“Watch the wires,” Gordy said.
Wires ran the entire length of the tunnel. They were loosely attached to the wall every ten feet or so, and they sagged dangerously. Cooper wondered if anybody ever checked them. Rats could have gnawed through the insulation, exposing the wire underneath. Grabbing the wire while walking in the water? Potentially deadly. Cooper kept his distance from them.
“You doing okay, Lunk?” Gordy’s voice echoed around them.
“Wonderful.”
Gordy laughed. “Imagine doing this at night.”
“No thanks,” Lunk said. “I can hardly see as it is.
Spider webs clung to Cooper’s face, stretched, and broke free. And that was after Gordy and Lunk had burst through webs ahead of him. Apparently the tunnel didn’t get visitors often — and least not ones walking on two legs. He looked back. If Hiro had been along, she would have turned around by now.
“Whoa — whoa — whoa!” Lunk sloshed around. “What is that — a snake?”
“Fish,” Gordy said. “Sometimes they get inside the tunnel. In the spring I’ve felt humongous carp in here. Slimy. Totally creepy. I really wish Hiro had come along.”
Gordy and Lunk laughed and kept moving forward. They took it slow. Rocks, sticks, and other debris littered the tunnel and made little dams along the way that caught on their shoes, snagged their laces, and tore at their legs. By the time they were halfway through, Cooper remembered exactly why they hadn’t done this more often.
The water felt higher now. Deeper. Was it rising? Impossible. It had to be his imagination. The darkness was playing tricks on his mind, conjuring up memories of being chained in a flooding basement.
The air in the tunnel was really stale. Musty. As if the webs stretching across the tunnel had never let the air get a fresh exchange. He’d be glad to get out of here. “Is the water getting deeper?”
“Seems like it, doesn’t it?” Gordy said.
The tunnel must have a slight downhill pitch — which meant the water naturally rode higher in the tunnel the closer they got to the end. Terrific.
The tunnel was different than when they’d explored it last summer. Fear lived in this tunnel now. Cooper couldn’t see it — but he felt it. Fear thrived in the dark. Its clammy hand reached out from the black waters and groped for his heart. Goose bumps rose on his arms. Something hooked his foot.
This is a tunnel. I’ve been in it before. I’m not chained. I’m not alone. I’ve almost reached the other end. Just keep moving.
Lunk and Gordy had a solid lead on him now. Cooper looked over his shoulder at the darkness behind him and sloshed faster to catch up.
“I heard they found a body in here once.” Lunk’s voice echoed back.
So Gordy wasn’t the only one with stories. But Cooper wasn’t in the mood for a creepy story. Not here. Then again, the tunnel was exactly the kind of place you’d expect to find a body.
The concrete walls changed to stone and mortar. Ancient-looking. This had to be the stretch under Center Street. Almost there.
“Any bats in here?” Lunk said.
Bats were certainly in this area of Wisconsin. This would make a perfect lair for them. Did any of them cluster on the ceiling? Cooper hoped not.
He wished he had brought a flashlight along. But maybe he wouldn’t want to see the kinds of creatures that made a place like this their home. He kept his head a little lower, just in case.
“I still wish Hiro were here,” Gordy said. “Hey, Hiro!” he said as if she was walking behind him, “Did I ever tell you the story about the convicts who were found hiding out in here? Even the police wouldn’t go in after them. And the convicts were never caught. Some people say one of them still lives in the tunnel — and comes out at night to feed.”
But it was always night in a place like this. Cooper pictured a Gollum-like creature crawling on all fours and feeding on the crayfish and whatever else crept around in this slimy underground tube.
“If you told her a story like that in here,” Lunk said, “you’d have to be sure she didn’t catch you once she got out. She’d give you a Hiro-schmeero lesson.”
Gordy’s laugh echoed. His laugh had a calming effect, though. The walls changed again as the stone gave way to corrugated metal, like a colossal drainage pipe.
“End of the line,” Gordy said.
The light appeared as Gordy and Lunk stepped out of the tunnel.
Finally.
The tunnel opened into White River, which wasn’t much more than a creek at this point.
Cooper straightened as soon as he stepped into the river. He glanced back to see the opening at the other end. The tunnel had never seemed this long before. Trees growing along the river blocked the direct sunlight, but Cooper still squinted at the brightness.
Hiro was sitting on a rock, waiting for them. “How was the coal mine?” She picked her way down toward them.
Gordy shook his head. “You missed it, Hiro. Totally missed it.”
She pulled a cobweb from Cooper’s hair. “And I’m very happy I did.” She peered inside the tunnel. “This would make a perfect place to film a horror movie.”
Cooper agreed with her on that point.
She wrinkled her nose. “Smells like something died in there.”
It was true. Cooper hadn’t noticed it smelling that bad inside the tunnel, but the air coming out definitely smelled rotten. “You were smart not to go into the tunnel.”
She looked at him to see if he was kidding. “That bad?”
Cooper nodded. “You would have hated it.”
Hiro didn’t say anything. Maybe she was imagining how bad it was. But even she couldn’t imagine the worst of it. Cooper was sure of that.
Gordy and Lunk headed down the middle of the shallow river. Cooper followed at a distance, with Hiro walking along the bank.
She pointed to Lunk and Gordy. “So how far are they taking us?”
“Eventually the river winds along a golf course,” Cooper said. “And on the way, there are old iron pipelines bridging the river — bigger around than a telephone pole.” He made a circle with his arms. “We walk along the top to cross the river, and then go under an old railroad bridge.”
“Lovely.” Hiro said. “Suddenly the outlet mall is sounding better and better.”
Lunk and Gordy were waiting when Cooper and Hiro approached.
Gordy was beaming. “Isn’t this great?”
“If you’re into playing Lewis and Clark,” Hiro said.
Gordy laughed. “It beats playing Sherlock Holmes.”
Hiro was trying to be a good sport, but Cooper could see right through her. He suspected Officer Tarpy’s lack of interest in her theories was still bothering her — and their little expedition wasn’t doing much to get her mind off it.
“Okay.” Lunk held up his hands. “Let’s go someplace we can all get into.”
Maybe Lunk had picked up on Hiro’s mood too. Cooper looked at him. “Where?”
Lunk shrugged. “Scoops.”
Hiro stepped inside with Coop. The brightness of Scoops and the smell of ice cream was a welcome change from the river.
Katie was already scooping Gordy’s Yippee Skippee when they walked in. They had the place to themselves. Apparently there wasn’t much demand for ice cream on Monday afternoons. Katie nodded at her and smiled. “Where have you guys been?”
The boys really did look like a mess. Scrapes from the spillway and tunnel. Mud from the river bank.
“Exploring,” Gordy said.
“Is that what you call it?” Katie asked. “Looks like you got lost.”
Lunk stood at the counter watching her and looking a little lost himself.
“I like her,” Hiro said.
Coop smiled. “So does Lunk.”
There was something about her. Hiro couldn’t put her finger on it, but she knew Katie could be trusted.
“Let me guess,” Katie said to Lunk. “Vanilla.”
Lunk nodded.
&nbs
p; “C’mon, Lunk,” Gordy said. “How ’bout Halley’s Comet?”
Lunk shook his head.
“You need to pick a flavor that says something about you.”
“He already did,” Katie said. “Vanilla is strong. Dependable. A classic — all by itself. It doesn’t need anything added to it and will always be in demand.” She piled the vanilla high and slid the cup across the glass countertop. “Good choice.”
“As long as I don’t add root beer,” Lunk said.
She gave him a disapproving look. “Don’t even go there.”
Oh yeah. Hiro liked Katie a lot.
Katie started wiping down tables. “The guys look like they’ve gone through the shredder. How’d you come out without a scratch?”
“I didn’t follow the boys,” Hiro said.
“Oooh,” Katie said. “Smart girl.”
At least someone thought she was smart. Hiro’s mind drifted to the man with the pickup. She was sure the man had been watching them last night. And whether or not Coop wanted to admit it, the bearded man could have been the guy who ran him off the road.
“Hey, Katie,” Hiro said. “Last night there was a man hanging around outside while we were here, but he never came in. Beard. Baseball cap. Did you happen to see him?” She tried to make the question sound casual.
Gordy gave Hiro a suspicious look. She was veering off his vacation agenda again, and apparently he was onto her.
“Fat Elvis,” Katie said.
Gordy laughed. “He was big, but I wouldn’t call him fat.”
“His name isn’t Elvis, either,” Katie said. “That’s the flavor of ice cream he orders.” She finished wiping a table and glanced at Hiro. “Why do you ask?”
Hiro suddenly felt unsure about how far she should take this. How weird would it sound?
Katie angled her head and studied Hiro for a moment. She looked around the shop. “He isn’t here now. Talk to me.”
Hiro shrugged. “I had a bad feeling about him.”
Katie raised her eyebrows. “You should.”
Hiro’s heart picked up the pace. “What do you mean?”
“I see a lot of guys in a place like this,” Katie said. “Cheaps. Peeps. Creeps. And once in a while, I spot one that I’d like to keep.” She smiled.
“That’s it,” Coop said. “This is turning into girl talk.” He grabbed his cup of ice cream. “I’m eating outside.”
“I’m with you,” Gordy said. “Let’s go, Lunk. We don’t want to hear this.”
Lunk looked like he did want to hear it. But he got up and followed the other two anyway.
Hiro waited until the door closed. “So back to the cheapers, peepers, keepers, and creepers. Which kind is he?”
“Fat Elvis?” Katie winced as though she’d just tasted something sour. “He’s a total creep.”
Hiro knew it.
Katie took a seat. “He works for a big casino in the area. Spends a lot of time around town.”
“Doing what?”
“Babysitting, if you ask me.”
“Babysitting?”
Katie smiled. “The casino is managed by a guy named Kryptoski.”
Hiro sucked in her breath. “Tommy Kryptoski?”
Katie shook her head. “Jerry. Tommy is his son. He’s the one who needs babysitting.”
“I met him,” Hiro said. “His boat is moored right by ours.”
“The green one?”
Hiro nodded.
“One of his many expensive toys.”
“So,” Hiro said, “he’s a spoiled rich kid.”
“And a real charmer with the ladies,” Katie said. “I think Fat Elvis was hired to keep Tommy out of trouble.”
Hiro’s mind flashed back to the black pickup. “And maybe Fat Elvis is supposed to clean up Tommy Kryptoski’s messes too.”
Katie shrugged. “That’s my take on it.”
Is that why Fat Elvis was snooping around Scoops last night? Assessing whether or not Hiro and the guys might be a threat to Kryptoski? Was he cleaning up Kryptoski’s mess? Hiro’s excitement rose.
“I have to charge you for the ice cream, but the advice is free,” Katie said. “Want a scoop of that?”
Hiro nodded.
“Stay away from them.” Katie glanced toward the front window like she was afraid they might hear her somehow. “Far away.”
A chill tingled down Hiro’s spine. It sounded like good advice. It really did. But if she stayed far away, how would she find out if she’d witnessed a murder?
Cooper noticed something different about Hiro when she walked out of Scoops. She was excited. Distracted. Processing. Something was on her mind. And he was pretty sure he didn’t want to know what.
All he knew was that he wanted to go for a swim.
Hiro peered up and down the street like she was looking for someone. Or checking to see if someone was watching her.
“Let’s head back to the boat,” Cooper said.
Everyone seemed to like that idea. Minutes later they were riding their bikes along the shore. The path dipped and wound its way past huge estates. Pedaling on the path wasn’t as smooth as taking the road, but no drunks would be driving their pickups here.
“I learned some things about our mysterious friends,” Hiro said. For the next few minutes she talked about Kryptoski and a casino and the man in the pickup, a guy she was now calling “Fat Elvis.”
Lunk didn’t look like he was buying it. Gordy clearly wasn’t listening. And Cooper just wasn’t sure.
“I don’t think you’re grasping this,” Hiro said. “The pickup at the beach had to belong to Fat Elvis,” she said.
Lunk glanced at her. “Because?”
“Because it makes sense.”
“You mean because it works in your little theory,” Lunk said.
“My theory is logical,” Hiro said. “Suppose Kryptoski actually murdered that girl last night.”
“Lynn?’ Lunk said.
“No, Lynn is obviously alive.” Hiro sounded annoyed. “I’m talking about the first girl. Pom-Pom.”
“But that’s who Lynn claims to be,” Lunk said. “The first girl. The only girl.”
Hiro shook her head. “There were two different girls.”
“Two girls who look so similar that you can’t be sure there were actually two girls.”
“I’m sure of it,” Hiro said.
“You’d swear to it on a witness stand?” Lunk said.
Hiro hesitated.
“So you’re not absolutely sure,” Lunk said, “but it fits nicely into your theory.”
Hiro waved him off. “And that same pickup nearly killed Coop last night.”
“We have no proof it was the same pickup,” Lunk said. “It could have been exactly what it appeared to be. A drunk driver.”
Hiro clenched her jaw. “Fat Elvis was not drunk when I saw him at Scoops.”
“That’s not helping your case any,” Lunk said. “The guy who almost ran over Coop was drunk.”
Cooper played back the scene in his mind — the glimpse he got of the pickup fleeing the scene. He’d been driving pretty well at that moment.
“All we really know for sure,” Lunk said, “is that Kryptoski and Fat Elvis are connected.”
“Oh, and how do we know that, Mr. Lunquist?” Hiro said. “We can’t prove that we’ve seen them together.”
“Katie said so.”
“So when Katie says something, it’s truth,” Hiro said. “But when I say something, it’s just a theory?”
Lunk didn’t answer that one. Smart move.
The path opened onto the front lawn of the massive Stone Manor.
Hiro turned to Cooper. “You see what I’m saying, right?”
Cooper had to handle this one just right. He didn’t want Hiro to feel like they were ganging up on her; but honestly, she seemed to be making a pile of assumptions. Then again, this was Hiro. She wasn’t always right, but she was never completely wrong.
“Okay, we know Kryp
toski had an argument with his date last night. We know his date ended up in the water, and Krypto drove his boat around like a madman,” Cooper said.
“Right,” Hiro said. “We know he could have hit her.”
“Could have,” Lunk said. “Could have.”
Hiro held up a hand. “Let Coop finish.”
Lunk smiled and nodded to Coop. “My apologies. You’ve got the floor.”
“We know Krypto went back to the shore without her. And we know a girl fitting her description and claiming to be that same girl showed up dripping wet.” Coop pedaled for a moment. “These are the things we know. But if it wasn’t the same girl, then Krypto somehow phoned some woman he knows who looks close enough to double for her. And then she agreed to cover for him and was able to get down to the beach pretty quickly.”
Cooper paused for a breath. “If the pickup driver who was talking to Krypto at the beach was Fat Elvis, and if Fat Elvis followed us to Scoops to see what we knew and then ran me off the road — then yeah, you’ve really got something, Hiro.”
Hiro slumped. “So you don’t agree with me either.”
“Actually, I think your logic makes sense,” Coop said. “I’m just saying a lot of ‘if’s’ have to be proven true for your theory to work.”
Hiro nodded. “Circumstantial evidence.”
Her theory seemed to fit a little too perfectly. Which probably meant they were trying too hard to make it work.
They rode in silence past the bright white docks surrounded by boats tied in slips or hoisted onto canopied lifts.
“The camera is the key,” Hiro said. “We need to find it. The photos will prove there’s been foul play.”
“Careful what you wish for.” Lunk wasn’t smiling.
Hiro gave him a questioning look.
“If you’re right, then that lanyard might be hung around the neck of Pom-Pom’s dead body.”
Cooper noticed something was different within seconds of boarding The Getaway. The cabin door was hanging open, swinging back and forth with the rhthym of the waves. He hadn’t locked it when they’d left that morning — but he knew he’d shut it tight and thrown the latch.
“Somebody has been here,” Cooper said quietly, pointing at the door.
Below the Surface Page 12
