Page 59 of Takedown in Savannah
Elvira’s eyes narrowed. “Did Glenda tell you that? She has a big mouth.”
“She made a comment in passing. You better be on your best behavior unless you want the city to swoop in and take it from you.”
“Over my dead body.” Elvira slung her backpack over her shoulder and stepped into the corridor. She swung back aroundand studied the panel. “Exactly as I thought. There’s a visible button to reach the street from here.”
Tony tapped the concrete wall. “Nice wide tunnels, decent lighting, easy access. This would make the perfect route to take if you were trying to escape.”
“And only steps from the docking area,” Carlita pointed out. “Hop into a super-fast cigarette boat and you’re out of town before the cops make it to the latest hit.”
Elvira took the map from Tony and held it under the light. “To the right takes us back toward Gunner’s Landing and Pete’s tunnel system. This is the only other access point. The bridge is where the tunnel system ends.”
“The question now is what’s straight ahead?” Carlita asked.
“We’re here. We might as well check it out.” Tony took the lead, down the corridor and to the end. It made a sharp right and continued for as far as Carlita could see. “Let’s keep going.”
As the trio continued walking, she noticed the corridor narrowing. The ceilings dipped down, and the lights were fewer and farther in between. She slowed her pace. “I’m not claustrophobic, but it sure seems like the walls are closing in.”
Elvira stuck her hands out and touched both walls. “Because they are. This is like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, where it gets smaller and smaller until there’s no room to move.”
“I see the end up ahead.” Tony picked up the pace, moving at a brisk clip.
Elvira and Carlita caught up with him moments later.
“This is odd. It’s like the tunnel to nowhere.” Carlita placed her palm on the cold concrete. “Why end it here?”
“Good question. Maybe the city ran out of money.” Elvira dusted her hands. “It appears we’ve hit a dead end…literally.”
The group backtracked, stopping when they reached their original starting point.
“We might as well try the other direction,” Tony said. “Back toward Gunner’s Landing.”
Similar to the other end of the tunnel, it narrowed. They reached a section of “old city” construction, identical to the tunnels Carlita, Pete and Elvira had. Basically concrete covered in plaster. A musty smell permeated the air.
Elvira sniffled loudly. “It has an old-tunnel odor.”
“And looks like ours too,” Carlita said. “Let’s keep our eyes peeled for the ladder and manhole cover.”
Moving at a steady pace, they continued walking. Chunks of plaster littered the ground and crunched beneath their feet.
Tony was the first to notice the ladder. “We reached Gunner’s Landing.”
Carlita stood directly beneath the manhole, noting the distance between the elevator and the access point. “I suppose if you were in a big hurry, this would come in handy. We figured out the ‘what, how and where’ of the gang. Now all we need is the who.”
While his mother talked, Tony wandered off. He knelt down, studying something.
Carlita tiptoed over. “What is it, Son?”
“This. I think we have our first solid lead about who might be using this tunnel.”
Chapter 25
Tony held up a brown stub. “A hundred bucks says this is a Cuban cigar.”
“A Cuban cigar?” Carlita studied the stub. “Aren’t those illegal to bring into the US?”
“As far as I know, it’s still illegal,” he said. “Illegal but popular among cigar connoisseurs.”
“If the customs people catch you trying to bring them in, they’ll confiscate them and slap you with a hefty fine,” Elvira said. “Ask me how I know.”
