Page 110 of Coordinates of Death

He complied.

“Let’s try heating it up. Perhaps it’s too cold, but we also don’t want to make it sweaty.” She rubbed his hands between hers for a few seconds. “Try again.”

Kordell shivered at her touch and forced thoughts of her kisses out of his head. Focus. He returned his right hand to the screen, centering it in the outline.

The mechanism beeped with a green flash, and the lock clicked as the door opened a crack.

“Well, I’ll be. It was mine after all. I wonder why.” Kordell pushed the door open farther.

“My question is, how did SBK get your hand imprint?” Aurora strapped her backpack on and drew her weapon. “This has to be someone who travels in our circles and can get close to us.”

“Like Dawson says about some serial killers, they like to get involved in the investigation.”

“Exactly. Let’s proceed with extreme caution.” She raised her gun and entered the creepy hospital.

Kordell brought out his weapon and followed.

Darkness blanketed the lower level, but as soon as they walked down the foyer, lights flickered and blinked on, flooding the area with brightness.

He scanned the small institution. The waiting room reeked of rot and decay—splintered chairs toppled on their sides, a rat-gnawed couch sagged in filth, pillows missing. The reception desk, scarred with graffiti and etchings in the chipped wood, loomed in the foreground like a vandalized shrine. A narrow hallway led deeper into the establishment, with doors gaping open on each side. Aged wooden stairs crept up into the shadows, a chandelier dangling by a single chain overhead, threatening to crash on those who dared to proceed to the second level.

“No wonder they closed this down. It’s creepy.” Kordell’s gaze swept upward to the corners. “I don’t see cameras, but my guess is we’re being watched because whoever got the hydro working again obviously has other things planned for us. Where shall we look first?”

She approached the staircase and wiggled the banister. “Not sure I trust the railing and steps. We clear this level first. Together. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be anywhere alone in this place.”

“Nope.”

Over the next several minutes, the pair inched through every room, weapons raised and on alert, but there was no sign of Ginny.

Aurora’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Where is she?”

Kordell rubbed her arm. “We still have two levels to go. Up or down?”

A crash below resonated through the open door to their right.

“I guess that answers your question. To the dungeon it is.” Aurora raised her weapon again.

“Let me test the stairs first. I’m heavier.” Kordell scooted around her and placed his boot on the first step and pushed. It held. He took another step. “Seems sturdy, but again, stay to the outer edges.”

Gingerly, they made their way into the dimly lit lower level, mildew permeating the area. Rotten smells of stale antiseptic wafted, turning Kordell’s stomach. Not that he wasn’t used to hospital smells, but these were different. Almost like burned flesh mixed with iron.

“That’s pungent. How does this place still smell so bad after all these years?” Aurora’s free hand flew to her mouth and nose.

“Good question. Probably because it’s been closed up tight. Until now.”

Footfalls echoed deeper into the darkness. A shadow clung to the wall and shifted to the right, entering a room.

They weren’t alone.

“Police! Show yourselves,” Aurora called and sprinted ahead.

Kordell followed on full alert as they entered.

The figure disappeared through an entrance on the other side of the room.

They lunged after the suspect, but a metallic snap echoed, sealing the door moments before the one behind them slammed shut, its lock sliding into place.

They were trapped.