Midnight Jewels

step outside the vault. She grabbed Isobel's leg and started to tug. Then Croft was beside her, effortlessly yanking the unconscious woman into the vault.
    As soon as Isobel was inside, Croft slammed the door shut and quickly bent over Isobel. Mercy crouched beside him.
    "Is she alive?" Mercy demanded.
    "She's alive."
    "Then we'll have to take her with us."
    Croft sighed. "I know." He got to his feet. "Let's see what's on the other side of that shelving."
    He slid the metal upright to one side. There was an oiled, mechanical sound behind the shelving and suddenly half the wall swung silently inward. A yawning black tunnel stretched out in front of them. Cold but clean smelling air was filtering through the tunnel into the vault.
    "We won't be able to see a tiling," Mercy said quietly. "Even your night vision can't be this good."
    Croft went down on one knee beside Isobel and quickly searched the pockets of her jumpsuit. "Luckily for us, Isobel is ever the prepared pilot. She's got a small flashlight on her."
    Isobel groaned at that moment and coughed. Croft scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder.
    "I'll carry her and go first. Stay right behind me, Mercy."
    "Believe me, I'm not going to be dragging my feet."
    "Good."
    "Remind me to tell you about the microfilm when we get out of here."
    "What microfilm?" He aimed the flashlight down the long, rocky tunnel.
    At least there was something he hadn't already figured out, Mercy thought. "Croft, you don't know what a lift it gives me to catch you off balance occasionally."
    "What do you mean occasionally? You seem to do it on a regular basis."
    "I only do it for your own good," Mercy explained with deep sincerity.

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Chapter TWENTY

    The trip through the upward sloping tunnel was uneventful. He had guessed right, Croft decided as he emerged on a hillside overlooking the estate. Gladstone had provided himself with a reliable escape route. There was always a certain satisfaction when the logical analysis of an opponent's actions proved correct.
    The darkness that was waiting outside the tunnel was alive with the leaping flames of fire that were consuming Gladstone's mansion. The roar of the blaze filled the night.
    "Good God," Mercy breathed as she emerged beside him and stood gazing down at the inferno that was destroying the house. "I can't believe we were trapped in there just a few minutes ago. How did the fire get so big so fast?"
    Croft dumped Isobel carelessly down onto the ground. "He must have used explosives to start it. Did a good job of setting them, too. There won't be anything left in another few hours."
    "The dogs," Mercy whispered, suddenly remembering the animals.
    "I set them free hours ago."
    Isobel stirred and opened her eyes. She coughed wretchedly, trying to clear her lungs of the smoke she had inhaled after Gladstone had left her to die. "I'm the one who did a good job setting the explosives."
    Croft glanced at her. "Gladstone has a nice way of showing his appreciation."
    Her dark eyes blazed with a bitter fury. "That bastard. He blamed it all on me. He was the one who insisted on getting the book back. If he hadn't been so eager to get hold of it, you would never have found us."
    "Don't count on it." The sound of helicopter rotor blades whipping into life brought Croft's attention back to the scene below.
    "He's getting away." Mercy was incensed. "He can't do that. We can't let him escape now. Not after everything we've been through because of him."
    "He's not going anywhere," Croft said softly.
    Isobel raised herself up on one elbow to stare down into the compound. "So that's why he insisted on having me give him flying lessons several months ago. He said it was for safety reasons. I should have known he didn't care about anyone's safety except his own."
    "A typical drug trade employer," Croft remarked. "The attitude goes with the territory. Everything and everyone is expendable."
    "He has the lives of a cat," Isobel whispered angrily. "He told me once he always survives. He was right."
    "Not this time," Croft said quietly. He looked at Mercy. "Stay here with Isobel."
    She looked up at him anxiously. "Where are you going?" Even as she asked the question Croft saw the realization dawn in her eyes. "No, wait, Croft. He'll be armed. You can't stop him alone. We'll find him again. He won't be able to hide from you."
    He touched her dirt smudged cheek. "He's not going to get away. I'm going to finish it this time. Understand?"
    She closed her