Caleb glanced around. “Not here, but these old shafts go on forever and they weave in and out of the mountains. He’s obviously familiar with the layout enough to avoid us and create a controlled collapse.
“Agent Blake, can you hear me?” A voice coming through her radio startled them both. Ava recognized the ERT agent in charge, Agent Devlin.
“I hear you, Devlin. Can you track us?”
“We’ve got you and the rest of the teams. We’re working on getting you all out.”
“Copy,” Ava replied in relief. “We’ve lost Ranger Larabee. He was ahead of us on the passage.”
“Larabee is safe. Hang on, let me get the location pinpointed.” Tension filled the seconds that ticked by.
A whispered voice came through the nearby ventilation pipe.
“Almost, Ava. You’re always almost.”
The chilling voice from her past sent waves of terror through her. “He’s not nearby, but close enough for his voice to carry through the ventilation system he’s set up. He’s watching what’s unfolding from a different location.”
“Soon, we’ll be together. For the last time.”
Caleb gathered her close. “What is that?” He pointed to something on the opposite wall of the chamber. They crossed to it.
“Looks like another panel.” Ava radioed Devlin and asked him if he could see where they were.
“Got you. It’s another passage that will lead you above ground. It appears clear of debris and accessible. I’m sending people in now.”
“Thank you. We’ll meet them.” They were almost free. Ava couldn’t wait to get out of the tunnel.
Caleb pushed the panel open.
Following Shadow’s lead, they moved down a narrow passage. As they kept walking Ava realized something. “There’s fresh air coming inside. We’re close.”
Caleb pointed ahead. “I see flashlights coming our way. Over here!”
“We see you!” Larabee’s voice echoed down the passage.
Ava hurried toward the sound of Larabee’s voice with Shadow and Caleb. They met Larabee and several members of the ERT team.
“Boy, are we glad to see you,” Larabee said with a relieved grin.
“And we’re glad to be seen,” she said smiling at Caleb. “Did everyone make it out safely?”
She stepped out into the fading day. The cold air was a brisk reminder that they were still alive.
Ava’s stomach tightened when Larabee hesitated. “Who’s missing?”
“So far, just one person. Rachel.”
Ava’s knees threatened to buckle. “How did she get separated? She was with Grace, right?”
“She was,” Larabee told her. “We’re still not sure how they were separated—everything happened so quickly. According to Grace, she and Rachel were heading down the passage, and Rachel was in the lead. She said the ground gave way beneath Rachel’s feet. Grace rushed forward and tried to reach Rachel, but the opening closed before she could reach her.”
“Some type of trap door leading to another secret passage. He planned it all along.” Ava turned to Caleb. “It wasn’t me he was after. It was Rachel.”
Shock ripped through Caleb’s eyes. “She looks similar to you, like the rest of his victims.”
Ava hadn’t thought about it before, but he was right. “That’s true,” Ava said quietly. “He’s never been this bold.”
“The game is getting closer to the end.” Caleb said those chilling words that brought home the urgency. Time was running out for Rachel.
