In the cellar
The light at the bottom of the stairs is dim, and climbing down is tricky. There is a strong smell of sawdust as well as the mustiness. Megs tries to avoid the cobwebs and shivers when she puts her hand through a big one that sticks to her fingers.
Finally they reach the cellar floor. There are no windows and the old walls are solid. The temperature feels cold after the heat they’ve been getting used to. Linda shivers.
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"Okay - show us where you found the box, Laura. It's mighty cold in here. And creepy." |
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“Over there in the corner. We were patching the wall and I found a loose brick. The hole was behind it.” |
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"Clever Jeremiah. The box stayed hidden for over a hundred years." |
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“Was there anything else in there besides the box, Laura? I know you checked but maybe we should look again?” |
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“It’s pretty dark – someone could feel around with their hand – but there may be spiders or worse!” |
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"Let me look. I've got a flashlight." |
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"Good on you Ben." |
The other detectives shuffle out of the way as Ben moves into the corner next to Laura. He takes a small flashlight from a pouch on his belt and shines the beam to help her wriggle the loose brick free again. Then he peers into the hole – seeing nothing but broken pieces of brick and more cobwebs.
Suddenly CRASH, the floor of the store shakes above them and clouds of dust fall, making them cough. Laura screams.
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"What was that?" |
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“The trapdoor. Someone's slammed it shut!” |
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“We have to open it - there's no other way out!" |
For a moment everyone panics. What should they do? Are they trapped in the cellar?
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