“No.” He grabbed her arm, and she felt the strength held in check, although he looked ready to drop. “You can’t tell anyone about me.”

Was he hiding from the person who had locked him in the chest? She’d seen a man in the woods several days ago and a shadow in the graveyard earlier tonight. Then there was the shriek last night that made her skin feel like it had turned inside out.

He leaned his head against the stone. “Need rest.”

Rest? Where? If she called the police she’d have to tell them about her treasure, and she couldn’t take him inside. He didn’t look capable of walking, much less hurting anyone, but that dagger proved he was dangerous.

The man’s eyes closed and his face paled. She’d made countless bad judgment calls in her life, and this might be the worst, but she couldn’t let him pass out here, and she wasn’t about to lose her treasure. The thief must know where it was hidden or who’d taken it.

“Let’s get you inside the house.” It wouldn’t be the first time she’d taken a risk. Besides, her friend Jared should be back from his trip soon. He could give her a hand. Bree retrieved the lantern and carried it back to where the man waited. He raised his head, giving her the first grateful look since she’d freed him. “Do you need help?”

He nodded stiffly, his expression grim.

She moved closer, and he dropped an arm over her shoulders, leaning his body into hers. He smelled like dirt and leather and rain. A feeling settled in her chest, like recognition, and she wondered if she was dreaming. She put her arm around his waist. Solid. Real. Wet? How had he gotten wet? It hadn’t rained in weeks.

“Wait,” he whispered. “The time vault. I have to cover it… can’t leave the key.”

Why? Questions bombarded her, but she left him leaning against the wall and approached the burial vault. Bree reached for the lid, and her breath caught when she saw the inside of the chest. It was green, like the stones on the outside, but there was no time to explore. She’d have to come back later. She closed the lid and pulled the disk from the lock. Nausea rose in her throat as the metal grew hot in her hand. She wanted to hide the disk, bury it where it would never be found.