Chapter 21 – Tunnels
Catherine, Warrick, Nick, Greg, Brass and a rookie officer, Logan, all met at the wall in the basement. Warrick and Nick took it in turns to break through the wall. When they finally made it through, they all checked their gears.
"Hardhats. Flashlights. First-aid kits. Ropes. Water. Energy bars. Radios. Guns."
The six all walked down the narrow tunnel trying to see if they could pick up on Sara's trail. No luck. They had been walking for about 15 minuets when they came to a fork.
"Which way?"
"Let's split."
"Ok. Catherine, Warrick and Greg down the left; we'll take the right." Before they separated they checked their radios.
Left Tunnel
Catherine and the others walked through large rooms, of what looked to be once storage areas. The next room was twice as big as the first room. This had a reservoir in it. They had been going for 20 minuets, when they came to a dead end due to a cave in.
Warrick clicked the radio,
"Nick…Nick…We have reached a dead end… We are coming to join you guys."
Right Tunnel
Nick, Brass and Logan had found the footprints. They had followed them for 15 minuets. The prints had stopped. Nick had searched the ground and walls and found dried blood. He was hoping it was Sara's, so they where on the right trail. Just then his radio clicked. Warrick relayed a message. Nick replied,
"Ok, we will wait for you here."
It had taken Catherine, Warrick and Greg 40 minuets to catch up. Nick showed them the dried blood. Greg had found more footprints. They all set off again.
They had been walking for another 20 minuets.
"5 minuet break everyone."
They all had stopped for water and something to eat, except Nick, who had gone a little further. When he came back to the group he said, "There are 4 more tunnels branching off, they all have footprints going down them."
"What do you want to do?"
"We can either do one at a time. Split into 3's and do 2 at a time or split into 2's and cover most of them?"
"I think split into 2's it'll be quicker."
Everyone checked their gear again.
"Alright, I'll take Brass with me."
"I'll take Logan."
"Great, I'm stuck with Greg again."
"We know how much you like each other."
"Ha, ha, ha."
"Which one's to take first?"
"Greg and I will take the one furthest left."
"Brass and I will take the next one."
"Ok Logan, we've got the next one."
They all had been walking for about 15 minuets, when they heard a load crashing, and felt a rumbling. Panic had filled the air.
"Catherine you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Logan, look out!" Warrick pushed him out the way.
"Thanks man."
"No worries."
"What was that Nick?"
"I'm not sure!"
They all checked in with each other.
Catherine & Brass
They continued to walk for another 10 minuets, until they came out into the daylight. They looked around in amazement.
"A whole town hidden in the dessert!"
"Who'd of thought?"
They started to look around.
Warrick & Logan
"Thanks for back there. I didn't see it coming."
"That's ok, guess we're lucky. Could have been worse."
They had continued to walk. It had taken them 20 minuets to come out of their tunnel into the town. They soon joined Catherine and Brass.
Nick & Greg
"That didn't sound good. What was it?"
"Guess a cave-in somewhere."
"I hope we can get back out."
"We'll be fine."
It had taken them 30 minuets to get clear and join the others.
Middle Of Town
"Hay. Find anything?"
"Yeah. We think we found Jesse." Warrick pointed at the gallows.
"What about Sara?"
"Not yet!"
They had searched every building but one. They all walked up the steps to the jailhouse not knowing what to expect. They went in. There was no one there.