“Apache Junction.”
He nodded. “We’ll set up a base camp, somewhere that provides a place to sleep and access to meals. We’ll probably be there at least a couple of days before we go in.”
“I’ll take a look around, see what I can find.”
“In the meantime, I’ll start working on the project from a historical perspective. I want to read everything written on the Lost Dutchman Mine.”
Since she had already done tons of research on the legends surrounding the mine, she agreed. Gage was thorough. She had learned that from the lecture he had given at the museum.
“We’ve been at this a while,” he said. “I could use another cup of coffee.” He showed her the tiny kitchen in the main part of the office, where a pot had been freshly brewed. Abby took a bathroom break, poured herself a cup, then returned to Gage’s office for a meeting with his assistant, Maggie Powell.
The attractive brunette turned out to be married, with two young children, and clearly was not one of Gage’s conquests. She worked part-time, either at home or in the office. She was available whenever Gage needed her or when he was preparing for an expedition.
“Maggie, you’ve met Abigail Holland,” he said. “Abby and I are going to be working on a project together.”
Maggie smiled at Abby. “That’s good news. I know Gage has been hoping something interesting would turn up.”
Abby returned the smile, already liking the woman. “With any luck, it’ll also be profitable.”
“We’ll be following the usual protocols,” Gage said. “I’ll give you an outline of our objectives, give you a starting point and a tentative schedule. As soon as you have the information you need, you can start working on a cost breakdown.”
“Sounds good. Do you need me to make travel arrangements?”
“I will—as soon as Abby figures out where we’ll be setting up our base of operations.”
“Just let me know.” Maggie went back to her desk, and Gage turned to Abby. “If you’re ready to get started, there are a couple of computers in the other room. Use whichever one you want.”
“I’m more efficient when I’m working on my own machine. My laptop’s in my car, but I also need my cameras. I want to start documenting our progress. When we get back to Denver, we can make a video documentary of our search for the treasure.” She grinned. “You’ll be great. The ladies are going to love you.”
He just smiled. “Let’s take this one step at a time, shall we?”
Abby rose, and Gage followed her into the front office. “About your cameras . . . ,” he said.
“Yes?”
The door opened before he could reply, and a tall man with slightly curly black hair walked into the office.
Gage smiled. “Jack. I figured you’d put in an appearance sooner or later. Jack, meet Abigail Holland. Abby, my partner, Jack Foxx.”
“Nice to meet you, Jack,” she said.
Sexy blue eyes a shade less intense than Gage’s roamed over her. “The pleasure is mine, Abby.” At the way he said pleasure, Gage’s mouth tightened.
“About your camera,” Gage said to her. “It’s not safe for you to go back to your place alone. We can pick it up at the end of the day.”
“I’ll be fine by myself. It’s not that far away.”
“I can take her,” Jack volunteered.
Gage’s blue gaze cooled as it traveled to Jack, then back to her. “If you’re that determined, I’ll take you myself.”
Jack grinned as if he had just discovered a secret, and Gage flashed him a look of warning.
Twenty minutes later, after weaving their way through traffic, they pulled up in front of Abby’s borrowed apartment.
“I won’t be long,” she said and cracked open her door.
Gage caught her arm. “Now that the papers are signed, I’m in charge, remember?”
“Yes, but—”
“The problem that existed last night hasn’t changed. Just because you put the gold back in the bank doesn’t mean you’re safe. There’s been at least one attempt on your life, and if the guy at the museum was the same man, he might be willing to take you by force, coerce you into giving him the map.”
A thread of unease slid through her. “So what would you suggest? I have work to do, same as you.”
“If you want this venture to succeed, at this point, you have two options: I can put a guard on your door twenty-four seven, or you can stay at my place.”
“You can’t be serious.” Superman, ha! The man was dictatorial and overbearing. How was she going to put up with him for what could end up being weeks?
But what if he was right? Was it possible the man who’d attacked her knew where she was staying? Had he followed her to the museum last night? Would he come after her again, try to force her to give him the map?
“My apartment building’s extremely secure,” Gage was saying. “It’s big enough that you’ll have all the privacy you need, and it won’t be for long. As soon as everything’s ready, we’ll be leaving for Arizona.”
The chunk of gold was back in the bank, the map in the safe in Gage’s office, but she and Gage were the only ones who knew that. Abby looked into Gage’s stern features and knew he wasn’t going to back down.
“So what’s it going to be?” he said.
“If you hire a guard, I’ll be paying for half of it. I’ll stay at your place. And you’d better remember—I still have my gun.”
Gage grinned, then threw back his head and laughed.
* * *
Gage wasn’t laughing when Abby opened the door to the apartment and the interior looked as if a bomb had gone off.
“Oh, my God!”
Easing her behind him, he walked into the living room. The sofa was overturned, the cushions sliced open; pictures had been jerked down from the walls, the backs ripped off. Kitchen drawers had been pulled out and dumped, cabinets opened, the contents spilled on the floor.
“Stay right here.” For once, Abby didn’t argue. She was clearly in shock at the nightmare she had stumbled into.
Gage checked the rooms, making sure the intruder or intruders were gone, then returned to the living room. “Take a look around; see if anything’s missing.”
Big golden eyes flashed to his face. “You think it was him? The guy who broke in before?”
“What do you think?”
She huffed out a breath at the sarcasm in his voice. “Well, hell’s bells. Tammy’s going to kill me.”
Amusement eased some of his tension. “Don’t worry, we’ll clean everything up before she comes back.”
Gage followed Abby on a tour of the apartment, including the bedroom and bathroom, both of which had been very thoroughly searched.
Abby sighed as they returned to the living room. “It’s hard to tell for sure, but I don’t think anything’s missing.”
“He was looking for the map, same as before. Does he also know about the gold?”
“I don’t know. They were both in the old wooden box, which was sealed when I got it. But the map was mentioned in the will. King’s attorney called everyone together for the reading, anyone who received a gift. That included several museums, who had representatives there. So there are a number of people who know about it.”