Read Humanity Unlimited 1: Liberty Station for Free Online Page B

short version is because he’s paying well and you’re not one of his usual corporate douchebags.”
    “Thanks, I suppose. I’m just an engineer. Why in the world would his ex-wife be after me?”
    “Because she’s a vindictive bitch and a psychopath. If she can hurt my father, she will, even if it makes more sense to do something else. Were these cracks here before?”
    He had his light focused on the wall. Large cracks ran down from the ceiling and the facing had fallen off. Glimmering bits of gemstones and gold twinkled in the debris.
    “Oh, no!” Jess ran over to the wall, horrified. “It’s gone! The artwork is gone.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that, but on the scale of our troubles, I think that ranks pretty low.”
    “That painting was the most important archaeological find in the last century,” she almost snarled. “It was the crowning achievement of my friend’s work. His life’s work.”
    Harry held his hand out, palm forward. “Then I’m truly sorry.” He reached past her and poked the cracked stone. It shifted easily and he could see darkness behind it. “This looks hollow. Maybe there’s a passage behind it. We need to look without bringing the ceiling down on our heads.”
    Together, the two of them began gingerly pulling the stones out, revealing an open area beyond the wall. Perhaps their fate wasn’t quite as sealed as he’d feared.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Nathan came back into the central chamber ready to shoot, but things were quiet. They weren’t promising, though. The guard from above lay sprawled dead on the floor and the tunnel that had looked ready to collapse had done so.
    Jake was working with his rope and a shard of the ladder. He was making a jury rigged grappling hook.
    He grinned at Nathan. “Well, things could’ve gone worse. We’re done here.”
    Nathan gave him a cold stare. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
    “Your asshole brother showed up. He killed that poor bastard, whatever his name was. We exchanged shots and he retreated down the tunnel. His people upstairs were a threat, so I tossed a grenade. Took them out.”
    He finished tying off the rope. “Looks like I took care of your brother, too. No need for thanks. I’ll take cash.”
    Nathan’s gut burned cold. “You absolute imbecile. What in the world made you think I wanted you to kill my brother?”
    He shot Jake in the head.
    “That’s my job,” he informed the newly created corpse.
    The tunnel was well and truly gone. He hoped his brother could find another way out. It would gall Nathan for the rest of his life if he hadn’t been the one to eliminate that self-righteous prick. The woman’s death was a shame. A lost opportunity.
    Fortunately, Mother had paid him up front. The loss of the success bonus would sting, but he could live without it. And he didn’t have to pay Jake or that other dumb bastard.
    At least he had another way out. The tunnel he’d explored had led him out beyond the massive building and toward the surface. It ended at a mostly concealed stone door that the Mayans had cleverly balanced. He’d opened it enough to see the jungle. He’d get out of here, gather the rest of his team, if they were still alive, and get to the extraction point. This mission was over.
    He salvaged the weapons and radios from the dead men. They might prove useful.
    Now it was time to get rid of any evidence. He opened his pack and pulled out several sticks of plastic explosive. He planted them around the chamber and into the three remaining tunnels. He rigged the wireless timer to blow them in twenty minutes.
    Now he might be able to convince himself that he’d killed his stupid brother after all.
    “See you on the other side, brother mine. After I send our father to join you in hell.” He ran down the tunnel with a laugh.
     

Chapter Five
     
     
    Jess tried to keep her mind off the heavily armed man beside her, but it wasn’t easy. How did she know he was really who he said he was? This could all