Into the Devil's Underground (28 page)

A tall, rail-thin blond woman greeted him. “Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Emilie Davis.”

The woman’s expression turned sour. “She’s with the cops.”

“You must be Lisa.”

“Now, how did you know that?” She batted her mascara-coated eyelashes.

“That’s my job.” Nathan showed her his badge. “Where’s Emilie?”

“President’s office.” Lisa jerked her thumb over her shoulder.

Holding a Styrofoam cup, Emilie sat on a brown leather couch. Her boss sat next to her. Avery stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed over his chest.

Every head in the room swiveled to the door as Nathan entered.

“Madigan, what the hell?” Avery demanded.

“I asked him to come.” Emilie’s face flushed.

“Really? That’s an interesting development.”

“It’s the least of our concerns,” Ronson said. “Focus on the case, Avery.”

Nathan sat down on Emilie’s other side, forcing himself not to take her into his arms.

“Are you all right?”

“I screamed at a pigeon.”

“What if it had been Creep?” Jeremy asked. He didn’t fit Nathan’s image of a bank president, with his cheap suit and scuffed shoes. “Em, you can’t just go off half-cocked. This man is dangerous.”

“I’m aware of that, Jeremy,” Emilie snapped. “I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

“Of course you weren’t,” Jeremy said. “You just need to be careful. It’s obvious this guy isn’t going to give up easily.”

“You’re sure it’s from Creepy and not a sick joke?” Nathan asked.

“He referred to me as Miss Emilie. No one else does that.”

“Unless it was his accomplice doing his dirty work,” Avery said.

“Doubtful,” Ronson said. “That’s too intimate, something he’s only going to share with Emilie. He left the note, but I’m sure we won’t lift any fingerprints.”

“Cameras?” Nathan asked.

“I looked at the videos as soon as Emilie told me what happened,” Jeremy said. “Just before four a.m., a masked figure left the note. Looked like a man, but there’s no way to tell for sure.”

“Our techs will analyze the footage frame by frame,” Ronson said. “But I’m not expecting anything.”

“So what’s your plan?” Nathan’s voice rose. “We’re twiddling our thumbs while he gets closer and closer to her.”

“Maybe you should just shack up at her place,” Avery sneered. “Surely you wouldn’t mind.”

“You’re out of line, Dalton.”

“So are you, Madigan. Fraternizing with someone involved in an open case? Is the action worth the risk to your reputation?”

Nathan jumped to his feet and crossed the room in two strides. “Listen, asshole. Putting me down is one thing, but you’re supposed to be on Emilie’s side. Leave her out of it.”

“You’re not. Looks to me like you’re all up in it, and her.”

Nathan had Avery pinned before anyone could react, slamming him against the drywall hard enough that a plaque clattered to the floor. “I’ve had enough of you, Dalton. Hate me all you want, but it’s your duty to treat this woman with respect. I’m not going to allow you to talk about her like she’s trash.”

“Stop.” Emilie pulled hard on his arm. “Nathan, don’t get in trouble for me, please.”

Nathan released Avery with a jerk. “I’m sorry. This is your workplace. I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”

“It’s all right. Just sit down with me.”

Nathan knew Ronson was watching their interchange and no doubt noticed Emilie’s hand lingering on his arm.

“What would Uncle Jimmy say, Madigan?” Avery adjusted his collar. “All these years spent making up for his death just to throw it away on a woman?”

Jimmy’s last moments flashed into Nathan’s mind. The knife still stuck in his chest, blood oozing from Jimmy’s open mouth and turning the rain-soaked streets a garish pink. His uncle’s eyes faded and closed as Nathan begged him to hold on.

“Be a good boy.” Jimmy choked, spitting more blood. “Make me proud.”

But Jimmy was long gone. All Nathan could see was Dalton Avery’s hateful smile. His right fist connected with Avery’s skinny lips. The detective stumbled back before losing his balance and landing on his ass.

“You’ll be suspended for this.” Avery clutched his mouth.

“I need a vacation.”

Nathan had managed to screw up his career and embarrass Emilie at work in the same day. He turned to her. “I’m not sorry this time.”

“I know.”

“Out!” Ronson grabbed him by the elbow. Employees scattered in an effort to pretend they hadn’t been watching. Outside, Ronson unleashed on Nathan.

“Are you stupid?”

“He had it coming.”

“Of course he did,” she said. “Doesn’t mean you had to stoop to his level. And you will be suspended. You know that, right?”

Nathan shrugged.

“That goes on your record. Your career advancement could be affected, and all over a piss-ant like Avery?”

“It’s not about him.”

“Right. It’s about Emilie Davis.”

“We’re just friends.”

“You both want to be more than that,” Ronson said. “You think I can’t see it?”

“Sia, I swear to God, we’ve done nothing wrong.” Nathan flexed his aching hand. “We’ve discussed it and agreed to be friends until the case is closed.”

“That could be a long time.”

“I’m going to catch him.”

“How?” She demanded. “You’re not officially on the case, and you’re going to be on a vacation now.”

Nathan smiled grimly. “Five days at most. That gives me plenty of time to look for Snake.”

“You’re going into the tunnels? Alone?”

“Chris is going with me.”

Ronson put her hands on her hips. “That’s not authorized.”

“Off the clock. Just exploring.”

Ronson sighed, looking like she wanted to shake him. “Nathan, you’re a great cop. You’ve got some of the best instincts I’ve ever seen. But you’re not thinking clearly. You’re doing this to be with Davis.”

“I’m doing this to make her safe,” Nathan said, trying to keep his tone even. “You know as well as I do that unless Creepy makes a mistake, Snake is our best chance.”

“I’m going with you,” a new voice said.

Rocks settled into Nathan’s stomach. Emilie stood in the doorway, arms folded across her chest and a look of determination on her face.

*   *   *   *

E
MILIE GLARED OUT
the window of Jeremy’s office. The jagged edges of her once-smooth nails dug into her bare arms.

“Em, please listen to them,” Jeremy begged. “It’s not safe.”

“Sitting around on my ass isn’t safe. At least I’ll be doing something.”

“What?” Jeremy demanded. “Offering yourself to Creepy?”

“I’d rather do that than wait around for him to make his move.”

“You’re not doing it,” Nathan said. “It’s out of the question.”

Emilie glanced at Avery, waiting for the insult, but none came. He glowered at Nathan and rubbed his jaw.

“You’re not going into the damned tunnels,” Nathan repeated. “I won’t let you take that risk.”

His words meant more than she wanted to admit, but she couldn’t back down. “It’s not your decision, is it?”

“You’re clearly not capable of making this one.”

“And you’ve got no right to make it for me.” Backing down wasn’t an option. She needed to end this.

“Madigan, I brought you in here you to talk some sense into her, not piss her off,” Ronson said. “Stop acting like a caveman.”

“I just want her to be safe.”

“I know you do,” Emilie relented. “But I have to do this.”

“Why? What good could possibly come of it?”

She struggled to find the right words. “I need to face him. He’s got the upper hand right now because he believes he’s in control of my life.”

“And you think going into the tunnels will prove him wrong?” Nathan said. “All it’s going to prove is you’re reckless.”

“This is my decision. You can’t stop me.”

Ronson turned to Nathan. “She could be an asset. Maybe seeing her in person will get people talking, make them want to help. If she was accompanied—”

“She is standing right here,” Emilie cut in. “I realize you’re just trying to help, but put yourself in my shoes. I’m scared of every shadow. I have no control over my own life. That stops now. Maybe it won’t do the investigation any good, but going into the tunnels will damned sure help me.”

She looked straight into Nathan’s eyes. “I’d rather have firsthand experience if I end up in the shark pit.”

“Sharks can see better in murky waters.” Nathan’s voice softened. “He’ll still have the advantage.”

“At least I won’t be completely blind.”

They stared at each other. Emilie’s right foot jerked forward as her body begged to be close to his. His anguished expression was almost more than she could bear.

“I’ll take you,” Ronson finally agreed. “But there’s one condition.”

“Name it.”

“Nathan and Holt guide us. And it’s extracurricular for them, so I can’t give the order. They’ve got to agree.”

Emilie’s heart sank as she watched Nathan grit his teeth. He wasn’t going to give in.

“Please. Do this for me.”

27

E
MILIE STOOD AT
the mouth of a drainage ditch, staring into the gaping blackness. She’d asked for this. No way was she going to back out now. The midmorning sun blazed down. Her jeans clung to her legs, and her sweating head itched under the cap.

“It’s cooler inside.” Nathan checked his backpack for supplies. Chris, Ronson, and Avery waited at the mouth of the tunnel, armed and ready.
The cavalry is out in full force today.

“I hate this place,” Chris said. “I’d rather live on the streets.”

“You say that now, but spend a week or two in the baking sun with no shelter.” Nathan zipped the backpack and hefted it onto his shoulder. “This place might look pretty good.”

“I don’t give a shit how good it looks. My nose hair’s on fire.”

“If you can’t hack it, stay behind.”

Chris kicked a bottle across the concrete. It landed in the drain with a splash. “Like I’m going to let you have all the fun.”

“Emilie, stay with me,” Nathan said. “Don’t wander off on your own. Don’t approach anyone by yourself.”

“I got it.”

“Do you?” He stepped closer, his face inches from hers. “Creepy is the obvious thing about this place. There’s also the stink, the filth, and the sadness. You’re going to see people living in conditions you never imagined, and most of them seem perfectly content. This isn’t like a trip to the zoo.”

“I’m not that naïve. Can we please get on with it?”

He stared back at her, his lips thinned. She didn’t want to fight with him. His agreeing to take her into the tunnel had been conditional: she had to stay with Jeremy and Sarah until Creepy was found. She hadn’t had a moment alone with Nathan since the confrontation in Avery’s office yesterday.

“I know you’re angry with me.” Emilie lowered her voice. “But thank you for doing this.”

“Not angry. Just worried.”

“I’ll be fine. You’ll be right beside me.”

“Yeah, but what about tomorrow and the next day?”

“I don’t know. But we’ll figure it out together, right?”

“Right,” he whispered.

An electric sensation hotter than the scorching sun passed between them and crackled in her ears. “Let’s go before I get you in serious trouble.”

They joined the others at the culvert. Mere feet above them on I-15, traffic zoomed by at a steady pace. Vehicle exhaust and the scent of rotting trash drifted over their heads.

Brown water pooled around her feet. Fat water bugs skated on the surface in search of food. Emilie’s mouth curled in disgust. She hadn’t thought about the bugs.

“Best not to look down,” Chris said. “Keep your light ahead of you.”

“It’s really dark in there,” Ronson warned. “Stay close.”

Emilie’s resolve faltered as they reached the tunnel entrance. She peered over Nathan’s shoulder at the triad of pipes branching off in different directions. Big enough for a tall man to walk through easily, their murky blackness was as foreboding as anything Emilie had ever experienced.

She pressed the button on her flashlight and shined it into the abyss. Four other lights joined hers, and the inner concrete walls of the tunnel became visible. She saw colorful bursts of graffiti scrawled over them. A bevy of cockroaches scuttled away from the intrusion.

Emilie followed Nathan and Chris across the threshold and tried not to give in to the claustrophobia that immediately wrapped itself around her. The tunnel was wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side with room to spare, but the sense of being closed in was amplified by the heavy silence. The group’s splashing feet echoed and then faded away into the never-ending darkness. How deep were the channels?

A smell resembling the rotten egg she’d once dropped on Evan’s porcelain kitchen floor hit her full force. Emilie’s hand flew to her mouth.

“Something else, ain’t it?” Chris’s voice broke the uneasy stillness. “I liken it to a men’s locker room filled with dirty socks and jocks after a five-mile run.”

“If you guys stink this bad, you need medical help. Christ.”

“At least my stomach’s not rumbling anymore,” Nathan said.

“Shit, I could eat,” Chris said.

“You can always eat. You’re like a human trash compactor.”

“Do you guys have any idea where to find Snake?” Avery’s voice came out muffled.

Chris turned around and shined his light on Avery. “Dude, that hanky over your face ain’t gonna stop the stink. Embrace it. Feel the burn.”

Emilie laughed as the knot in her stomach began to uncoil. The banter made it easier to forget why she was here.

Her right foot suddenly came down on something hard in the shallow stream of water. She stumbled into Nathan’s back before an arm caught her from behind.

“Watch it,” Avery said. “Last thing you want to do is fall face-first in this.”

“Sorry.” Emilie clutched the hem of Nathan’s thin T-shirt. “I tripped over something.”

She shined her light into the two-inch-deep water. A pair of soulless black eyes stared back at her. A child’s doll lay abandoned, its once-blond hair soaked with the filthy water.

Children lived down here?