Ghost Canyon (The John Decker Supernatural Thriller Series Book 7) Anthony Strong (popular romance novels .TXT) 📖

“Yeah. Something like that.”

“It’s a lot to take in.” Colum caught the bartender’s eye and ordered a drink. “I remember the day he took me on a tour of that place. Just about scared the bejeebers out of me. I didn’t sleep for a week.”

“I find that hard to believe.” Decker lifted his drink, finally, and took a sip.

“It’s true. I saw some bad things when I was in the service. Not to mention the Troubles when I was growing up. What people will do to each other, it’s terrible. But what I saw down there was different. It’s a shock when you discover the creatures that prowl your nightmares are real.”

“I’ve been there,” Decker said, remembering his encounter with The Cult of Anubis in New York, and Annie Doucet’s transformation into a Cajun werewolf. “Even when you know that monsters are real, The Zoo is a lot to take.”

“You’re lucky in that respect. You already knew that creatures like Grendel were out there even before you went to Ireland. I was completely unprepared the first time I walked into The Zoo.” Colum let out a mirthless chuckle. “Adam Hunt, man. I think he just enjoys scaring people. I don’t envy you chasing monsters for a living. Thank heaven most of my assignments are more mundane. Speaking of which, have you spoken to Mina recently?”

Decker nodded. “We keep in touch. I kind of feel responsible for what happened.”

“That’s all on Abraham Turner. He’s the one who stabbed her and tried to steal her life force.”

“I’m the one that got her involved in the first place.”

“She got herself involved. She practically blackmailed us to let her help.” Colum’s drink arrived. He lifted the pint and gulped a quarter of it before continuing. “I’m just glad it worked out okay in the end.”

“Yeah.” Decker wasn’t sure how well it had worked out for Mina. She was still struggling with the aftereffects of her encounter with Abraham Turner. It had changed her, and what those changes meant in the long term, they had yet to find out. He said none of this to Colum, though. Even Adam Hunt didn’t know the full extent of Mina’s transformation, and Decker wanted to keep it that way for now. He wasn’t sure they could trust CUSP to stay away, and he didn’t want her to end up somewhere like The Zoo. She had, after all, absorbed much of Abraham Turner’s power. Deciding they were heading into dangerous territory with further conversation regarding Mina, Decker changed the subject. “I assume Hunt has you off on another mission tomorrow?”

Colum nodded. “I have a briefing first thing in the morning and then I’ll be gone. I have no idea where, yet. You know what Adam’s like. That man likes secrets more than anyone I’ve ever met. I swear, he wouldn’t even tell us his own name if he thought he could get away with it.”

“We don’t actually know that he has told us his name,” Decker pointed out. “Adam Hunt could be an alias.”

“Good point,” Colum said, polishing off the rest of his pint and motioning for a refill. “I bet his real name isn’t anywhere near as cool. It’s probably something lame like Reggie Braithwaite or Barry Smith.”

“That sounds like a pair of truck drivers,” Decker said, laughing.

“Or plumbers,” Colum added.

“Gentlemen,” a voice said from behind the pair.

Decker turned to see Hunt there with his arms folded. “How long have you been standing behind us?” He asked.

“Long enough,” Hunt said. “And for the record, my name is neither Reggie, nor Barry.”

“But is it really Adam?” Colum asked, grinning.

In response, Hunt merely flashed an enigmatic smile and motioned to an empty barstool. “My work is done for the day. Would you mind if I join you?”

“Knock yourself out,” Colum said. He glanced down the bar, looking for his second pint, which had not yet arrived. “And since you have some sway around here, maybe you can get that bartender to pour me a drink.”

Chapter Ten

In the moments after Sasha bolted down the tunnel, the group stood in stunned silence. Then, regaining his wits, Colbeck unclipped the two-way radio from his belt and activated it.

“Sasha. Do you copy?” He released the talk button and waited, but empty static was his only reward. He tried again, toggling the talk button, and barking into the radio to no avail. If Sasha could hear him, she was not responding.

“We have to follow her,” Glenn said, taking a step forward.

“No. Not you.” Charlie shook his head. His own first instinct was also to give chase, but he was responsible for the remaining personnel and didn’t want to lead an inexperienced group deeper into the mine. He turned to Glenn and spoke quickly; aware they didn’t have much time. “Take the paramedics back to the surface and wait for us at the entrance.”

“What? Why?” Glenn looked shocked. “We should stick together.”

Charlie shook his head. “We don’t know how stable this mine is, and I don’t want to be responsible for more folk than necessary. I’m taking the search and rescue team and we’re going after Sasha. If we come across anyone that needs medical help, and they can’t walk out under their own steam, we’ll come back and get you. But right now, it’s too dangerous for everyone to be down here.”

“But—”

“No buts. That’s an order.” Charlie wasn’t budging. He pointed back toward the entrance. “Go.”

“Fine, but just for the record, I’m not comfortable with this.”

“Understood, but I’m the senior officer here.”

“Yeah. I know.” Glenn let out an annoyed snort. He hesitated a moment, perhaps debating if he should argue further, then turned and stomped back toward the mine entrance with the paramedics in tow.

Charlie watched him leave, then turned his attention to the pair of remaining rescuers.

Colbeck was still busy trying to raise Sasha on the radio. Receiving no response, he lowered the radio. “Dammit. Why isn’t she answering?”

“I don’t know,” Charlie replied. “Maybe there’s