He reached to pull the bookcase closed. That’d give the bodyguards a nasty shock. “Aren’t they going to freak out when they can’t find you? Maybe go to the press and make a fuss?”
“An email will be delivered to Mr. Rossi in a half hour, telling him I’ve left of my own free will. The police and bodyguards will be withdrawn from my house and taken out of danger.”
He turned around and crawled forward.
She got a quick glimpse before his flashlight pointed forward, and he started retreating at a good clip. The tunnel was of rough-hewn rock, with a ceiling so low she had to crawl on her hands and knees. Or rather, her hand, cast, and knees while dragging the pillowcase. This must be Tesla’s first test to see if he could ditch her.
As hard as she tried, the lead between them grew. If she’d had two good hands, she’d have been able to keep up. Did he plan to leave her trapped?
A puff of cool air crossed her face. He’d reached the other end and opened the door. She upped her crawl to double time and had almost made it to the opening that must be the end of the tunnel when a shadow moved across it.
Tesla was closing the door.
“Hey!” she hollered and pressed on.
Before the door closed completely, a light-colored form jumped in the way. A bark echoed down the tunnel. When she reached the door, Edison was half in and half out. Tesla whispered something, but the dog ignored him.
She climbed out and stood next to Tesla.
“Problem with the door?” she asked.
“I slipped,” he said. “Sorry.”
She bent and patted Edison on the head. “Good boy!”
The dog wagged his tail. With the dog on her side, she was basically unstoppable. Tesla had to know that.
Tesla closed the door. It looked as old as the one that led to the submarine dock — thick metal with a rubber seal on the inside. If the subway ever flooded this far up, water wouldn’t get into Tesla’s bedroom.
He locked the door with an old-fashioned key.
They walked down the dark tunnel for a few moments before he stopped and touched his fingers to his lips to warn her to be quiet. They must be close to the bodyguards stationed outside his official tunnel exit. Edison tucked in tight against Tesla’s heels, and they set off at a brisk trot.
Tunnels converged on tunnels, dark tracks gave way to well-lit ones and dark ones again. She had a good sense of direction, but she still lost track of the way back.
After a half hour of this, she spoke. “Is this really the most direct way to your submarine dock?”
Tesla looked sheepish. “I’m avoiding the trains.”
“You’re not going to shake me off,” she said. “And we had a deal.”
“I’m not trying to shake you off.”
But after that, he started heading in one direction, and it wasn’t long before her surroundings began to look familiar.
They had to flatten against the side of the tunnels four times to avoid oncoming trains. Every time, Edison’s head swiveled between the two of them, as if he was afraid to let either one out of his sight in case they did something stupid. Smart dog.
“We’re here.” Tesla unlocked the door to the dock and gestured for her to go in first.
She threaded her arm through his. “Let’s go in together.”
But it hadn’t been a trap. Wright’s green submarine was parked where it had been before. Wright stood on the dock. She wasn’t looking forward to another submarine ride with him.
“Is this going to be a tearful farewell?” Wright asked. “Because you’re running late.”
“She’s coming along,” Tesla answered.
Wright looked back at his sub. She knew it was a three-seater, so he couldn’t trot that out. “Going to be a tight fit with the dog and your luggage.”
Not that she had any luggage except for the pillowcase of stuff. She started to wonder about what was at the other end of the submarine ride. While Tesla loaded stuff, she fired off a quick text to her mother.
Don’t worry. Ask Mr. Rossi in an hour. Might be gone awhile.
She hoped she wouldn’t be too long. Andres had invited her to his art opening in two weeks, and she didn’t want to disappoint him. He was an intriguing guy. Cute, too.
Chapter 30
Joe’s heart started hammering as soon as he saw the sub. Edison knew it and brushed his nose against the back of his hand. Together, the dog seemed to say, we can do this together.
Joe dropped his duffel inside the cockpit. Alan didn’t try to catch or help, but he was doing plenty already. He wondered why Alan had agreed to take them out to the ship. Alan always had an angle, and Joe couldn’t see it. That bothered him.
He climbed into the cockpit with Edison. Vivian came in right after. She’d been close since they left the house. She’d known he would try to ditch her, but the time for that was past, and he was grateful to have her along. She always had his back.
Once they were settled, Alan closed the cockpit, and down they went.
The water went from green to black almost immediately. Blue navigation lights showed the way forward. Before the accident, he’d loved this moment, but now it filled him with dread. He practiced his breathing techniques. He’d made a lot of progress in his virtual therapy sessions, but he wasn’t sure he was ready for this.
Edison licked his fingers, and he ruffled the dog’s ears. Vivian sat quietly behind him, and it sounded like she was doing breathing exercises of her own. He felt guilty for asking her to go down with Alan so soon after the accident. He hadn’t realized how difficult it must have been until this moment. He was a self-absorbed jerk.
As if she knew what he was thinking, Vivian leaned forward and squeezed his shoulder, making him feel guiltier. But at least the guilt distracted him.
“Keep your shit together,” Alan muttered. “No panicking on my boat.”
“You’re a font of empathy,” Vivian said.
Alan snorted. “Not my job, being Mr. Feelgood.”
Joe had taken a Xanax before he left the house, but it didn’t seem to be doing anything. He ought to write the drug manufacturer and demand his money back. To whom it may concern: Despite taking your medication, I still felt anxious taking a submarine soon after I was almost killed in one. He chuckled at the thought of that letter being read, and Edison wagged his tail. That meant he was doing better.
Alan pushed the submarine hard, making much better time than Joe ever did. He clearly wasn’t interested in a scenic tour.
“How are you doing in the contest?” Joe asked.
“First,” Alan said. “Since the guys ahead of me died and dropped out like pussies.”
“Wow,” said Vivian. “Just. Wow.”
They pressed on in awkward silence.
Too soon for his liking, Alan slowed down. “Almost there. Should I surface?”
“Yes. Please,” Joe said.
The sub tilted up sharply. Joe’s heart hammered against his ribs, and he started to sweat like he’d just finished a marathon. Edison licked his fingers and nuzzled his leg.
“Vivian, your job is to get Edison on board.” His voice cracked halfway through, but he kept going. “Safely.”
“Got it.”
They broke the surface. Rain pelted the cockpit, and black waves roiled around them. Alan swore.
Joe looked at his hands twisting in his lap. How had he thought he could do this?
Alan pressed the cockpit-release button, and the protective bubble started to lift. The smell of salt air flooded the cockpit. The first real outside air Joe had breathed in a long time, and he wished he could savor it, but instead, he shivered and tried not to lose control of his bowels. His hands clamped tightly to the sides of his seat.