Chapter 9 - FIRE BELOW
The tunnel was six feet wide, stone-walled, and older than the mansion.
Sophia hated it immediately.
She couldn't hear our footsteps. She could only feel the floor vibrate beneath her shoes, feel the darkness pressing close, feel my hand squeezing hers too hard.
Behind us, something exploded.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Mrs. Alvarez stumbled.
"Keep moving," I said.
Sophia stopped.
She turned back toward the basement.
NATHAN.
"He told us to go."
NATHAN.
"I know."
She pulled away from me.
For a three-year-old, she was terrifyingly strong when scared.
Then orange light bloomed at the far end of the tunnel.
Fire.
Not behind us.
Ahead.
Vanessa had blocked the garage exit.
Mrs. Alvarez crossed herself. "Madre de Dios."
Smoke rolled toward us.
We were trapped between two fires.
Sophia dropped to the floor.
I thought she had fallen.
Then she pressed her palm to the stone and frowned.
She crawled to the left wall and knocked twice.
Hollow.
Mrs. Alvarez stared. "There used to be a dumbwaiter shaft here. Before the renovation."
We found the seam beneath layers of old plaster.
I kicked until the panel cracked.
A narrow maintenance shaft opened behind it.
"Go," I said.
Mrs. Alvarez squeezed through first. I lifted Sophia after her.
Then I heard a cough behind me.
Nathan staggered through the smoke, carrying a metal case.
His shirt was burned at the shoulder.
"Cross?" I shouted.
Nathan coughed. "Alive. Angry."
He shoved the case toward me. "Original patent assignments."
A shadow appeared in the smoke behind him.
Cross.
Gun raised.
I reached for Nathan.
Cross fired.
May you like
Nathan jerked.
Blood spread across his white shirt.
