Page 45 of Deadly Threat
Thomas gave him a grin. “Seems like a minute ago you were ready to kill me.”
“I still might when this is over.”
Thomas waved him off. “You’re a Boy Scout, Cahill. You’re better at protect-and-serve than assassination.”
“Stay here,” Cahill said to Mia. He handed her the crowbar. “We’ll be right back.”
Her features filled with indignation. “I’m not waiting while you two go down there.” She lifted her chin, glaring defiantly. “Whatever is there, I can handle it.”
“It may be dangerous,” he argued.
She stepped around his big body, pocketing the earring and nodding at Thomas, “Let’s go.”
Yep, Thomas liked her a lot.
“Mia—” Cahill started.
She whirled on him. “Don’tMiame.” Her voice shook and her breathing came in tight gulps. Thomas figured she probably needed her dog. Ronni had guessed Mia had PTSD after her ordeal and used the animal as a coping mechanism. “Please, Malachi. I have to…do this.”
Cahill hesitated, but caved after a few seconds. He grabbed her and tugged her behind him. “Remember my conditions?”
She resisted slightly, then gave in and stayed put. “Yes.”
Thomas hid his grin. These two were something else. “Both of you follow me, hands on shoulders. If I stop, you stop. When I go, you follow.”
He felt Cahill’s hand land on his left shoulder as he faced the steps. Cahill explained to Mia to mimic his action and put her hand on his. Then he gave Thomas a squeeze. “Ready.”
“Go,” Thomas said, and they went.
Twenty
Mia covered her nose, the strange underground room filled with organic smells that turned her stomach and made her eyes burn. Who knew what had seeped into the ground besides ricin? The whole area was probably toxic, regardless of what the government claimed. A spider skittered down the wall on her left and she shivered. It would die soon or end up radioactive.
The room held empty shelves, rotting from the environment and neglect. A few had various machines and scales, boxes of gloves, and empty bins. A large red metal container had a hazardous sticker and they stayed a good distance from that.
“Ah.” Thomas illuminated a tall chest against the far wall. “What’s your guess, Cahill? What is someone hiding in that baby?”
Mia glanced around Malachi’s shoulder to scrutinize the thing. It was black and dusty, with a gold outline and a center dial. A safe.
“Formulas? Drugs?” Malachi speculated.
Mia wondered why they would put it down here. “Seems like an odd place to store sensitive material.”
“I’ll have Coop send a locksmith.” Thomas led them on. “There’s another door up ahead.”
Once more, Mia had to peer around Malachi’s large frame. Thomas’ light bounced off metals bars and another shiny lock on the handle. Thomas shone his beam as Malachi took the crowbar from her. “Looks like there’s a tunnel beyond,” Thomas told them.
He moved out of the way and the clang of metal on metal echoed loudly as Malachi stepped in. Mia covered her ears. He tossed the broken lock aside a moment later and handed the crowbar back to her. “We’re going south.”
He and Thomas exchanged a glance, then at the same time said, “Landfill.”
“Why would the lab have an underground tunnel to that?” She shivered as realization hit, Sam’s words coming back to her. “Oh, for the…disposal stuff.”
Malachi appeared grim, the shadows adding to his demeanor. “Easier and less obvious to prying eyes if you can transport it underground.”
They reformed their snake chain and headed in. The scent intensified and Mia thought,this is what death smells like.
Then it hit her—the chemical odors that had been burned into her nostrils during her captivity. “Funeral home.”
