A Nice Clean Murder Part 18

aPeter, can she fit through there?a she asked.

aWith a little greaseaa I said with a laugh and cleared my throat.

The entrance was extremely narrow, not looking like an entrance at all, but the rush of air that blew through it had my curiosity on alert. aIt has to lead somewhere,a I said.

aLet me try and find it.a Maggie took a deep breath.

Now Maggie is a small woman; I had my doubts but kept them to myself. I didnat want to play dodge the hurled flashlight. With Bridget behind us, Peter and I watched as Maggie tried to wedge her small body through the narrow opening. It was a tight fit, but G.o.d love her, she squeezed through.

Peter and I quickly stood at the narrow entrance and peered through the darkness. aIam gonna slip a flashlight through, sweetie,a I called out.

aOkay, hurry up, itas dark in here,a she called back. I could tell by the echo of her voice that she had found a larger portion of the cave. I turned to Peter who already had the flashlight in hand.

It seemed like a d.a.m.ned lifetime, and my stomach was in knots before we saw the high beam of the flashlight through the narrow opening. Peter and I stuck our noses in as close as we could. I could barely make out Maggieas form as she looked around the confines of the other cave.

aWhattaya see, Maggie?a I called out.

aNothing. It looks the same as out there. The water is not as deep here, though,a she called back. aJust around my ankles. Waitaa Peter and I jockeyed for position. aMaggie!a I called out. d.a.m.n this woman. aMaggie!a aHold on, Kate,a Bridget said from behind me. aSheall be fine.a She sounded far too confident of this; I was not in the least bit sure.

aMaggie, what do ya see?a Peter called out.

aI-I think thereas another aa Her voice trailed off.

The beam of the flashlight dimmed and my heart pounded in my ears. aMaggie!a I yelled.

aKate, will you stop yelling?a Maggie called out. aGood grief, Iam fine.a aThen answer me!a I yelled through the small opening. aDammit.a aI am answering you!a she yelled back.

aWhere are you? I canat get to you if something happens!a I continued to yell.

aNothing is going to happen!a Maggie shouted in return.

I growled angrily and ran my fingers through my hair. It was then I caught a glimpse of Peter and Bridget just watching me as they listened to our tirade. Peter shook his head. He gently pushed me out of the way.

aMaggie? Is there another entrance?a Peter asked in a loud, but calm voice.

aYes, I think so. Let me do a little exploring,a Maggie called back.

aNo!a I exclaimed and stuck my face in the narrow opening. aHey, I think we can squeeze in here.a aKate, will you quit shouting?a Maggie shouted.

I turned to Peter, who was painfully pinching the bridge of his nose. He was getting exasperated, I could tell. It was all Maggieas faulta"sheas so stubborn.

I peered back through the opening and watched as Maggie walked back toward it. aPeter, do you think you can use that ax on this entrance? Itas really thin on this side,a Maggie called out.

I looked back at Peter who shrugged. aMight work.a aYeah, and it might collapse on Maggie,a I offered firmly.

aNo, it wonat. Although,a he said and examined the rock, ait looks as though these walls may have shifted through the years.a With that, he reached out and pushed on the large rocks. By the look on his face, I could tell he was as astonished as I was when a few gave way.

aThatas some shift,a I said sarcastically, as I too reached down to examine the loose rocks. aPeter, youare the archaeologist, whatas up with these rocks?a aThey donat look like part of the cave wall,a he responded thoughtfully. He held the pickax in position and called, aMaggie, stand back, luv.a I stood there with Bridget, as Peter went to work. In a matter of minutes, he had a sizable chunk of rock chipped away, enough to squeeze us through. It flashed through my mind how easily the rocks crumbled.

This time, I gently pushed Peter aside. aLadies first,a he said with a bow and stepped back.

What a struggle. Now I know what my grandmother meant when she said, aItas like stuffing ten pounds oa potatoes in a five-pound sack.a All Irish deal in potatoes. I groaned and grunted as I slipped sideways through the opening.

It was then I felt Peter pushing on my hip. aOkay, okay, give me a minute!a I called out. aMy hip is attached, you know. I come fully a.s.sembled, noaa I grunted aaspareaa I groaned and slipped through with help from Peter and fell face first into the shallow cold water aaparts.a aAre ya all right?a Peter called out. I heard the laughter in his voice.

aAm I all right?a I mumbled. aYes, Iam fine.a I stood and ran my hand through my wet hair and looked around.

Maggie was nowhere in sight.

Chapter 26.

Peter slipped a flashlight through. I aimed the high beam around the dark cave.

aWhatas the matter?a Peter groaned as half his body was through the opening. I quelled the urge to yank on his legs.

aI canat find Maggie. d.a.m.n that woman.a I started down the narrow cave. aMaggie!a I called out.

Peter and Bridget were right behind me. aShe canat have gone far,a Bridget offered. I was not that hopeful.

It was dark as pitch, even with the flashlights. My heart was in my stomach as we walked through the ankle-deep water; still no sign of Maggie.

Then, up ahead, we heard her. aGuys?a Maggie called out.

I breathed a sigh of relief and started to run. I couldnat see the beam from her flashlight, so when I nearly ran her over, it scared the h.e.l.l out of me. All of the sudden, I had one hundred and ten pounds of shivering doctor in my arms. aWhat happened?a I asked quickly and tightened my arms around her.

aNothing,a she replied nonchalantly. I was still looking for my heart, and sheas calm. aI dropped my flashlight when I saw it.a Peter and Bridget caught up to us. aWhat happened?a Peter asked breathlessly.

Maggie swept her hair off her face. I saw the big grin. aI found another pa.s.sage. Come quick,a she said, almost giddy, and pulled at my arm.

We ran through water as the beams from our flashlights danced around the cave walls. Maggie stopped abruptly and crouched down. It was another pa.s.sageway. We all joined Maggie and peered into the dark tunnel.

I grabbed for Maggie as she started forward. aNo, let me or Peter go,a I offered. Peter agreed.

aSheas right. You and Bridget stay here. Kate and I will go,a Peter said.

I itched with excitement; Maggie pouted.

I followed Peter as we crawled through the tunnel. aDoesnat it seem like weare moving upward?a I asked as we sloshed in the cold water. I thought of rats and quickly dispelled it. It was too late; now I had the constant feeling of something crawling up my pant leg.

aWe are,a Peter said over his shoulder. aIall wager weare headed toward the mill.a aHow far do you think weavea"a I was interrupted.

aAre you two all right?a Maggieas voice bellowed.

aYes. Quit yelling, youall collapse the cave,a I called back.

Peter ran his hand over this face. aI think weave gone about eighty feet or so.a aUpward. Weare headed for the surface,a I said.

I got an anxious feeling. It was then we heard it; behind us, the shallow water sloshed. Something was crawling toward us. Rats...

I let out a small screech as the rat came into viewa"it was Maggie with Bridget right behind her.

aG.o.ddamit!a I exclaimed. I heard Maggie chuckle. aWhat in the h.e.l.l is the matter with you?a I heard Peter take a deep relieved breath. aBrig, are ya daft? Ya scared the life out of...Kate.a aWe were tired of waiting. If somethingas going to happen, let it happen to all of us together,a Bridget said. aNow letas keep moving.a aWhy didnat ya bring the flashlights?a Peter asked.

Neither Bridget nor Maggie said a word. Peter let out a sigh as we started again.

I glared at Maggie. aYou forgot the flashlight,a I accused.

aYou screamed like a little girl,a Maggie whispered back.

I opened my mouth to argue and quickly shut it. aOh, shut up,a I replied and started crawling.

Peter stopped ahead of me and raised the flashlight. It was then we were able to stand. I stood and stretched my back, letting out a deep groan. Maggie and Bridget followed. Peter cautiously flashed the light around the contour of the cave walls. aIt looks as if weare at the end,a Peter said in a dejected voice.

aIt canat be,a I insisted.

aIt is, Kate,a he continued and leaned against the cave wall. aIt was a hoax, a dream, nothina more.a Maggie slipped past Bridget and me and stood in front of Peter. aIt was not a hoax. Itas here somewhere, right here,a she persisted. She turned to me. aIsnat it?a aDonat any of you feel that breeze?a I asked with a small grin.

Peter quickly took a lighter out of his pocket. He lit it and held it up to the far wall. We cautiously followed him.

I put my hand up to the stone wall and felt the slight breeze. aIam telling you, there is something behind there,a I said.

Peter crouched down and ran his hand over the damp rock. He then lightly kicked at it. I was amazed as pieces crumbled and plopped into the shallow water. He looked up at me with wild eyes.

aThe pickax,a we both said simultaneously.

aIall go.a I turned and b.u.mped into Maggie.

aIall go with you,a Bridget offered.

aIall go with her,a Maggie replied in that resolute voice.

aMaga"a I started.

aLet her, Kate. Then bring back another flashlight and the rope,a Peter said. I heard the urgency in his voice and stopped arguing.

It took a while to crawl back through the tunnel, then we ran through the pa.s.sageway. Maggie easily slipped through the narrow opening that Peter had made. I, of course, had a more difficult time. I heard Maggie as she gathered the rope and flashlights. aDonat get stuck.a I grunted anda"got stuck. Why do these things happen to me? aIam stuck,a I groaned helplessly. I was wedged nicely. Maggie let out an exasperated groan, then laughed at my plight. aJust help me.a aHmmm, interesting position, Miss Ryan.a There I was, at her mercy. aMaggieaa I warned as I struggled.

aI like you like thisa"all struggling and needing my help,a she said. She laughed and gently pulled at my arm. I wriggled and squirmed and finally slipped through, both of us stumbling backward. I grabbed her around the waist to steady both of us.

aTh-The flashlights andaa Maggie whispered as she looked up.

I swallowed and nodded. aRight.a I let her go.

I gathered the length of rope and the pickax as Maggie grabbed the other flashlight.

When we finally got to them, poor Bridget and Peter were standing in the dark. Peter quickly took the ax as we stood back. He raised the ax and started. The rock crumbled easily, and I immediately thought of the rocks by the narrow entranceway.

aThis is not part of the cave wall. Itas breaking away far too easily,a Peter said as he swung away. aItas as ifaa aSomebody built this rock wall,a I finished for him.

Maggie moved close to me and I put my arm around her. This was so bizarre, I couldnat say anything. We just watched, but my mind was racinga"something didnat fit.

aThis is new,a Peter said and stood back.

I walked up to him. aWhatas new?a I asked. aThe wall?a Bridget and Maggie stood beside us. I leaned over and pulled the rocks away.

aSomebodyas been here,a Peter whispered, and I heard the worried tone in his voice.

I had the same feeling. aAnd not just an Irish sea captain two hundred years ago. When was this wall constructed, professor?a I asked.

Peter picked up a heavy rock and examined it. aCertainly not two hundred years ago, thatas for sure.a Peter nodded as he continued with his task. With a couple of strokes, the wall gave way. I pulled at him and we backed out of harmas way, as the rock wall crumbled. We stood there, once again in amazement. Peter grabbed the flashlight from Bridget and crawled over the pile of rocks. We quickly followed.

Once over, I b.u.mped into Peter who was standing there, just staring. I heard Maggie gasp. I followed Peteras stare and saw it.

aYou have got to be kidding me,a I said and blinked in amazement.

It was just sitting there in the open on a ledge. It looked like a steamer trunk. About three feet long and two feet high. We all slowly walked up to the trunk and looked at it. I was actually stunned.

aPlease, donat touch it,a Peter said.

As ifa He knelt down and peered at the trunk. Bridget joined him as Maggie and I stood a safe distance away. It would be my luck to lean on that thing anda aThis is amazing,a Maggie whispered and leaned into me.

I agreed. However, the question of how this trunk got in here was still nagging me.

aWell,a Peter said as he stood. aWhatever is in the trunk is sealed tight.a aHow do you know?a I asked, and for the first time, I cautiously stepped closer.

He shined the flashlight beam to the edges of the trunk. aParaffin. It was used as a sealing agent back then and still is. Whateveras in there must be in mint condition.a aSo thatas what happened, right?a I asked and Peter nodded.

aItas just as they said. Phillip of Spain was on his way to deliver this to Queen Elizabeth. However, Grace OaMalley or some other captain had other ideas. Somebody captured a vessel from Phillipas armada and took this trunk, buried it here, and never came back.a He took a deep breath. aIall need to make a call,a he said quickly. He then laughed openly. aIt is true! I canat believe it.a Bridget threw her arms around his neck as they laughed like little kids. Maggie and I couldnat help ourselves from grinning as we watched.

aHow are you going to get it out of here?a Maggie asked.

Peter took a deep contemplative breath and scratched his head. aI have no idea. Itall never fit through that narrowaa he stopped, and I knew what he was thinking.

He looked at me and I nodded. aHow in the h.e.l.l did they get this through that narrow opening? And why drag it through the tunnel and wall it up here?a I asked and looked around. aDammit, itas driving me nuts!a I exclaimed.

I thought for a moment, as I glanced around the small confines of the cavern. Peter examined the trunk once again. aIt looks as though it was indeed dragged up here. Perhaps this was the end and he could go no farther. It was a good hiding place.a aYes, it is a good hiding place, but why didnat he come back for it? Why leave it here?a I asked.

aMaybe to let some time pa.s.s,a Bridget offered.

I had to agree that was a good point. aMaybe he died before he could get back hereaa Maggie offered.

aIad really like to know,a I replied. I watched Peter and saw his eyebrows disappear in his hairline. I shivered uncontrollably as he slowly walked farther and peered behind the trunk.