“I didn’t bring them!” Libby’s voice trembled its way into the cave too. “The cave isn’t exactly a private location, you know. I don’t see how—”

“So these others are just random neighbors?” A cruel laugh echoed through the cavern, skipping over the water to Mabena like a stone. “Don’t bother lying to me, Elizabeth. I’ve seen you with her. And really, I don’t care that you have someone helping you. As long as you have the silver.”

Something struck rock. Clinking like coins, softened by a pouch. Libby must have tossed the purse she’d brought with her down to the rocks. “There’s your precious silver. Come and get it.”

“Do I look like a fool? You’re going to pick it up, my pretty one, and bring it here to me. By yourself. While the giant in the water and his dripping spitfire join your brother outside the cave.”

Mabena wished a sliver of light could reach them here so that she could see Casek’s face. See what he thought of this, what he intended. As it was, all she could do was hear the rumble of his words in her ear. “We’re going to do what he says, Benna. He’s shifted a bit—he could shoot us here, if he wanted to.”

She nodded, wishing she could keep the trembling from her body. What if he thought it fear rather than the shock of the injury, the cold of the water? The idea of Casek thinking her afraid . . .

He rested his forehead on hers for a moment, sucked in a breath, and tucked her to his side. Even with only one arm, his strokes through the water were sure. She helped him as much as she could, but her limbs were still weak and shaking.

If ever she met that stranger when he didn’t have a gun in his hand, she’d delight in cracking him on the head.

A moment later they were near to where the boat always waited to row tourists through the pool, and Oliver was there on the rocks, reaching to help them out of the water. Libby too, a few steps away.

Panic clawed at her chest. This wasn’t the plan, wasn’t the plan at all. He and Mabena were supposed to be hidden in the cave before the stranger arrived, along with the constable’s men. But had they even gotten here yet?

This bloke must have had the same idea and positioned himself inside first.

Libby, who’d never even stepped foot in the cave before today, wasn’t supposed to be going alone into its darkness. But there she went, one hand on the ever-damp wall, the other now clutching the change purse. The only light within was from the torch Mabena had dropped.

She gripped Oliver’s arm. “She shouldn’t be in there alone.”