Chapter 51
Sean made sure Marco was secure before he went through the secret tunnel under the stage. He had briefly considered taking Marco with him, but given the cramped space and the fact that the man would need to be untied to get through, he didn’t want to risk it.
Sean left Marco, then went through the secret escape hatch beneath the stage. It was a tight fit, and the longer Sean moved through it, the more convinced he was that this wasn’t a good idea.
Bits of dust and dirt crumbled from the ceiling. The tunnel was most likely built around the same time as the speakeasy. But he was too far down the rabbit hole to turn back.
It was very cold underground, and eventually the tunnel rose onto a slope. It wasn’t steep, but he had to keep bent over as he went up. Sean was in good shape, but his size was working against him in this tight space.
Eventually, Sean reached another door above him that led up. He figured this was the exit point, and he readied himself for what he might find on the other side.
Sean opened the latch and poked his head up. With one quick look, he saw it was a shed. Gardening tools, old pots, and bags of fertilizer filled the interior. The shed was also buried under snow, like the hotel.
Sean stepped out of the tunnel and stood in the shed. He reached the door and opened it, finding a block of compacted snow inside. He glanced around the shed and saw some picks and shovels. He grabbed the pick and got to work.
The snow was harder to break through because it was so compressed, but after a few whacks, it loosened. Snow poured into the shed, and sunlight poked through the very top of the door.
With the snow broken up, Sean grabbed the shovel. Eventually, he cleared enough to reach the top and climbed up.
When Sean finally poked his head up, he glanced around to get his bearings, but he closed his eyes and took a moment to revel in something he never thought he’d take for granted, but did.
Fresh air.
After breathing in the stagnant air in the hotel for the past eight hours, the crisp mountain air was a welcome reprieve.
Sean opened his eyes and glanced across a field of white, finding the hotel about fifty yards from his position.
The snow was deep, and he hoped it was compacted enough to hold his weight, but he went back into the shed and found what he was looking for: snowshoes.
With the snowshoes strapped to his feet, Sean moved quickly toward the hotel, eager to find Jennie and to confront Roger before things got out of hand.
Sean reached the hotel without incident and climbed a fire escape ladder to the roof.
The entrance above was the only way inside, since the front doors were still buried under snow.
But when he got to the rooftop entrance, he found it locked.
He pounded on the door several times, then removed his weapon and waited.
After about a minute, the door opened, and it was Jennie who poked her head out. “Sean?” Jennie asked.
But just before Sean could do anything, he saw the gun next to her head, and before he could react, Roger shoved her outside and kept her pinned close to him, the gun pressed against her temple.