Lance looked around as if someone would jump out of the shadows, and Luke had to agree there was a risk they’d come face to face with the traffickers, but the other option was that they’d lay low for a couple of nights, especially after the underground parking incident, although Luke thought criminals eager enough to distribute Phantom, despite having the entire police force and the Vigilante on their heels, wouldn’t wait long before raking in the money.
The first manhole was straight ahead in the middle of the street. The other was a few yards over, in a small entrance to a building.
“Any preference, Lance?”
“Really? You’re the expert and you’re asking me?”
With a shrug, Luke pointed at the closest entrance. “They’re probably part of the same tunnel, so I guess it’s not important which one we use. The one in the middle of the street is similar to the manhole they used for the drop. Logically, that would be my first choice.”
“Good point, man. Down we go.” Lance passed him and went to the manhole and removed the cover. It was another reminder of his strength and for Luke to never get into a physical fight with him.
The pungent smell coming from down below predicted a difficult urbex, but Luke slid down the hole and turned on his flashlight. The space was cramped, forcing him to crouch a little, but not as much as Lance had to when he lowered himself down, sliding the cover back in place.
“Damn, this place stinks.”
“Yeah, but we’re not directly in a conduit. I think it’s coming from a connecting pipe.”
Lance sniffed and wrinkled his nose. “Is that tunnel the sewer?”
Luke walked down the small space. “No, normally sewers are completely independent structures.”
A whine entered Lance’s deep voice, reminding him of Eddie. “Please tell me the tunnel is bigger too.”
“I’ll be sure to carry you on my shoulders next time so you don’t wet your pretty pink slippers. Would you like some fairy dust in your coffee as well?”
A deep laugh rumbled through the tunnel. “Fuck you, man.”
The exploration took them a few turns before they finally reached the main tunnel where they were walking on mostly dry surfaces and they could stand upright.
“Are we going down? I sense a decrease in our elevation.”
Luke felt it too. “Yeah. According to my estimation, we should reach an intersection in a few yards. But I hope my memory has failed me.”
“Why?”
With a sigh, Luke stopped where the tunnel split into opposite directions. “For that. That means the other manhole offered a more direct route into a building on the north side of the street.”
“Which way would be better?” Lance seemed genuinely interested.
“I wanted to find a location similar to the one at the hotel, an access point on the street, with another access via a building. At the moment we’re following the street, which isn’t good. It’s too far until the next manhole, and the exit is in plain view.”
Luke was about to suggest going back and trying the other manhole when a distinctive metallic thump came from behind them. Immediately, both men switched off their lights and listened.
“Please tell me you didn’t replace the cover properly.”
Lance huffed but said nothing, which didn’t bode well. Time suspended, ears straining, Luke’s mind was on standby. Whispered voices made him reach for Lance’s arm and pull him firmly to the right side.
His mind scrambled, but he knew the tunnel on the right wasn’t a long and straight stretch like the left one was. Stealth was of the essence, but in complete darkness, they were as vulnerable as a blind man. Just as they disappeared around the corner, Lance made him look back, and he saw a flash. Had they been followed, or had they unintentionally stumbled onto the traffickers’ next hit?
On the next turn, the sound of running water offered enough cover to speak, but there was no way he was stopping. They had a head start now, so he switched his light on. Lance has his gun out, and even if Luke wanted to draw his own weapon, he needed both hands for the GPS and the flashlight. Lance kept up, careful to keep his beam low to make sure he didn’t give away their position.
“Do you know where we’re going?”
Luke tried to find his way on the tiny screen while making sure not to fall on his face. “I’m trying to find a way out that doesn’t dump us in the middle of the street. Hang on.”
They were deep enough the tracker couldn’t pick up their exact position, so he had to navigate the tiny map by hand and memory. The only goal in his mind was to get them out safely, but the threat biting at their heels didn’t make anything easy. And there was a threat, as despite them making several turns, they were still there.
With another turn, Luke increased his speed until he was running. Lance didn’t ask questions, which was good. He wanted to reach the next manhole on a side street with some added distance between them and their pursuers.
At that point, nobody was trying to keep silent anymore.
“Be ready. There must be an exit in sight now. You’re taller, so you’ll need to try and get the cover off.”
Luke pocketed his GPS, so he now had a free hand for his gun. If the bad guys turned the corner and saw their lights on, they would be the perfect target.
Lance switched his torch off when the manhole cover flashed into view. “Be my spotter, professor. I’ll be a fucking big, shiny, sitting duck.”
Luke turned his back to Lance and put a knee down, aiming at the dark void.
Behind him, he could hear Lance huffing and puffing as he tried to remove the cover without much luck.
Luke was about to take a look when a distant sound stopped him. Training took over and he fired, not into the void, but lower, more of a warning. He could hear shouting in the distance. Turning off his torch, Luke heard Lance curse and move behind him, the cover forgotten.
“I can’t see a thing, and there’s nowhere to hide,” Lance whispered in his ear, and Luke had to agree with him. “What’s behind us?”
“I’m not sure. We don’t have a lot of options here.” It sounded grim, even in a whisper.
“They’re coming. I hear movement.”
They had to act now. “How close were you to opening that thing? Is there any chance you can do it?”
“I need more than a minute. It ain’t welded but it’s shut tight. It will take brute force, but it’s an awkward position.”
“Hand me your gun. Try again and I’ll give you as much time as I can.”
“Are you fucking mad, Luke? You’re not sacrificing yourself, not under my watch.”
Luke had to admire him. “I won’t. I know Sloane would have your hide. I want to get out too, so use those big muscles of yours and get it open.”
Reluctantly, Lance handed him his gun, and Luke moved forward, as close to the wall as possible. All he wanted was a target, as did the individual who was probably in front of him. This time there wouldn’t be a warning shot. He’d shoot to kill.
Ignoring the sounds Lance made as he worked to open the manhole cover, Luke focused on sound from in front of him as he inched forward.
Each step brought him closer to the corner, and he braced for anything. He just didn’t expect to bump into a wall of flesh. Survival instinct kicked in and he fired.