Chapter Six
The air around her seemed to evaporate as Kane dropped to his knees and wiggled his fingers for the mystery object. Sky wasn’t sure he’d treat this prize with the needed respect. “Be careful.”
His mouth opened slightly as if he were in awe and then twisted the nine-inch tall metal object in his fingers. “The artwork sure is something else.”
She puffed out her chest a little. “Those engravings look like petroglyphs. It’s possible they’re from a spacecraft, and I don’t mean one that flew for NASA.”
She glanced at Kane to gauge his reaction to her suggestion that the object could have come from outer space, but his face remained unreadable. Damn. She shouldn’t have said anything, but she’d wanted to see where he stood on the concept of the existence of life outside of their planet. This pineapple shaped object resembled something Earl had in his house.
“You really think it’s alien?” Kane rotated the cone-shaped figure in his hand.
“Possibly.”
“Looks like it came off a post or the top of a metal Christmas tree. I doubt it’s from outer space.” He dropped his chin and looked up with a twinkle in his eye.
She slipped the object from his fingers. “It’s lighter than I would have expected,” she said.
He sat back, resting his butt on his heels. “It’s probably made from aluminum. That’s a metal mined in America.”
She lightly punched his arm as she chuckled. “Funny.” Sparring with Kane would get her nowhere. Those who didn’t believe could never be convinced. “I have a friend who’s an expert in everything alien. Maybe he can tell us where it came from.”
“Suit yourself.” He stood. “Let me take a picture of you with your treasure so you can show your grandkids.”
“Cool.” No need to tell him she didn’t even have a husband yet. She passed him her phone, posed with her newfound treasure, and grinned like a fool. Kane lifted the cell at arm’s length and tapped the camera icon.
He handed her the phone back. “Ready to head home?”
“You’re kidding, right? I’ve searched these caves for years and never found any treasure. This could be the proof the world needs to show aliens have visited us. We have to continue digging to see if there’s something else down there.” A gust of wind swept through the tunnel and lifted the hair from the base of her neck almost as if some spirit had flown by.
He laughed. “I thought you were starving and exhausted.”
“I am, but what if I find more proof of alien life here, in Savory?” The words tumbled out before she had a chance to censor them.
“Seriously?” He lifted the piece out of her hands and turned it over.
He was close-minded. Dammit. “What are you looking for?”
“A Made-in-China stamp.”
“Pu-lease.” Just because Kane Cornell believed there wasn’t anything down there, didn’t mean something didn’t exist. She began digging. Sure, they were here to look for the Senator, but a few extra minutes wouldn’t hurt. “I’ll always wonder if I don’t search a bit.” Three scoops later, her nail broke. “Crap.”
“What?” He sounded concerned.
She lifted her hand out of the sand and examined the damage. “I broke a nail.”
“That’s all?” He frowned and squinted at the same time, and the look came off more comical that serious. “Are you going to write up a report?”
“You’re a real comedian.”
Kane’s gaze shot to the side, and he eased a gun out from inside his jacket.
She froze. “Kane, what are you doing?” Before she could move, he fired, the sound reverberating in the small chamber. Sky fell to the side and curled into a ball, as dust filled the air. “Dear Lord in Heaven.”
He hadn’t aimed at her, but the bullet could have ricocheted off the wall. When no pain registered, she had to work to breathe. The loud echo still reverberated in her ears and the stirred up sand settled on her face.
He was on her in a second, cradling her in his arms. “It’s okay.” He whispered into her hair. “You’re safe. I killed the snake.”
“You killed a snake? I hate those things.” She hadn’t even heard the thing rattle, assuming it was a rattler.
His warm lips touched her forehead, miraculously drawing out the negative energy coursing through her, but she refused to do anything about the light kiss that elicited a strong reaction. It wouldn’t be right to fall for Mr. Special Forces, only for the life of her, she couldn’t remember why.
Sky cleared her throat and let Kane help her sit up, daring to look behind her. “Yikes. That was a poisonous snake.”
Kane rocked back on his heels and stood. “I know. That’s why I killed it.”
“Let’s hope the Senator never encounters one of these guys.” Without Kane’s reflexes, she might have been bitten.
“Amen.”
Sky stood and dusted herself off. “I’m good. Let’s get digging.” If only her heart would calm down.
“You sure you want to continue?” He stepped behind her and piled sand on top of the snake, giving it a fitting burial. Flies would be attracted to the creature if he hadn’t encased it.
“Yes. The near death experience only heightens my desires.”
He could take her comment any way he wanted. Right now, she wasn’t sure what she was experiencing, other than adrenaline flooding through her veins, raising every sense from the confinement of the cave walls, the sand in her mouth and hair, the burnt smell of the gunpowder, and the wobble in her knees. Add in the excitement of her find and she’d never felt so alive.
“You’re all right, Officer Nash. Let me get the shovel from my car.”
Her laugh came out a little forced but held a lot of relief. “You carry a shovel around? You are the Boy Scout.”
“You have no idea.” He winked and trotted out.
Did his wink mean he was flirting with her? Wasn’t he the one who claimed he preferred to work alone? Stop analyzing. He probably figured in the few days he would be here, that it was better to enjoy himself with a little companionship, than act professional and standoffish all the time.
He returned minutes later with a portable shovel in hand and a larger flashlight. She held out her palm and wiggled her fingers. “I’ll dig first.” She didn’t believe males had to be the dominant ones.
“What? And have you break another nail? I won’t be responsible.” He planted a hand on his chest.
She laughed. If he wanted to play macho man, she’d let him. After all, watching his muscles ripple across his back would be a real treat.
Sky slid down to the sand and kept her back to the wall. She alternated between watching Kane work and keeping an eye out for other creatures of the cave. Once the light faded, even with the flashlight bouncing off the ceiling, the cave turned creepy, possibly because animals liked to seek shelter at night.
“I think you’ve done enough work today. It’s getting dark,” she finally said, sad that this adventure was about to end. She enjoyed the fact he’d put so much effort into her find. “I’ll ask a few people to come back tomorrow and continue digging.”
“You still think there’s some big alien spacecraft buried here?” He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his sleeve and grinned.
“Go ahead and mock me. Someday, you’ll see.” She waved a hand. “As for there being a craft below the sand, I don’t think so.”
He stabbed the shovel into the earth. His jaw loosened. “Then why did you have me dig?”
To see if you would, and to watch your body sweat and writhe under the effort. “To make sure.”
“You’re something else, lady.” He cocked a brow before brushing off the sand. “I’ll need to clean up if we’re still going out.”
She slapped a hand to her forehead. “Crap. Can I take a rain check? I forgot it’s Saturday, and I promised my dad I’d cook tonight. He laid a major guilt trip on me for not spending any quality time with him last week.”
“Sure. Whatever you say.” From the slight slump to his shoulders, he might be as disappointed as she was.
* * *
No sooner had Kane dropped her off at the station so she could drive to her dad’s, than her cell rang. For a second, Sky hoped it was Kane calling to ask if he could see her after her meal. Instead, it was Dad. “Hey.”
“I’m sorry, hon, I have to take care of some official business, and I won’t make it home for our father-daughter get together after all.”
“Da-ad. You begged me to make time after last week’s fiasco.” Something always seemed to come between them.
“It couldn’t be helped. I’m sorry.”
She’d given up a date with Kane for him. “Maybe we can do it tomorrow?”
“Sure, tomorrow sounds good.”
That’s what he always said. There were sacrifices to having a father who served the community. With that obligation gone, she debated whether to turn around and stop at Rosalie’s to see if Kane still wanted to go out, but then she nixed the idea. She wouldn’t feel comfortable being on a date when covered in sand. She’d have to shower and change, and by the time she primped, he’d have already eaten.
As she rounded a curve, the metal object pinged as it rolled on the floor and hit the metal undercarriage of the passenger seat.
Well, if she couldn’t get any enjoyment from seeing Kane, she’d visit Earl. He wouldn’t care if she were a dirty mess. The old guy spent his days outside, but nights were lonely for him, and she liked to keep him company. In the past when she visited, he would spend hours talking about his experiences on the other side of the galaxy. As a thank you for his potential help in identifying her object, she stopped at a liquor store and picked up a bottle of wine.
A few minutes later, she pulled into Earl’s drive and cut the lights. Well, well, lookie who was here—Pearl. She was probably there to discuss Dan’s abduction with someone knowledgeable, since he wouldn’t come within a mile of this house.
Not wanting Ms. Pearl to see what Sky had unearthed, she left the silver object on the floor of her VW and stashed the wine in the back. Music sounded from inside—a slow, sensual beat. Definitely not the type of music the former space explorer would play. She tapped on the door, but no one answered. Curious, she knocked louder. “Hello. It’s Sky.”
She debated heading back home but thought she could add something to Dan’s abduction tale. Besides, she really needed Earl’s opinion on her prized find.
Voices sounded followed by a moan. Her cop instinct kicking into gear, Sky pushed open the door, stepped inside, and stilled. Oh, my God.