Code(73)

I made a decision. “There’s no need for everyone to go inside. Shelton, you keep watch out here.”

Relieved, he hurried to the fence.

“You’ll need me to move the lid,” Ben said. “Doughboy, too.”

Hi grimaced. “Let’s just get this done, then get the hell out of here.”

“Agreed.” I handed out flashlights, drew a calming breath, then started down the steps.

Ben snagged my elbow and squeezed past. “Me first.”

Fine by me, snake bait.

I followed Ben down the narrow flight, with Hi right on my heels. I nearly jarred a tooth loose when the staircase ended sooner than expected. A reminder that we hadn’t unleashed our inner wolves.

“Guys,” I whispered. “Should we flare? It’s hard to see down here.”

“Don’t bother.” Ben’s response echoed in the crypt, conveying anger and shock. “No one’s home.”

“What?” I rushed to the sarcophagus and added my light to Ben’s.

The coffin was open. The corpse was gone.

I leaned inside the sarcophagus and shined my beam down its length. The only thing present was a withered set of bones.

The original tenant.

I pounded the lid in frustration. “The Gamemaster covered his tracks. He’s toying with us!”

Ben moved to the other side of the coffin. “Hi, help me push this back into place.”

“Why bother?” Hi whined. “Skeletor won’t care.”

“This is still a grave. Show some respect.”

Hi huffed, but joined Ben. Together they muscled the stone slab back into place.

“That wasn’t worth it,” Hi wheezed.

“Yeah, it was.” Ben was barely breathing hard. “Your good deed for today.”

Hi arched a brow. “Does it cancel out tomb raiding in the first place?”

Without bothering to answer, Ben picked up his flashlight and headed for the staircase. Hi hurried after.

I made no move to follow.

“Tory?” Hi had one foot on the steps, anxious to be gone. “What’s wrong?”

At first I didn’t answer. Couldn’t. But then my fury bubbled out.

“We’re always one step behind. Running straight in whatever direction the Gamemaster points. He’s owning us right now. Scripting our every freaking move!”

Abruptly Ben was beside me, his hand finding mine. “Later, Tor. Right now we need to get out of this poor sap’s final resting place.”

He’s right. Maintain focus.

Forcing myself calm, I bottled my rage for a later date.

Then Shelton’s voice echoed from above. “Someone’s coming down the path!”

“What should we do?” Hi hissed. “We can’t hide down here.”

“It’s a monk!” Shelton squeaked. “He just crossed the bridge!”

“Plan?” Ben was watching me intently.

My mind raced, came up empty. This trip was a full-fledged debacle.

I sighed. “We take our medicine. Pray for leniency.”

“Guys, come on up.” Shelton called in a tight voice. “It’s Brother Patterson. He’s at the gate, and he’s . . . he’s not happy. At all.”

That was a massive understatement.

Turns out, a monk can be livid. I saw it firsthand after stepping into the sunlight.

“Of all the disrespectful, reprehensible acts!” Patterson herded us out of the cemetery at a near trot. “I don’t know what kind of juvenile pranks you had planned, but you are never to set foot on these grounds again! The entire order will be given your names and descriptions.”

We took the haranguing in silence. What was there to say?

“To think I’d gone to the library to help you!” A vein bulged on Patterson’s forehead. “The brother there had no idea what I was talking about. Of course not, since you never entered the building! I almost didn’t check up here, since I’d specifically told you the cemetery was off-limits.”

I couldn’t meet his eye. “We’re very sorry.”

“Don’t apologize to me, young lady. You violated holy ground. It’s to God you owe penance. Count yourself lucky I’m not taking the time to track down your parents.”

The walk to the welcome center was endless.

Once there, the boys scurried to Kit’s 4Runner like rats. Patterson stood in the parking lot, intent on actually watching us drive away.

Before climbing into the passenger seat, I made one last effort. “I’m deeply sorry, Brother Patterson. I don’t expect you to believe me, but we truly meant no disrespect. Thank you for showing us your wonderful abbey.”

Patterson’s eyes softened ever so slightly. “I’ve no idea why you would do a thing like this, young lady. Disturbing a grave! You seem like a nice girl, so I hope the shame of this day stays with you, and helps you make better choices in the future.”

Having gutted me with guilt, Patterson turned and walked back to the building.




“Options?” Ben asked as he pulled out onto the highway.

“I think some charitable work might be in order,” Hi said. “I’m not a Jesus man, but I’m pretty sure getting ripped a new one by a monk is bad karma in any religion.”