Page 17 of Things We Do for Love and Science
He straightened. “Now for the most uncomfortable part.”
“Let me, uh, do something.”
His brows knitted. “Could you help me push the lid to the side? It doesn’t have to come off entirely. I only need a gap large enough to get at the skull.”
She steeled herself. This was her opportunity to prove she was a valiant, grave-desecrating companion, since she had put him up to it. “No problem.” She took hold of the rim and pushed together with him. The lid screeched to the side.
“That should be enough,” he said, reaching once more into the tool bag. “Could you shine the flashlight into the crevice? You don’t have to look, but I need the extra light.”
“Yes, yes of course.” She took the flashlight from him and angled it to shine into the gap they’d created.
He bent, searched for the pliers but stopped mid-motion. She concentrated on his face rather than inside of the coffin.
He inhaled sharply. “Oh my God, I don’t believe this.”
“What? Is it empty?”
“No not empty, but I found something unexpected.” He leaned deeper into the casket then raised his head, his blue eyes triumphant.
She swallowed. In his hands he held the most ridiculously magnificent piece of jewelry she’d ever seen—seven tear-shaped emeralds suspended from a string of cherry-sized diamonds. Each green gem was surrounded by smaller diamonds.
The sparkle and glimmer were mesmerizing even in the dim light of the naked light bulbs. “What a stunning necklace to put in a coffin. This is crazy.”
“He buried her with it. It was never lost; it was here all this time.”
“Is it real?” she asked.
“Not sure. If this is the diamond and emerald necklace that was part of her trousseau and not a replica...”
“You could sell it.”
“Yes, oh my God, yes. We may just have discovered the means to save Renwood Hall in Emmy’s casket.” He caught her eye, and they giggled like excited children.
She regained her composure first. “Good thing I went with you. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
He came nearer, and for a moment, it seemed as if he wanted to put the jewels around her neck. She had to be hallucinating in this musty air; lack of oxygen probably.
He cleared his throat. “Could you hold this for a minute while I get the teeth?”
She exhaled slowly and held out her hands. He placed the cold necklace on her upturned palms and reached into the crevice to extract the teeth they’d come for. Small cracking sounds made her wince, but she was grateful for his sacrifice.
He dropped the teeth into his pocket.
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Let’s close this thing, and get away.”
“I’m afraid I need to screw the lid on properly before we leave. I don’t fancy coming down here on my own, to be honest.”
“Yes, of course.” She laid the jewels on the marble plinth before helping him push the lid into its original position.
She tore off her mask, and he did the same with his. Link by link, she lifted the necklace from the stone and held it reverently in both hands while he fastened the bolts.
He straightened and snapped up the tool bag. “Done.”
“Yes, and thank goodness.”
They shared a shaky laugh and stared at each other like two survivors of a minor catastrophe. No way would she ever make him do this again. John Winter and his Renwood Longevity Project could go hang.
Together, they ascended the stairs, and Gabriel locked the door to the crypt behind them.
