There was light again. He had his phone.
Asshole. He’d lost hers—but he had his. He had the advantage now.
And he was right behind her. There was no way she’d be able to move as fast as he was.
Her hand…she kept it on the wall beside her. It was the right side of her now. There were knicks in the wall, almost little shelves. Carved out, probably. For lamps, from long ago. And loose rocks.
Rocks.
Well, when all else failed. Improvise.
Madison reached around. Found a loose rock. She turned as carefully as she could. And hurled it.
Right at him.
And yelled. Told him exactly what she thought. And just kept throwing.
There was plenty of limestone rock down here, after all. Madison just kept throwing.
Until…he cursed.
And his phone went hurtling down below.
Sheheardthe splash it made, anddamn!was it satisfying.
Madison turned. And just kept going.
116
They could hearsomething up ahead.
It sounded like rushing water.
"People, be aware. It narrows, and we have no clue how high up we are." Miguel pointed out the obvious. “Acardi, single file behind Miller.”
It grated, following. But he was still going in blind. Miller and Miguel were his strongest chance of getting to Madison before Newcomb hurt her even more than whatever he had done to her by now.
The thought that Madison could already be in the water terrified him.
But he just kept going.
Then they entered a small cavern, and the sound of people moving around ahead had him stopping.
He had no choice.
Miguel had stopped in front of him.
"Acardi, stick with Miller. Watch yourselves. It's not stable here, and we do have open shafts, people. Miller, left side, hug walls, people. But be careful. Ore chutes are along that wall there. Be ready to act on my call."
Dom almost said something to confirm.
That's when he heard it.
Someone yelling.
Telling someone he was a no-good sleaze, who deserved to be eaten alive by cockroaches. Feasted on by worms. Fed to the cavefish. Ripped to fucking pieces.
A woman’s voice.
