Page 76 of Fire Harbor

“There’s a staircase leading down to the lower level,” Lake pointed out. “Maybe Abby’s tied up or something and can’t reply. Should we go down there?”

“We have to check it out,” Linus said, his hand gripping the flashlight. He led the way, cautiously descending the concrete stairs. Halfway to the bottom, the air grew cooler and more oppressive. The musty scent of damp earth and decay was overwhelming as they reached the basement. The dim light from the flashlight created eerie reflections on the walls, making the space feel otherworldly, even ghostly.

Their footsteps resonated off the dingy walls. The only other sound was the echoing slow drip of water somewhere within the old plumbing.

Sticking together, they explored the intricate labyrinth of the lower level which consisted of doors lining each side of the hallway, some hanging off their hinges, others firmly shut.

Lake’s heart pounded in her chest as Linus opened each small room, only to find it empty. Moving further into the bowels of the dungeon-like basement, she shivered, feeling an icy breeze brush past her, raising goosebumps on her flesh.

A sudden faint sound reached Linus. “Do you hear that?”

“Yes,” Lake whispered, pointing to the door farthest down the corridor. “It sounded like a muffled whimper coming from that one, the last one on the left.”

Without hesitation, Linus turned the knob, revealing a small cell-like room with a single candle, their silhouettes flickering off the walls.

Abby was bound to a chair and gagged, her face streaked with tears, eyes wide with fear. She’d spent hours trying to scream through the cloth in her mouth.

Linus reached her first, quickly ripping the gag off, then trying to untie her bindings, his hands working deftly in the dim light of the candle.

Once free, Abby flung herself into his arms, trembling with relief and fear. “Hurry. He’s coming back,” she gasped, her voice hoarse and ragged. “Derrick Kingsley is coming back to kill me. We have to go now.”

Linus helped Abby get to her feet. “Don’t worry. You’re safe. He’s not coming back. Derrick’s been arrested. You’re okay.”

“He’s telling the truth,” Lake affirmed. “We came to take you out of this place.”

“How did you know where to find me?”

Lake smiled over at Linus. “I guess Derrick ran his mouth once too often, and thankfully, somebody was listening. Let’s get you some water and get you out of here.”

With Lake’s help, Abby made it a few steps to the door but stumbled when she spotted Greta standing in the hallway. “You were going to be next. He told me he was coming after you.” She turned back toward Lake. “And you. He wanted the person who dug up Bella.”

Greta traded looks with Lake and Linus as she wrapped an arm around Abby’s waist to help her to the stairs. “Guess what? I saw him get arrested. He’s not coming after anybody. He’s done. Toast. He’s a serial killer, Abby. You survived an encounter with a serial killer. You’ll probably be interviewed on TV: The woman who survived Derrick Kingsley. I wouldn’t mind interviewing you myself for TikTok.”

Lake swatted Greta’s arm. “Give it a rest, will you? Nobody wants to be on TikTok.”

“I don’t believe that for a minute,” Greta returned mildly. “I could make stars out of the people who saved Abby Anderson. Linus, what about you?”

Linus grinned. “No thanks, I’ll pass. I’ve had all the excitement I can take for one day.”

“Fine. I’ll interview my parents then, ask them how it feels to know their house was remodeled by a serial killer.”

“There you go,” Lake said. “Make your way around town and ask Ryder, Troy, and Zach how it felt working with him every day.”

Greta’s eyes went wide. “Great idea. I could start when we get back to town.”

Abby rolled her eyes. “All I want is a hot shower and some food and all you can think about is gaining more followers on TikTok. I remember when it was all about stupid dance videos and lip-syncing.”

“That’s so yesterday,” Greta said. “Life on the edge, baby.”

“Something tells me you’d be singing a different tune if it was you we were dragging out of here after getting tied to a chair and stuck in a dirty room for almost eighteen hours instead of Abby,” Lake pointed out.

Greta’s face went suddenly white as realization sunk in. “It could’ve been me in that stinky place.”

“Exactly. Now ask yourself if you want a horde of press with microphones sticking them in your face at your most vulnerable,” Linus reiterated.

Greta looked over at Abby’s disheveled state and let out a sigh. “Okay, okay. I get it. If there are reporters out there, I won’t let them anywhere near you.”

For the first time, Abby smiled. “You’re a real friend. Now go get me some water.”

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