two of you. Talk to Neva occasionally, but don’t strain yourself. I’ll come back with help.’’
‘‘Aren’t you just the sweet little mother.’’
For the first time, Diane got a good look at LaSalle. His good looks were ruined by a mean expression. He had dark hair, sharp, well-defined features, muscular build. She thought she understood what the story was with Ashlyn and Justin. Two arrogant kids caught smuggling contraband, probably caught by him—a cor rupt cop. He offered them a deal—working for him for a much bigger prize than cigarettes. Ashlyn proba bly fell for him.
Diane walked slowly out of the chamber and started up the passage. She remembered Everett’s last words about not trusting policemen. At the time, she thought he was talking about the policeman who shot him. He had meant LaSalle.
‘‘Did Everett find you out and think you were in volved in his sister’s death?’’ she said.
‘‘Yeah, you figured that out, huh? I tried to explain to him all that happened before I met the little twits, but he wouldn’t listen. Caught me off guard one night with this electric cattle prod. Damn thing hurt like hell. Before I could recover, he had me tied up like a pig and I was riding in a truck from New York to Georgia with those three sniffling kids. All of them tied tight like me. Cried and moaned the whole way. The worst thing was, he stole our diamonds. Stuffed three of them down the kids’ throats before he hung them. He cut off their fingers while they were alive. God, he was a maniac.’’
He
‘‘Can’t you speed up?’’
‘‘This is a cave. As you witnessed, caves are danger ous. You walk at a slow pace in a cave. Why didn’t you just wait for us to come out?’’
‘‘I got the stupid idea that I could deal with all of you and not have any witnesses. I didn’t know this place was a hazard waiting for an accident. Why would anyone in their right mind come to a place like this?’’
‘‘It’s fun,’’ said Diane.
‘‘You like it dangerous, huh? I can give you dangerous.’’
‘‘Why did you rape Kacie?’’
‘‘Why? She had my stone. She belonged to me. That prick of a boyfriend of hers ruined my diamond.’’
‘‘You’re some piece of work.’’
‘‘Just get us out of this cave. I’ll show you what kind of piece of work I am.’’
‘‘He didn’t ruin your diamond, you know. I was told by an expert that it was a superb cut.’’
‘‘He took it to an amateur.’’
