“It’s a good thing the reverse wasn’t true,” Cassie chimed in. “Back in the cave, Daniel was pitching a fit when he saw Griffin’s face. He ID’d him, but Hunt didn’t. I guess Griffin can thank his seedy-looking beard for that.”
The scrivener wistfully rubbed his now clean-shaven chin. “I may try to grow it again once we’re back in the States. Something of a good luck charm, don’t you think?”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “If Hunt had recognized him in the cave, it might have made him wonder if Erik and I were still alive, too.”
“Fortunately, he didn’t get a second look at me in hospital because Iker ordered me moved to this place,” Griffin concluded.
“And where are we exactly?” Erik asked.
“In a place where people come when the stress of living in the big city is too much,” Iker explained.
“You mean this is a sanitarium,” Erik concluded.
“Like a lunatic asylum?” Cassie asked.
“We do not call it that. It is a convalescent home where people can recover from whatever is troubling them, either physical or mental.”
“Uh huh,” Cassie said, not convinced.
“In any event,” Griffin continued, “Iker posted a constable by my hospital room door should Hunt happen to call. True to form, he arrived with flowers in hand inquiring about ‘an American feller’ who’d been shot on the mountain. He left after being informed that the tourist in question had, regrettably, expired.”
“So why didn’t you just arrest him when he showed up? We could have nailed him for attempted murder,” Cassie objected.
“And what would have become of your secret quest?” Iker countered. “If you do not want the Nephilim to know of your organization, this was the only way we could solve the problem. Let this man go away thinking there were no witnesses and that he has stolen the real treasure.”
“I see your point,” Cassie admitted. “But did you really have to keep us locked up overnight?”
“I had to be sure you were somewhere completely safe. If this Leroy Hunt were to cross your path while you were visiting your friend in the hospital, then what? Durango is not a large city where people can move about unnoticed by one another. He might have seen you anywhere in town. That would not have ended well. I waited until I received word that your enemies had boarded a plane for America. Once they left the country, I knew it was safe to bring you here.”
“A very well-thought-out plan,” Griffin said approvingly. ‘It’s not an exaggeration to say we owe you our lives.”
Somewhat chastened, Erik and Cassie both mumbled their appreciation as well.
Iker bowed his head in acknowledgment. “It is I who should be thanking you. You have ended the need to keep watch on the mountain. You brought me news of what happened to my ancestor, and you found my lost family. Such deeds are beyond my power to repay.”
“I guess when you put it that way,” Cassie joked.
“While you are all here, we should have one of the doctors X-ray your friend’s foot,” Iker suggested.
Erik looked ruefully at his swollen ankle. “I’m not gonna argue. Something might be broken. But it’s still less painful than what’s coming next.”
His listeners looked at him quizzically.
“We have to call Faye and Maddie,” Erik suggested. “That’s when the real pain starts. Trying to explain all this.”
“No need to go into detail about what’s happened,” Griffin demurred. “We can give them the entire story once we’re back at the vault.”
“That’s true,” Erik agreed. “The last thing I need is for Maddie to give me an earful because I let you get shot. I can wait a few days before facing the music.” He patted the scrivener on the back. “In fact, Griffin old buddy, take your time getting well. No rush, really.”
Cassie gave a knowing smile. “Relax, guys. I’ve got an idea.”
Chapter 47 – Locked Down
Leroy tipped his Stetson over his eyes in a vain attempt to catch some shut eye. It was going to be tough considering who his travelling companion was. Even with his eyes shut, he could feel Daniel fretting.
“Boy, you think maybe you could fuss a mite quieter. I’m tryin’ to sleep here,” Hunt said through half-closed lids.
“How you can sleep at all is beyond me,” Daniel hissed in a low voice. “After the things you’ve done.
“All in the line of duty, son. I get my orders, and I carry ‘em out. Most times, I sleep like a baby except when some fool is natterin’ away about ghosts.”
Dead silence. That might shut him up for a spell.
“I know what I saw.”
Not long enough. Hunt tipped his hat back and turned to give Daniel an incredulous look. “There’s some folks can’t be satisfied if you dipped ‘em in gold. Now what you got to complain about? Your daddy sent you out to find the next doodad and you done it. Mission accomplished. It was a good day’s work.” He paused to consider. “You know what your problem is? You got too much imagination. Seein’ things that ain’t there. Remember what I said before. You get your daddy to pray over you. Blast them demons right out of your ears.”
Daniel didn’t reply. He merely gave Hunt a troubled glare.
“Aw, nuts! Ain’t no sense in talkin’ to you.” Hunt lowered his hat brim and resettled himself to catch some sleep.
He had his own plans to consider. Another trinket in the bag. That was good. He’d see it locked up tight in the old man’s storeroom. It could set there for a good long spell until the collection was complete. Then there would be a burglary. Maybe a few dead bodies if anybody got in his way. That was neither here nor there. All of it was still a ways off.
His immediate concern once he got back was locating little Miss Hannah. Since she’d found her way to the shop lady who first had the granite key, it was plain that she already knew too much
