“Coop?” Gordy’s voice—sounding normal. Lucid. “Coop—c’mon. Let’s go.”
Was he rousing out of the hypothermia somehow?
“N-not this time, Gordy.”
King took another step, stumbled and came down hard. His flashlight flipped out of his grip and landed in the water behind him. The light bobbed there—beam up, casting a parade of freakish shadows on the stairwell wall.
King didn’t go back for it. He grabbed the basement door, swung it open, and stepped out of view. The basement door slammed shut. Cooper couldn’t hear if the guy padlocked the door, but unless he got free of these chains, it wouldn’t really matter.
“Coop,” Gordy’s voice sounded thick. Slurred. “We gotta g-get out of here!”
“Working on it, Gordy. W-working on it.”
Cooper listened to hear if King was still upstairs. But it was impossible to tell with the roar of the water shooting in through the window wells.
The kidnapper’s flashlight rode lower in the water, then slipped below the surface. A murky glow revealed the edge of the stairs. Then everything went black.
“C-coop?” Gordy said. “We’re in d-deep w-water.”
Yeah. And getting deeper by the second. “W-we’ll figure out s-something,” Cooper said. But they were locked in a tomb. Buried alive.
The freezing water rose to Cooper’s chest, sending violent shivering spasms through his body. It was only a matter of time before the flooding rose to the ceiling. If the hypothermia didn’t get them … the water definitely would.
CHAPTER 73
Tyler King hated leaving the kids in the basement like that. He really did. He should have made sure they were really gone. But it wouldn’t be long. He looked at the Salt Creek floodwaters lapping against the house. No, it wouldn’t be long at all.
The boys were collaterol damage. And Hammer would only have himself to blame for it. None of this would have been necessary if the detective had treated Tyler differently.
The police wouldn’t have any idea where to start looking. It would likely be days, maybe weeks, before the bodies were discovered. The important thing to do now was to get himself home and into some dry clothes.
Leaving the boys in a flooding basement wasn’t the original plan. He’d had to improvise a bit. But he’d stick with the escape plan. Leave the stolen car in the garage, go the rest of the way on foot—just like the first time.
King opened the door on the back wall of the garage and stepped outside. In ten minutes he’d be home taking a hot shower. The game ended a little quicker than he’d planned—and got a little messier—but he’d pulled it off. He looked at his ring and smiled to himself. He really was the Deathking. He’d won. Two kidnappings in one week. Detective Hammer wasn’t able to stop him or help the boys. Hammer would come up empty-handed—and looking really stupid. And he might be looking for a new job.
CHAPTER 74
By the time Lunk wheeled up to the entrance of Kimball Hill Park with Hiro, Hammer was already there. So were three other police cars. The flashing red lights reflected off the falling rain, making it look like streaks of fire falling from an angry sky.
And Lunk was feeling some definite anger himself. Angry at himself for not camping out in front of Coop’s place. Angry at Coop for doing this alone. Coop’s bike lay on its side near the fence.
“Detective?” An officer squatted on the grass a good twenty paces away from the bike, pointing to the ground. “Phone.”
Coop’s phone. In the spot he’d dropped it while talking to Hiro. When he was attacked. Lunk glanced over at her. She looked so small. So weak.
An F-150 barreled down the alleyway behind the Jewel, water spraying left and right in a steady wall. Lunk didn’t have to wonder who was driving. He hadn’t envied Hiro making that call to Cooper’s dad.
The truck skidded to a stop and both front doors flew open. Cooper’s dad rushed onto the crime scene, with Gordy’s dad right behind him. Why do bad things happen to good people? How could God let this happen?
“Hold my bike.” Hiro ran to Cooper’s dad. He hugged her—lifting her off her feet.
Hammer was in total cop mode. And he was good at it—Lunk had to give him that. Pointing. Directing. On his radio. Making things happen. Lunk just hoped it wasn’t too late.
Cooper’s dad pulled away from Hiro, dropping to his knees beside Cooper’s bike. “Nooooooooooo!”
Lunk had never heard anything quite like it. An agonized growl of rage from deep within. Primal. Savage. Goose bumps rose on Lunk’s arms.
A father’s love. Something Lunk had never known. Clearly, Cooper’s dad would die for his son. Or kill for him.
Lunk didn’t want to see it. He should let the man have some privacy. But he couldn’t help watching.
Mr. MacKinnon stood and hustled over to Detective Hammer. Hiro joined them, pointing and explaining. She was going over Coop’s theory, no doubt. Her conviction too. That the kidnapper stayed in the area. In the zone Coop had circled on the satellite view maps. The guy had crawled out from under his rock.
Hammer looked across Kimball Hill Park in the direction Hiro pointed. Like he was trying to make a decision. His face as hard and as fierce as Mr. MacKinnon’s.
Hammer’s look said this was his town, and protecting these people was his job. He looked like he was ready to tear apart whoever did this. Lunk hoped Hammer got his chance.
Hammer turned and jogged back to his car, shouting orders. “You’re with me.” He pointed at Mr. MacKinnon and Mr. Digby. The three of them piled into the squad car and roared down the alleyway. The other cars followed.
Hiro ran toward Lunk. “They’re setting up a perimeter with the help of Palatine and Arlington Heights PD. They’re initiating a massive house-to-house manhunt down Campbell, School, and off on the other side streets.”
She looked to the sky. “God help the Police, please. Protect Coop. Bring him back to us!”
That would be a total miracle, the way Lunk saw it. And it didn’t seem like God did miracles anymore.
She wiped her eyes. “God is still in control, Lunk.”
What—could she actually read his mind now? “What about us?” he asked. “Are we going to sit here in the rain—or bike over to watch?”
Hiro shook her head. “Neither.” She pointed to his wiffle-ball bat secured to his bike frame. “We’re going to look for him ourselves.”
A fresh rush of adrenalin surged through him. “My kind of plan.”
CHAPTER 75
Cooper hadn’t figured on losing the use of all three phones. The one duct-taped to his leg wasn’t good for more than a fish tank display now. The one in his pocket wouldn’t be much better. And he hadn’t figured on being up to his chest in cold water.
“Hang in there, Gordy, I have a flashlight.”
Coop pulled the waterproof flashlight from his pocket with fingers already tingling with numbness, and immediately fumbled it. He heard it plop in the water in front of him. No. Cooper carefully shuffled in the darkness in a deliberate grid pattern until his foot tapped it.
He held his breath and went under—the freezing water instantly disorienting him. He opened his eyes and saw absolutely nothing but terrifying blackness. Sweeping the floor with his hands, still nylon-tied together, he bumped the flashlight—then grabbed it and stood. Cooper burst back through the surface, clutching the flashlight. He pressed the button.
Light.
“You doing okay, Gordy?” He had to keep his cousin talking.
“Shh-ure.”
Gordy’s hands were free, but balled up in tight fists. He looked way beyond being able to help Cooper get free from the nylon tie binding his wrists.
Cooper tried to steady his breathing but gave up. It was too stinking cold for that. He held the flashlight between his chattering teeth and picked free one of the utility razors from under his belt.
His fingers were too cold. He was losing his muscular ability. Fast. The razor slipped from his fingers
and disappeared below the dark water.
He retrieved a second razor. This time he held the flashlight and clamped the razor between his teeth. Raising his wrists to his mouth, he carefully sawed at the nylon strap holding his wrists together.
God help me. Make this work. And save Gordy.
His hands shook so much it was hard to keep the razor in the same groove. Again and again he sawed. Water roared through the window wells like waterfalls, swirling as it climbed the foundation walls. C’mon. C’mon. C’mon.
Suddenly the nylon tie burst open and dropped into the black pool.
YES!
He rubbed his wrists and eyed the washer and dryer. The water was about six inches above the lids.
“Lets get you to higher ground, Gordy.” He helped Gordy to his feet, and steadied him while he stepped across to the washer. Gordy’s legs buckled, and he collapsed on top of the lid.
Cooper struggled to get on top of the dryer. With the wet clothes and numbness setting in, even that was surprisingly difficult. At least he had the majority of their bodies out of the frigid water. For now.
Shaking, Cooper reached for the dive knife strapped to his calf. More than a weapon, this was an ally, a tool to help him get free. But, as rugged as the stainless steel blade was, it wouldn’t do a thing against the chain.
He pulled up the slack chain hand-over-hand to get an idea of its length. It gave him ten or twelve feet of leash. He gripped it the best he could with both hands and pulled. The chain didn’t budge. The Deathking obviously had it securely fastened around the base of the furnace.
Which meant they couldn’t get to the stairs. Perched on the washer, they were already on the highest spot in the basement. And the water continued to rise. Way too fast. Any solution for escape or survival had to be found in this tight radius he had with the chain.
God help me. Give me an idea.
The water crept above his shins. He couldn’t feel his toes anymore. Gordy looked like he was falling asleep.
“Wake up, Gordy!” Cooper prodded him. “Stay with me.”
Gordy seemed to rally. His eyes brightened.
Cooper gripped the knife in one hand and shined his light around the room with the other. “Show me the way, God. Give me an idea.”
He eyed the electrical box mounted on the concrete wall. Every kid had been warned about touching something electrical while they were in water—like a tub. It would mean instant death. The electric panel had a lot of power running through it—and he was in a giant tub. The box was still above water—but not by much. Obviously the power was off.
But if the main breaker was off, a current would still be going to the box, wouldn’t it? Only if the power had been cut off by the utility company would they be safe.
Obviously they were in an empty house. If it was in some kind of foreclosure situation, the power company likely cut the power to the house—and the box was dead. If not, as soon as the water hit it—they would be.
Cooper eyed the electrical panel like an enemy. At the rate the water was rising, it wouldn’t be long before the two came in contact with each other, and he’d know if power was going to the box for sure.
Terrific. Drown. Hypothermia. Electrocution. Three ways to die, but not a single idea how to stay alive. The thought of dying in any one of those ways terrified him—although the idea of getting fried had a certain appeal. At least he’d be warm.
CHAPTER 76
Hiro figured that if they needed a policeman, it wouldn’t be hard to find one. Hammer had an army of them in the neighborhood going door-to-door. They were turning over rocks and ready to handle anything that crawled out.
Hiro raced down School Drive, past Campbell, and kept going nearly to Lark Court. Lunk kept pace with her, which took some real effort on his bike. They were a good two blocks beyond most of the police activity.
This was the area Cooper had been studying most on the satellite photos. And Hiro knew exactly where she wanted to start.
“We only check the empty homes—the ones for sale.”
Lunk nodded.
The police could ring the doorbells and talk to whoever answered the door. Cooper might not have much time. She wanted to target the homes that would easily hide a victim. The houses for sale seemed like the highest probability. And even in the dark, they were easy to pick out. None of them had lights on.
Raymond Proctor’s house would be first. They’d skipped it earlier because Proctor had moved and the house was empty. But what better place for a kidnapping lair? Maybe he’d left town but came back to do the kidnapping. He’d have a key to the house. It would be perfect. Who would expect it?
Hiro banked the turn onto Proctor’s driveway and dumped her bike. Lunk dropped his next to hers and pulled out the bat like he was drawing a sword from its sheath. The two-car garage was attached.
“C’mon.” Hiro motioned, clicking on her flashlight. She circled behind the garage. Sure enough, a nice big window. She shined the beam in the window. The light reflected off the dirt and grime on the surface of the glass, making it impossible to see inside. Hiro moved in close and cupped her hand over her eyes.
Lunk put a hand on her shoulder. “Back away.”
She stepped back just as Lunk rammed the end of the bat through one of the lower panes.
“The bat is faster.”
He was right, and with Coop’s life in the balance, she was all about speed. Hiro moved in with the flashlight. The garage was empty—and she felt like she’d just been hit by the bat. She’d been so sure this was the place.
Lunk held the bat like a light saber. “Check the house?”
“No. Just garages. When we find the minivan, then we break into the house.” She couldn’t believe she just said “break into the house.” Great cop she’d make someday. But this was different.
Lunk started for the bikes. “Let’s go.”
A half-block later Lunk broke out another garage window. Empty. Without a word he swung onto his bike and pedaled like a madman to the next house with a realtor’s sign in front of it.
Now she had a hard time keeping up with him. Breaking out windows was apparently one of his secret talents. He was a natural at it. She only wished he could shatter the sense of fear and dread that gripped her heart.
CHAPTER 77
Cooper stood on the wash machine alongside his cousin. Gordy seemed stronger now. He could stand—which was more than he could do when Cooper first saw him. Cooper hugged him with arms that were as cold as the water. They were in trouble. “God, p-please, g-give me an idea!”
“I c-can’t t-think,” Gordy said. “I got n-no ideas.”
“I was praying, Gordy.”
Gordy nodded. “G-good.”
He needed more time—enough time for Hiro to find them. She had to know he’d been taken. She’d have notified the police. His little plan to get kidnapped to find Gordy worked amazingly well. It was his escape plan that had major problems. The loss of the phones was a real killer. And the flooding, which brought its own triple death threat.
There was nothing he could do to prevent electrocution if the box was hot. But the drowning—and the hypothermia—he had to focus there. He needed a plan. Fast.
What if he ripped out the insulation overhead? Maybe chop a hole in the ceiling so they could poke their heads through?
Cooper pulled the diver’s knife from the sheath. Standing on the lid of the washer, Cooper rammed the tip of his knife into the plywood flooring above him. He hacked and chopped, sending bits and splinters of plywood flying.
“C’mon, c’mon.” The water was within three feet of the ceiling now. If they weren’t standing on the washer, it would already be over their heads.
The progress was too slow. He’d never get through in time.
Stop, Cooper, stop. Use your head. Find a Plan B.
It was like they were prisoners in the lowest level of a sinking ship. Icy water gushed through the broken windows like gaping holes in the hull. They were trapp
ed below the waterline, going down with the ship unless Cooper did something. Now.
He studied the window wells. The height of the ceiling. The creek had overflowed its banks. The entire area was flooding. How deep would it get in the basement? Would it stop when it covered the window? If it stayed with the water level outside, there should be a pocket of air at the ceiling above him. He’d have to rip out the insulation.
Standing on the washer, Cooper’s head just missed the bottom of the joists. Gordy had to duck a little. If they were going to survive, they’d need to get at that air pocket.
“W-we need a s-snorkel, Gordy.” Even if the basement filled to within a half-inch of the ceiling they’d still be able to breathe.
Cooper swept their corner of the basement with the flashlight. Copper pipes projected straight up from the hot water heater, disappearing into the ceiling. Could he cut out sections of copper pipe? He looked at the serrated edge on the knife. Even if he could do it—which seemed doubtful, it would take too long.
The water continued to pour in the broken windows with no signs of slowing. The black water churned and foamed—and rose closer to the ceiling.
Cooper scanned his prison again. A pipe, a pipe. Something not more than an inch wide or he’d never get it in his mouth. His flashlight reflected off a length of PVC pipe leading off the furnace. Perfect. If he could cut off a couple short sections.
“Stay here, Gordy. C-can you do that?”
Gordy nodded and braced one hand on the wall and grabbed a joist with the other. “Just g-get us out of here.”
Knife in one hand, flashlight in the other, Cooper jumped off the lid of the washer into the frigid, black water. His breathing came in convulsing, ragged stops and starts as the cold clamped its icy hands around his chest.
“G-god. G-give. M-me. Strength.” He sawed at the PVC pipe with all the might he had. The serrated edge of the knife did its work. White plastic shavings dropped onto the water and floated away. He bit the flashlight between his teeth so he could use both hands to saw. Back and forth, back and forth. When he was almost through he turned the knife around and hammered the pipe free with the stainless steel pommel.
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