The sound of the water settling echoed faintly inside the deep stone cylinder.
Mark stared down into the darkness, calculating the depth of the cold water shaft.
Evelyn stepped back with a cruel smile of victory playing on her thin lips.
Evelyn: Now the evidence is gone where nobody will ever reach it.
Mark: That well is only twenty feet deep, Evelyn.
Evelyn's smile vanished instantly as she registered the calm tone in Mark's voice.
Evelyn: You would not dare go down into that dirty water!
Mark: I built the maintenance ladder inside this well with my father.
Mark quickly unbuttoned his wrist cuffs and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows.
He checked the solid iron handle and verified that the winch mechanism was secure.
The metal bucket attached to the thick rope was still suspended near the top.
Mark grabbed the heavy frame of the well to steady his balance on the rim.
Mark: You underestimated how far I will go to protect my father's memory.
Evelyn: Stop right now before you hurt yourself on those rusty rungs!
Mark ignored her frantic shouting as he placed his foot on the upper rung.
The metal felt icy cold under his leather shoes, but he held on tightly.
He began lowering himself carefully down into the damp darkness of the shaft.
The air grew cold and smelled strongly of damp earth and mossy stone.
Above him, Evelyn peered over the stone ledge with wide and nervous eyes.
Evelyn: Mark, come back up here right now and listen to reason!
Mark: You had your chance to listen to reason ten minutes ago!
Mark lowered his hands one step at a time until his feet reached water.
The icy cold water soaked through his dark trousers almost instantly upon contact.
He reached his right arm down beneath the surface, feeling along the muddy bottom.
His fingers brushed against the rough texture of the thick waterproof leather pouch.
He gasped from the biting cold as he pulled the heavy strap up from below.
Mark: I found the pouch, and the seal is still completely intact!