Page 24 (1/2)

"Yes, there are the Candler Hospital tunnels--truly fascinating, and with very little written history, especially on how and when they were built Most believe it was during the Civil War There was once an underground ue, and autopsies were done there Soround, so perhaps it was an attempt to stop the yellow fever and malaria epidemics that used to strike Oh, and there are the catacombs under an old abandoned church called Saint Sebastian’s"

He suddenly stopped walking "We’re on X marks the spot," he told them

"Do you knohy anyone would have marked this spot on yourover a tunnel Other than that? No There’s nothing here but sidewalk And soht there," Abby murmured

"The church? Saint Sebastian’s? The church you were just talking about?" Malachi asked

"None other," Roger told hie of the city and its history was being fully appreciated "The church and the tunnels will not be found on official tours The city’s had a proble in In fact, you can find historic beer cans and cigarette butts at the entries tohis sarcasround," she said "It doesn’t sound like Helen I round does not sound like Helen"

"Helen Long?" Roger looked a little ashen

"We think this was her er nodded, clearly perplexed "Yeah, I gave it to her, but I never saw hera good tour of the city She was hoping to leave soon She’s driven--really wants to act But she was asking me about the old church She said she’d talked to so it, as it hasn’t been renovated since the nightclub or worked on by the private couy she knoanted toout of it like a year-round haunted house Pirate-themed"

"How did she hear about it? As far as I knew, it was off the beaten tourist and business track," Abby said

"This guy she ed "Maybe someone who’d taken the tour out on the Black Swan Helen’s a sweetheart Kids love her on that ship Adults, too Especially guys"

Malachi nodded "How about showing us the church?" he suggested

"I can show it to you--and the catacombs and tunnels, which are kind of one and the saainst the law since it’s private property Oh, wait--you are the law, aren’t you?"

"Sure," Malachi said, looking at Abby "Well, we really are the law, although I’m still a consultant But you’re the real deal"

"So are you," she said softly Her voice, her sincerity, stirred so back to theo around to the side Casually, of course There’s an old, small iron door that was used for ice delivery We can crawl through that and then through the hallway Just be careful, okay I’d rather not draw attention to us as we creep around private property"

"We shall creep with incredible agility, and quietly," Malachi said

They crossed the street It was actually easy to disappear into thearound the side, Malachi realized that at one tiine the horse-draagon that would have carried the ice blocks, could see where it must have parked for the few minutes it took the driver to make his delivery The ice delivery "door" was about four feet off the ground and had a massive dark metal hatch that opened to allow for a space of about three feet by two

"You can get in?" Roger asked He gripped the handle It was old, hadn’t been oiled in forever and didn’t budge Malachi stepped past hiive it a try," he said

"I have opened it before," Roger told hiot it into the open position, then braced a foot against the building and pulled hard When the door gave, he had to juh first Make sure there are no spiders or snakes!" Roger told Abby

"You’re afraid of spiders and snakes?" Malachi asked her

"I’m not particularly fond of either, but I don’t freak out"

"You used to screairl, but I haven’t screaer h the opening Abby glanced at Malachi and followed Roger, and then Malachi followed her