Free Cold Sanctuary (John Decker Series Book 2) by Anthony M. Strong Page B

plain old animal attacks. Either way, he still got paid. In fact, he already had fifty percent of his consulting fee sitting in a bank account back in Wolf Haven. That was one of his stipulations for coming. Money had been tight over the last few months, ever since he lost his job, and he wanted to make sure Nancy had enough cash on hand to keep everything running while he was gone. It was a blessing that she had the diner, and he tried to help her out whenever possible, but the truth was that people didn’t linger when he was in there. They ate and left, if they even stayed that long. More than one town resident had turned back around and walked out without ordering. People forgot fast, and with Chad and the State sticking knives in, he lost a lot of friends in a hurry. He sighed and forced the thoughts to the back of his mind. There was a job to do here, and whether it turned out to be an angry bear or a three headed, fire breathing sea serpent, he would do his best to resolve the situation.
    “There it is.” Hayley broke the silence. She played her flashlight beam across the wall they were now approaching.
    Decker saw several metal boxes fixed to the concrete, with thick cables and conduits running upward from them. He walked up to one of the boxes and lifted the cover to reveal a large breaker. “Do you need to come down here often?”
    “Not too often. Only when the power goes out or we need to run maintenance on the generators and other equipment,” Hayley said. “We also use some of the ancillary rooms for long term storage. Years ago the Navy had machine shops and parts stores down here. The place is a rabbit warren once you get out of the main cellar.”
    “I see.” Decker scratched his chin. “Is it possible that your maintenance man just wandered off and got himself hurt in one of these rooms?”
    “Possible.” Hayley didn’t look convinced. “But don’t forget the radio conversation. He was all the way back by the elevator, about to come back up, when he screamed.”
    “Of course.” Decker nodded.
    “And don’t forget, he actually said he thought something was down here with him,” Hayley said. “He was scared.”
    “If there’s something down here, let it show itself.” The sheriff waved his gun in the air. “I’ll give anything that comes at us a belly full of lead.”
    “Shut up, Wilder.” Hayley glared at him. “No one’s buying into your GI Joe routine.”
    Decker ignored the squabble. “If we are to stand any chance of finding your missing worker we are going to have to search this entire place.”
    “I was just about to suggest the same thing.” Wilder nodded. “The basement is big; lots of places to hide something like a body. We should split up. We’ll cover more ground that way.”
    “I don’t like that idea.” Hayley shook her head. “We don’t know what we’re dealing with. I’m already one man down; I don’t want to make it two.”
    “The sheriff is right,” Decker said, sensing an opportunity to get away from the brusque policeman. “The sooner we find your missing man, the better.”
    “That’s settled then.” Wilder let a small smile of satisfaction cross his face. No doubt he was just as pleased to be rid of Decker, if only for a few minutes. “I’ll take the main basement and storage areas. That leaves the old machine shops and equipment stores for the two of you.”
    “You’re the only one with a gun,” Decker said. “I think Hayley should stay with you.”
    “Nonsense. Hayley knows this place like the back of her hand. She’ll make sure you don’t get lost.” Wilder reached into his bag and came out with a sleek black pistol and held it out. “Here, take this.”
    Decker recognized it as a Glock 22, a gun he’d carried for many years on the job. He took the weapon and weighed it in his hand. “Thanks.”
    “Don’t thank me. I’m just trying to cut down on paperwork.” Wilder chuckled. “It wouldn’t look good if the hired help