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She recalled one sweltering day out in the gardens where Jeremy had picked the lock to an old root cellar They spent that afternoon in the cooler shadows, screw

ing like rabbits between pallets of dried fruit and nuts Making love again and again on the soft earth floor…

Kara blinked and looked up He was staring back at her, sh the same memory she was

“Open the door already”

He did, and they entered The maintenance closet was cramped and cluttered and filled with shelf after shelf of cleaning supplies A large push brooed the mop bucket out into the hallway temporarily, so they could both fit inside

“This rooht,” he said “It’s way too—”

“Small,” Kara finished

He nodded his agree at the back of the roo their hands over what looked like a painted plyall Jereers behind it and tried to pull It didn’t budge

“Get that me that hammer”

Kara reached over a shelf and handed it to him A h away froain, and this tih wood The h his shirt

“Need help?”

“I think I got it”

Jeremy pulled once more and the board came free He slid it to the side, and the same familiar plaster of the other walls came into place

There was another opening there Another doorway

“What now?”