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“What about the air vent,” Joe said, studying the louvered rate that covered it

“People don’t really clih air ducts,” Kurt said froned to carry air and people are heavier than air”

“Especially after all those hors d’oeuvres at the party”

“Look at this,” Kurt said, waving Joe into the stall and pointing to the floor, where a fine layer of white dust lined the polished granite tile

“Looks like drywall dust,” Joe said

“My thoughts exactly,” Kurt said as he found a sea plaster—although it wasn’t dry yet

With a little effort, Kurt was able to dig his fingers into the seam and pull the panel out It was a three-by-three-foot square Just big enough for soe h here”

“Where does it lead?” Joe asked

Kurt put his head inside “I saw these on the building schematics It’s a crawl space between the walls Lots of pipes and electrical wire It’s dark to the right side, but there’s a sliver of light perhaps a hundred feet down on the left It looks like the crack beneath a door”

“Can we fit?” Joe asked

“Only one way to find out,” Kurt said, cli in

Joe locked the bathroom stall door and followed Kurt into the crawl space He did his best to replace the panel once he was inside and then turned, i his head on one of the pipes The ih the dark

“Keep it down,” Kurt whispered

“I can’t see anything,” Joe said

“Hold on”