Page 25 of Fire and Bones

I called out again.

Zilch.

Where the hell were all the Galahads so recently worried about my safety?

Twenty wary steps brought me to the edge of a gaping hole.

In the first split second, my mind logged the following facts.

The basement was floored by hard-packed clay. That clay had overlain and disguised a hinged wooden door. That door had broken under the pressure of Hickey’s weight.

I aimed my light down into the opening.

Hickey lay prone at the base of a weathered staircase, maybe eight feet below me.

I watched for signs of life. Movement. Breathing. Saw no indication of either.

“Hickey!”

Zero response.

My stomach went into free fall.

I was gripping the penlight with my teeth, preparing to descend, when Hickey’s left elbow re-angled and his palm pressed the ground. His upper torso arced up and he pivoted to his back. Groaning, he rose to a sitting position and drew his knees to his chest.

Relief flooded through me. Not wanting to blind him, I pointed my beam at his boots and shouted. “Are you okay?”

Hickey glanced up, a puzzled look on his face.

“Shall I call for the medics?”

“No. No. I’m cool.”

“You’re sure?”

“Just embarrassed.” Hickey’s chuckle had a brittle edge to it. “What happened?”

“You pulled an Alice and tumbled down a secret passage. Could be they’ll charge you for damage to the trap door.”

“I’m a firefighter. Property damage is our forte.”

“Uh-huh.” I was happy the guy hadn’t lost his sense of humor. “What do you see?”

“Nothing. It’s a black hole down here.”

“Probably a subcellar.”

“It being below the main cellar.”

I ignored the sarcasm.

“Is it big?”

“Hard to tell.”

“Are you alone?” Joking.

“I goddam sure hope so.”