I stepped back as a small amount dirt showered down but kept the light shining up so that he could see the holds. “Is there any form of security in the apartment we need to be aware of?”

“Not in the basement, but it’s always possible the Eldritch have added something.”

He didn’t sound at all worried by the prospect; it was probably why he was the relic hunter, and I ran the tavern.

Once he was near the top of the shaft, he shifted position, securing his feet and bracing his back against the wall before he reached for the flagstone. With a grunt of effort that echoed softly down the shaft, he lifted it up and slid it carefully to one side. Then he hauled himself over the edge and disappeared.

I leaned a shoulder against the tunnel’s wall and crossed my arms, and just for a second, thought about Mom. About how her laughter could fill a room with joy. The gentle way she’d ruffle my short hair every morning at breakfast, no matter how old I’d gotten. The tension so evident in her green eyes even as she’d calmly assured me she’d be back before dawn. Except she wasn’t, because someone had shot her in the back and buried her body under stone... Grief rose, a deep, dark void that could all too easily swallow me whole if I allowed it.

I sucked in air and pushed the images and the pain away. I’d have to deal with the grief sooner or later, but right now, I had to keep focused on hunting down her murderers. They’d taken her from us far too soon, and they would pay for that.

Lugh reappeared a few seconds later, his light all but blinding me as it shone down the shaft. “All clear. Up you come.”

I pocketed my flashlight, stepped carefully onto the stone mound, and reached for the first of the handholds. “It was very considerate of them to leave this.”

“It was my consideration, not theirs. Wasn’t sure how much shoulder strength you had.”

I snorted and pulled myself up, shoving my left foot into a hold before reaching for the next. “I haul beer barrels around on a daily basis. My shoulders are just fine.”

He grinned and offered me a hand as I neared the top, helping me up and over the edge. I dusted off my fingers, then pulled out my flashlight and turned it on. The basement was surprisingly wide if the expanse of the ceiling was anything to go by, and its brick walls were bare. The air was warm and softly circulating, which suggested Nialle had put in a mechanical ventilation system—which warmed cold air while removing moisture and providing air flow. It also meant the power hadn’t been turned off, though that really wasn’t surprising, given his girlfriend—Dana—had lived here with him. Whether she’d remain here or simply sell the place once she was given the all-clear from the Eldritch was anyone’s guess.