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CHAPTER 99
FINN AND KNOX MADE THEIR WAY carefully across the catwalk that was suspended over a tank of foul-s liquid They knew this for two reasons One, because they could smell it, even if they couldn’t see it And two, it was on the plan Stone had given the safely over it Stone hadn’t done so, because he had never intended for theet inside this place
They had to keep their weight in the center of the metal ay If they s would happen They had nearly reached the end of the cathen they heard it
A groan
Both uns pointed at obvious threat points
Another groan
Finn whispered to Knox, “Sounds like it’s underneath us”
“Thinking the sa,” replied Knox
“I recognized it”
“The groan?”
Finn nodded “Keep a lookout” He dropped to his knees and put his face against the floor of the catwalk that was only inches from the top of the tank “Caleb?” he said softly
Another groan
“Caleb?” he said in a louder voice as Knox gazed anxiously around
Another groan and then, “Harry?” The voice eak, the mind obviously muddled
Drugged, was Finn’s first thought
He looked up at Knox “Remember what Chapman told us?”
Knox nodded and glanced around “Got an idea”
Keeping to the center of the walk, he headed back the way he had coo back out the door they had come in It had locked behind them and it was thick andcrate set against the wall He slipped his gun in its holster, hefted the box, which weighed about fifty pounds, and carried it back over to where Finn was, again keeping to the center of the catwalk
Eachof the catwalk This was difficult for Knox with the weight of the crate, but he ed it He looked at Finn and told him his plan
“You ready?”
Finn nodded
Knox counted to three and then dropped the box on the side of the catwalk The floor immediately tilted down on that side while the other side tilted up, revealing a blackened strip of e on the right side and they heard a splash The foul sot even fouler
Finn, still holding on to the railing, dropped down until his foot was squarely in the empty space As the floor tilted back up and into place, he ja it open Knox reached into the rucksack he carried on his back and slid out a length of rope He tied one end to the railing and let the other drop through the opening
Knox switched places with Finn and held the floor open with his foot Finn grabbed the rope and lowered hih He landed in knee-deep muck
“Caleb?”
“Harry?” the voice said groggily
“Are you alone?”
“Yes At least I think I am”
Finn switched on his flashlight and quickly found Caleb trussed up and sitting in the muck, which was up to his chest Finn cut hi and up to the catwalk
“You okay?” Finn asked as the three men proceeded on into the next room
Caleb slowly nodded “Just a little woozy They gave me a shot Made me fuzzy And the stench down there I don’t think my sense of smell will ever be the same” His face paled as his ht?”
“We’re still looking for her Any idea where she ht be?”