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.”
