“What about this hatch?” Cap asked, tapping his foot on a spot on the floor.

Lou felt around the edges of a square hatch in the floor, three by three, that lay directly beneath the round portal above them. He was looking for a handle or lever of some sort, but it appeared the hatch opened only from the outside.

“Fill from the top, empty from right here,” he said.

“A giant steel coffin,” Cap replied. “I think Chester’s not taking any chances.”

Lou sighed heavily. “I’m sorry about this, Cap. It’s my fault you’re here.”

“Nonsense, I don’t remember you forcing me into tailing those guys to Kings Ridge.”

“Thanks for saying that.”

“And don’t you start thinking you’re not going to see Emily again. Because that’s not going to happen. Not on my watch, it ain’t. We’ll think of something.”

Before Lou could respond, the portal above fully opened, and artificial light from the mammoth granary brightened the space.

“Well, hello, down there,” Chester called out.

Lou could see the man, backlit from above. “Let us go, Chester!” he yelled up to him. “It’s over.” Echoing in the chamber, Lou’s punchless order made him feel infinitesimally small.

“First things first, Doctor,” Chester replied. “Who knows?”

“Who knows what?”

“Don’t play me for the fool,” Chester said. “Who knows there might be trouble with our corn? Who have you told?”

“I haven’t told anyone,” Lou called out.

“That’s bullshit!”

Lou knew their situation was hopeless. Desperately, he searched his thoughts for something—anything—he could say to change matters.

“Okay,” he tried, “every major newspaper and network is going to run stories about you and Chester Enterprises mutating termites and engineering poisonous corn, and then shipping it off for sale before testing it properly. If I don’t get out of here to recant my story and explain that you aren’t responsible, you and your company are finished.”

“You did no such thing!” Chester yelled down. “I know precisely when you killed my son and when I text messaged you that photo of your friends, there. You didn’t have the time to do anything. Nice try, though.”

“I didn’t kill your son, Chester. Your flunky Gilbert Stone did. Edwin saved my life when Stone was trying to kill me. Now, what do you want?”

“I told you,” Chester said. “I want to know who you’ve told.”

“Nobody, that’s the truth.”

“You’re lying.”

Lou hesitated. “You’re right,” he said. “I did tell somebody. Somebody very important, who will destroy you. Agree to let us go, and I’ll tell you everything.”

“No,” Chester said. “Let me show you what I’m going to do if you continue to mess with me.”

He reached beside him. A mechanical whirring heralded a grain chute being lowered into the mouth of the porthole.

“Chester, don’t do this!” Lou screamed.