Into the Dark by Stacy Green Page B

Ronson motioned to the tunnel. “Thanks for meeting me here. Sergeant Johnson said you were the one to guide me through this mess.”
    “Sure. But plenty of officers have been down here.”
    “None with your observation skills. I’ve seen you work, Madigan. You’re talented. Walk me through this place. Give me your first impressions from that night, thoughts on the perp, whatever comes to mind. Right now, you and Davis know more about him than anyone else.”
    “Has she remembered anything more?” Nathan knew he was probably breaking protocol, but he had to ask. Emilie’s frightened face remained foremost in his thoughts since watching her lose control at the station.
    Ronson narrowed her eyes, gauging his interest. “That’s right, you were at the station when she had a flashback the other day. Not much. Thinks the partner knows about her past.”
    “She mentioned that. It’s definitely possible.
    “I agree.
    “Did she tell you about her parents?”
    “Not in any detail. You probably know as much as I do.” Ronson cocked her head toward the tunnel. “Ready?”
    An orange extension cord led to the shop light hanging from one of the redwood posts.
    “Watch yourself.” Nathan led the way inside. “Don’t get your heels stuck in the dirt.”
    “I’m going to call that chivalrous instead of sexist.” She slipped on a pair of running shoes. “I came prepared.”
    “Just be careful.” Nathan looked around the walls. “Looks like the light got rid of most of the critters, anyway.”
    “Was that your first impression? The bugs?”
    “My first impression was ‘What the hell?’”
    “And then?”
    “Then a sinking feeling I wasn’t going to like what we found. That this guy wasn’t an amateur.”
    “You think he’s done this before?”
    “Don’t you?”
    “Absolutely. But so far, I can’t find any similar crimes within a three-state radius.”
    “They’re out there.” Nathan brushed a dangling cobweb out of the way. “No newbie pulls this off.”
    “So he runs in here and blocks the door with a piece of wood he’s previously placed. Then he enters–”
    Ronson whistled as they rounded the corner into the circular room with the distilling machine. Another makeshift light gave the room a dim glow. “That’s kind of awesome. Wonder how many gangsters sat in that very chair?”
    “Maybe Bugsy himself,” Nathan teased. He pointed to the smaller tunnel where a blue tarp had been laid down. “This is as far as I’ve gone.”
    Ronson turned on her tactical light and knelt down on the tarp. “Good thing I wore pants today.” She shimmied her narrow body into the hole.
    She emerged minutes later and dusted the dirt off her clothes and hair. “The pipe with the hatch doesn’t look much bigger than this tunnel. I can’t believe the city didn’t notice the hatch when they decided to reuse the pipe for the storm drain system.” She focused her light on Nathan’s face. “You game?”
    “To go into the pipe?
    “I want to follow his trail.”
    “You want me to go with you?”
    “I said I wanted your opinion, didn’t I? Besides, I shouldn’t go alone. Capable female I may be, I’m not stupid.”
    “Where’s your partner?” Nathan smirked. “Too dirty down here for Avery?”
    Ronson’s mouth twitched. “Following a lead.”
    “Interesting how fast Emilie’s medical history appeared in the paper, isn’t it?”
    “We may have a leak.” Ronson spoke through tight lips. “I’m looking into it.”
    “You don’t need to look far. We both know someone close to the case who’s own personal gain comes first.”
    “Trust me. If I can prove Avery’s leaking information, I’ll have his ass.” Ronson pointed to the tunnel. “Dig in.”
    Nathan dug out his own flashlight and crawled into the tunnel. “I don’t even know if I’ll fit through here.”
    He stretched out his arms, dug his elbows into the tarp-covered dirt, and slithered slowly through the earth. His shoulders