Page 48 (1/2)

"I could have sworn there was someone in the house," Leslie said

"Then we’d better take a look around," he said

Nikki was still frowning "What were you doing up?" she asked Leslie

"I…I was looking for a ghost," she ad"

"Make that a really good look around," Adam said

Before they could take action, they heard the sound of a car pulling to a sudden halt outside

"It’s Joe," Leslie said in surprise, staring out theShe saw hi at the house anxiously, and realized that he could see her staring out at him

She walked over to the door, keyed in the alarrateful to see him She tried not to betray her sense of panic in her voice "Didn’t I tell you to go ho up?" he de her question

She waved a hand vaguely "U froed to look dignified despite being clad in a terry robe and scuffed slippers--perhaps because he was carrying a gun, Leslie thought half hysterically--and then back to Leslie Before Joe could say anything, Adam told hi"

Joe looked back at hiht that you had an intruder?" He was clearly worried by the possibility

"I must have been mistaken," Leslie said

"I say it won’t hurt to h search of the place," Adaly cheerful for someone whose sleep had been so rudely interrupted

"We’ll take the downstairs," Joe said, taking Leslie’s hand

"Upstairs for us, then," Ada at Nikki "You’re arave hi for the bad guys, remember?" he told her

Ada Joe and Leslie alone in the front hall

"Okay, what’s going on?" Joe asked, staring intently into her eyes

"Nothing I’ined it all," she said "I mean…it’s an old house It creaks And…Joe"

"Yeah?" He was opening doors as he led her down the hall, turning lights on as he went, chasing the shadows out of the corners

"Joe, I think there’s a shaft or a tunnel near here so at her "Yeah?"

"You don’t think I’ sohborhood the other night He completely disappeared So I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that he found a bolt-hole like that somewhere around here But what makes you think so?"

"I hear…noises And I think they’re co from beyond the basement wall"

"We need to look into that, then," he said seriously

They went through the whole of the downstairs In the servants’ pantry, Joe paused, looking questioningly at Leslie, who ducked her head, unwilling to ht streaotten to turn off her lantern earlier

Joe didn’t say anything, only started down the stairs He waved a hand at her to stay where she was until he had ht," he said

She went down and found hi the hearth and the wall beside it He walked closer to the bricks and tapped the?" she asked at last

"I don’t know" He looked at her "I thought ht be a hidden latch, a secret door, a room behind the room Sort of like your city beneath the city" He smiled

"Oh" She walked over and stared at the ith hirout was almost as dark as the brick She tapped at one brick after another, but she couldn’t tell if there was a hollow space behind it or not

"You’d asked ot them myself At the library," she explained

"And?"

"Well, the first subway ran north from City Hall to 145th Street," she said