With the lights illuminating everything, Garrity couldn’t help but glance around. “So this is it? This is what I crawled into a cave to see?”
“There’s more to see in the next chamber,” Derek said. “The entry is directly behind the wardrobe.”
He uttered an expletive. “You can’t possibly expect me to drag myself even deeper into this pit. It’s filthy. I won’t do it.”
“That’s fine, then,” Derek said, his English accent brisk and to the point. Grabbing my hand, he said, “Let’s go, darling.” We took turns climbing over the wall and back into the larger storage area.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Derek half turned. “We’re going home. You’ve made it quite obvious that you aren’t interested in seeing the artwork and objects inside the cave. I’m sure Robson will be happy to take back the check he wrote you.”
“For God’s sake, I didn’t mean it literally.”
“Yes, you did,” Derek said amiably. “So we’re leaving, and I expect you to follow because I’m not leaving you in here alone.”
“You don’t have to be so sensitive about it.”
“I’m not sensitive at all,” Derek said in an even tone. “I’m complying with your wishes.”
As we walked away, Garrity shouted, “Wait, damn it. Don’t be so stupid.”
“Don’t be so stupid?” I stopped and turned. “What is wrong with you?” My jaw was clenched so tightly, I could barely think straight. “Do you think we have nothing better to do than listen to your whining all day? Honestly, you have done nothing since you got here but complain and make insulting remarks about my friends and family. If you think we’re going to put up with that for one more minute, you’re as crazy as I think you are.”
I stared up at Derek, and he winked at me. Okay, maybe I hadn’t been as eloquent as I wanted to be, but I’d meant every word. Could Derek possibly be enjoying this jerk’s antics?
“All right, all right. Don’t get your panties in a twist.” Garrity waved his hand, dismissing me. “If you think it’s so important, I’ll look at the rest of the cave.”
“Hey, you’re not doing us any favors. You’re the one getting paid to be here.”
Derek quickly clutched my arm, knowing I was furious. I’d been taking Krav Maga classes with my neighbor, and I was ready to attack. He was probably smart to hold me back.
“Does this mean you’d like to see what else is in the cave?” Derek asked with a reasonableness that astounded me.
“Fine,” Garrity said. “Yes, I want to see what’s in the cave. Happy now?”
“That’s all you had to say,” Derek said, and led the way back to the wall. With great reluctance, I followed behind them both.
Once inside the chamber, Derek said, “Look around all you want.”
Garrity was already scanning the items, trying not to look impressed. He pulled out a notebook and began writing. Finally he murmured, “I suppose this is an interesting collection, but it’s nothing extraordinary.”
“Robson may have explained that—”
“I need complete silence while I work.”
“Then why don’t you shut up?” I muttered.
He turned and stared at me, affronted. “You’ve got a mouth on you.”
Derek bared his teeth in a semblance of a grin. “She does, as well as a mean left hook. Careful you don’t set her off even worse.”
Garrity frowned thoughtfully and went back to studying the art objects and making notes.
We were silent for another five minutes until Mr. Garrity said, “This can’t be everything.”
“No,” Derek said patiently. “As I explained earlier, the entry to the second chamber is behind the wardrobe.”
Garrity rolled his eyes.
If only Derek had brought his gun with him, I’d shoot the damn fool in the foot. But then he wouldn’t be able to walk out of here. No, I would have to shoot him in the arm because there was no way I was going to be stuck dragging this whiner all the way out of the cave.
Who was I kidding? I would never point a gun at a living creature, but this guy was sorely trying my long-held peacenik values.
“It’s right this way.” Derek continued speaking as if Garrity hadn’t said a word. “Follow me.”
He slipped easily behind the large piece of furniture and disappeared into the space beyond.
“Wait. Where’d you go?”
“This way,” I said, and followed Derek into the darkness. Garrity plodded behind me.
I no longer cared how much Robson admired the man’s work. I refused to be nice to this guy. I didn’t give a fig how brilliant an appraiser he was. How could Derek stomach the insufferable man? I didn’t care if he knew art. I wanted him to go away. But now I couldn’t walk out of the cave because I refused to leave Derek alone to deal with him.
Derek had set up another light tree in this space to make it easier to see the details of the artwork and other items.