Chapter 12 - The Main Drain
The roar of the draining pool drowned out the shouts of the federal agents as millions of gallons of water began swirling down into the subterranean bunker below. The surface of the pool collapsed into a violent, churning whirlpool, dragging the remaining mud, leaves, and debris toward the center drain with terrifying speed.
“Get back! The foundation is shifting!” Agent Miller yelled over the deafening noise, grabbing Martha by the shoulder and hauling her away from the crumbling edge of the coping.
Julian stumbled backward, losing his footing on the slick, wet tiles before catching himself against the metal frame of a lounge chair. He watched in horror as the concrete slab supporting the patio began to crack down the middle, splitting the earth right along the hidden seam they had uncovered earlier.
Inside the bunker, Arthur Vance didn't scream. He sat calmly in his swivel chair as the rising water began to flood the concrete floor, the steel handcuffs clinking against the rusted desk as the desk itself began to float in the rising tide.
“You built it over the municipal storm drain, didn't you?” Julian shouted across the churning gap, his voice straining to be heard over the rushing water. “That's how you survived down there! It was never a sealed vault!”
Arthur looked up through the widening gap in the concrete, his pale eyes completely devoid of fear, shining with a strange, dark triumph.
“A smart man never relies on just one exit strategy, Julian!” Arthur called back, his voice cutting through the roar just as a wave of muddy water surged up to his chest. “And your sister knew about the overflow valve the entire time!”
Julian’s head snapped toward Martha, who was leaning against Agent Miller, gasping for air as tears streamed through her makeup.
“You knew?” Julian demanded, stepping toward her with an expression that made even the armed tactical officers tense up. “You knew there was an escape route into the city stormwater system, and you let him stay down there like an animal?”
Martha squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to meet his gaze as she clutched her torn blouse.
“If he left, they would have traced the accounts to my name,” she whispered fiercely, the selfishness finally stripping away every illusion of sisterly protection. “I protected what was mine, Julian. Just like he taught us.”
May you like
Before Julian could answer, the concrete slab beneath the patio gave way completely with a thunderous crack, collapsing inward and plunging the entire bunker—and Arthur Vance—into the raging underground torrent.
---
