Below the Surface

by Tim Shoemaker

  A scene replayed in his mind. One Lunk hated. Lunk was sitting on the edge of his bed in his room. His old man was shouting — no, screaming — at Lunk’s mom. He wished the abuse would stop. He’d known the day was coming when he’d be big enough, man enough, to stand up to his dad. Yet he didn’t want to do it. Because he knew that once he did, everything would change.

  His mom shrieked, and before Lunk could think, he was in the kitchen, plowing into his old man and knocking him to the floor. All of Lunk’s pent-up rage broke free. He hammered his fists into his dad like the man was some sicko who’d broken into the house.

  Lunk won the fight, yet he lost at the same time. His old man left for good that night, and he only came back every now and then to hit them up for money. But he never hit Lunk’s mom again. And he never would.

  But his bio-dad had never said he was sorry. He never showed any remorse. It was more than just a pride thing, wasn’t it?

  “I’m sure your dad isn’t a psychopath,” Gordy said.

  Lunk almost smiled. “Agreed. I think a psychopath is the type of guy who ends up killing lots of people on cop shows. But Hiro is right. My dad is definitely a sociopath.”

  Cooper waited for Hiro, and that gave Gordy and Lunk a big lead. Unless the other two stopped, they’d never catch up to them before they reached town.

  “I’ve got to apologize,” Hiro said.

  Cooper agreed. The question was when. Gordy dropped back from keeping pace with Lunk. Gordy looked back at them and gave a little shrug.

  “Looks like Lunk needs some space.” Hiro sounded defeated.

  “Talk to him at lunch,” Cooper said. “He’ll be okay.”

  Hiro nodded. “I hope you’re right.”

  So did Cooper. He pushed harder on the pedals to close the gap between them.

  They were approaching the spot where he’d been run off the road.

  “Where did it happen?” Hiro glanced at him. “Last night with the pickup.”

  Cooper wondered at her timing. He pointed.

  She slowed a bit, probably imagining the whole scene.

  Cooper wanted to forget it. Still, he found himself checking over his shoulder just to be sure the truck wasn’t tailing them.

  “Lunk!” he shouted. “Speedo’s?”

  Lunk didn’t turn around but lifted one arm and waved.

  Minutes later, they coasted down the hill into town and rode along the waterfront to Speedo’s. They ordered at the walk-up win-dow, took their food to a grassy spot near the water, and dumped their bikes onto the ground.

  Lunk sat with his back to the town, looking out over the harbor of docks, rental boats, and a string of buoys stretching across the bay to the municipal pier on the other side.

  Hiro stood for a moment with her carryout bag in hand, as if deciding where to sit. She finally sat next to Lunk. Neither of them said a word.

  Like Lunk, Gordy had two hamburgers in front of him. “How ’bout these burgers, huh, Lunk?”

  Lunk nodded.

  “What did you get, Hiro?” It seemed like Gordy’s strategy was to get them talking to him, and then maybe they’d start talking to each other.

  “Chicken strips.”

  Hiro’s voice sounded as small as she was. She picked at one of the strips and glanced up at Lunk . . . then back at Cooper.

  Cooper mouthed the words, Just say it. He motioned toward Lunk.

  She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Lunk?”

  He turned her way.

  “I am soooo sorry,” she said. “I never should have said that. It was wrong, I — ”

  “Forget it.” Lunk cut her off. “You spoke your heart.”

  She hesitated. But she needed to finish. Get it all out there. Unless she did, there’d always be a wall between her and Lunk.

  Cooper caught her eye and nodded toward Lunk — silently urging her on.

  “I guess I did speak my heart,” she said. “But my heart wasn’t in the right place. I was totally unkind, and I never want to be like that.”

  Lunk stared at his hamburger. “Because you don’t want to break your personal code of conduct?”

  She shook her head. “It’s more than that. A lot more. You’re my good friend — and I hurt you. That was so wrong of me.”

  Good, Hiro. Cooper held his breath, hoping Lunk’s reaction would be as solid.

  Lunk sat there for a moment. “Actually, I think you were right about my dad. I think he is a . . .” — he hesitated — “ . . . a sociopath. I just never thought of it that way.”

  “It was wrong how I said it, though. Will you forgive me?”

  “For telling the truth?”

  “For not doing it in a kind way.”

  Lunk looked at her. “You’re serious?”

  Hiro nodded. “Forgive me?”

  He looked unsteady, like this was new territory for him. “Sure. Yes. Of course.”

  Hiro reached over and gave him a hug.

  Lunk hesitated and then hugged her back. “You really are a softy under that tough cop exterior.”

  Hiro laughed and wiped her eyes.

  Cooper let out a sigh of relief.

  “All right,” Gordy said, “I’m glad that’s settled.”

  “Me too.” Hiro reached over and snatched one of Lunk’s fries. “I’m famished.”

  Lunk smiled and shook his head. He took a massive bite of his burger and placed the bag of fries between them within easy reach for Hiro.

  She smiled back and took another handful.

  “Okay,” Gordy said. “We need some adventure. After we’re done here, let’s show Lunk and Hiro the spillway. And the tunnel. Maybe White River.”

  It sounded like a good idea to Cooper.

  “Then we’ll get a little snack at Scoops,” Gordy said.

  That sounded even better.

  “A tunnel?” Hiro said. “And you figure I’ll think it’s fun?”

  Gordy shook his head. “You’ll hate it. But we’ll have fun watching you.”

  “Oh,” Hiro said. “Real nice.”

  A police car cruised along the waterfront and parked in one of the angle spaces near Scoops. Officer Tarpy stepped out and stretched.

  “I think I’m going to tell him about the lost camera,” Hiro said.

  Gordy didn’t look too happy. “Really? C’mon, Hiro. We’re on vacation. You’re supposed to relax. Do fun stuff.”

  “This is fun for her,” Lunk said.

  It didn’t sound like he was teasing her this time. More like he was defending her.

  Hiro took a few more of Lunk’s fries and headed toward the policeman. “Be right back.”

  Gordy watched Hiro cross the street and flag down the cop. “Ay-yi-yi. That girl just can’t leave things alone.” He took a bite of his second burger. “And she’s gonna drag us into it too.”

  Lunk laughed. “We’re already in it.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Gordy pointed at her with a fry. “Now we need to back off. Have fun. Leave the investigating to the cops.”

  “I’m definitely okay with that,” Lunk said. “But good luck selling Hiro on that plan.”

  Gordy looked at Coop. His cousin just shrugged and nodded.

  “Aw, c’mon, guys. Let’s take charge here,” Gordy said.

  Coop balled up his carryout bag and tossed it into a trash barrel. “Sounds like you have ideas.”

  “I do,” Gordy said. “We can’t drive The Getaway until this weekend when your dad gets here, right?”

  Coop nodded. “Although you did kind of jump the gun on that this morning.”

  Gordy waved him off. “So this afternoon, let’s do a little exploring around town.”

  Coop was obviously tracking with him. “Okay. You mentioned the spillway. The tunnel.”

  “Exactly. And the pipeline under the old railway bridge. Then we can hit Scoops or something.”

  Lunk definitely looked interested, but Hiro would be a different story. He checked across the s
treet. She was still talking to the cop, making hand motions like she was taking a picture.

  Lunk seemed to be watching Hiro too. “Think she told the cop her theory? That the girl on the beach wasn’t the one in the boat?”

  “Oh yeah,” Cooper said. “And how the camera is missing.”

  Lunk kept watching. “I’m no expert on body language, but Officer Tarpy doesn’t look convinced.”

  Gordy agreed. The cop’s body language was all wrong.

  “You have to give her credit,” Cooper said. “She’s really trying to sell it.”

  Lunk turned away. “I can’t watch. This is pitiful. The cop isn’t buying it.”

  Good. Maybe Hiro would drop the whole thing. Get out of cop mode and back into vacation mode. “Before Hiro gets back,” Gordy said, “let’s get one more thing on the vacation schedule.” He looked from Coop to Lunk and back again.

  Lunk leaned forward. “Well? Are you going to tell us?”

  “The mailboat plans are shaping into a really sweet prank. I think we should do it.”

  Coop shrugged. “Let’s just stick to exploring town.”

  “This one is foolproof.” Gordy grinned. “And Hiro will hate it. Imagine the mail carrier jumping for the boat, falling in the water, and the tourists on board rushing to the rail to snap a picture.”

  “You’re right about one thing,” Lunk said. “Hiro will hate it.”

  “Hate what?” Hiro said from behind them.

  Gordy froze. He didn’t know what to say. She’d try to put the kibosh on his plans for sure.

  “Gordy’s plans to prank the mailboat,” Lunk said.

  “Right.” Hiro sat down. “The truth.”

  Cooper laughed. “That is the truth. But don’t worry, he hasn’t even convinced us yet. And right now Gordy wants to show you some of the lesser-known tourist sites of Lake Geneva.”

  Gordy took a bow.

  “Will I hate that too?”

  Coop shrugged. “Probably.”

  Lunk stood and stretched. “Let’s go then.”

  “Maybe I should stay right here,” she said.

  Gordy debated that for a moment. If she didn’t come, she couldn’t stop them. But it would be way more fun if she came along.

  “You’ve got to come,” Gordy said.

  “And the reason why would be . . . ?” She let the question hang in the air.

  “Because we’re friends,” Gordy said. “And friends stick together.”

  She groaned. “That’s not fair.”

  Gordy reached for her hands and pulled her to her feet. “We’ll lock the bikes to a tree. You’re about to get a tour of Lake Geneva’s underground. We’re taking you to the tunnel.”

  “Okay, okay.” Hiro tugged her hands free from Gordy’s grip. “I’m coming. How bad could it be?”

  Gordy snickered. “Obviously you haven’t been there before.”

  Cooper had been through the tunnel a handful of times — and no two times had been alike.

  He headed for the road alongside Hiro. “So you told Officer Tarpy that you think Pom-Pom and Lynn are two different people?”

  Hiro nodded. “And about the missing camera.”

  She was quiet.

  “So what did he say?”

  She shrugged. “He was polite — but he wasn’t interested.”

  “He said that?”

  “Didn’t have to. I read it all over him.”

  Like Cooper could read the disappointment all over her now. It was hard enough when her friends discounted her police work. But when a cop did it? Her mouth formed a tight, straight line. Obviously, she was done talking about it for now. Cooper let it go and hoped she’d let this whole investigation thing go too.

  They hustled to the other side of Wrigley Drive. Gordy led the way across the bridge, which spanned the narrow inlet to the miniature lagoon below. Only small boats and jet skis parked in the bay. Nothing larger could make it under the bridge. Everything about the place was small. Even the docks between the boats were made with a single two-by-ten strung between posts. Walking one of those docks would be like walking a plank.

  Boats and Waverunners belonging to LeatherLips Watersports took up most of the slips on the north end of the cove, while the boats on the south side were privately owned. The boats were covered and tied — waiting for adventure. Ruby Slippers. Pretty Girl. Svenska Flicka. The Boys’ Bomb. And over a dozen more on this side of the lagoon.

  “This bay is tiny,” Gordy said, “but it controls the level of the entire lake — thanks to the spillway.”

  Hiro scanned the water below them. “Spillway?”

  Gordy pointed to a low concrete wall running along the south side of the bay. Water rushed over the top into a moss-covered chute. “When the lake is high, water goes over the wall and into the spillway — which is pretty much like a long, steep driveway. It funnels down into a tunnel.”

  Hiro stepped off the bridge and followed the sidewalk ramp toward the docks. “A tunnel?”

  “Yeah,” Gordy said. “Dark. Creepy. Seems like it goes forever before it dumps into the White River.”

  “Lovely,” Hiro said. “And you expect me to go in there?”

  “We’ll all go,” Gordy said. “Together.”

  “Because if you go in there alone . . .” Lunk made a creepy face, “ . . . you may never come out.”

  Hiro folded her arms across her chest. “And that’s supposed to encourage me to join you?”

  Gordy shook his head. “No, to stay close. Some say the tunnel is haunted.”

  Lunk snickered. “Ghosts?”

  “Hiro doesn’t believe in ghosts,” Cooper said. “It’d have to be demons.”

  “That’s it.” Hiro covered her ears. “I am not going in that ‘demon’ tunnel.”

  “C’mon, Hiro,” Gordy said. “We’re messin’ with you. The tunnel will be . . . fun.”

  “I hope you enjoy it,” Hiro said. “I’ll meet you on the other side — wherever that is.”

  One look at her face, and Cooper knew that trying to convince her would be useless. And in a way, he was relieved. She’d be scared in the tunnel. Really scared. He didn’t want to see her pressured into it. He pointed. “See that parking lot?”

  Hiro nodded.

  “Now, the road just beyond it?”

  “Center Street,” Gordy said.

  Cooper motioned. “And that section of trees on the other side?”

  “Got it,” Hiro said.

  “That’s where the tunnel dumps into the White River,” Cooper said. “We’ll meet you there.”

  Hiro’s mouth opened slightly. “The tunnel goes all that way?”

  “Yeah, and I guarantee you it’ll seem a lot longer when you’re in the tunnel,” Cooper said.

  Hiro looked at Cooper like she knew he was trying to protect her.

  Gordy grinned. “Amazing, right?”

  “I’d call it ridiculous.”

  She shook her head. “I will never — ever — go into that demon tunnel. Is this even legal?”

  Gordy made a broad sweeping gesture. “No signs saying we can’t do it.”

  Hiro looked disgusted. “They probably don’t see the need for a sign because they figure nobody would be this stupid.”

  The concrete walls on both sides loomed higher as the spillway dropped lower into the ground. The tunnel was a black hole, sucking up every bit of water that the lake sent its way.

  “C’mon, Hiro!” Gordy said. “Be daring.”

  “You’re insane,” Hiro said.

  “For going into the tunnel?”

  Hiro shook her head. “For thinking you could convince me to.”

  “You’re going to miss out,” Gordy said. “You’ll never see this on some tourist map.”

  “Good.”

  “Okay.” Gordy shrugged. “I give up. See you on the other side.”

  “If you make it,” Hiro said.

  “I’ll make it, all right,” Gordy said.

  Hiro shrugged.
“Lord willing.”

  Cooper, Lunk, and Gordy practically doubled over, laughing.

  Hiro walked along the railing that overlooked the tunnel entrance. “Have a good time.”

  Gordy saluted and led the way. He ran back to the docks, hopped into the shallow water, and stepped over the spillway wall. Their shoes were soaked anyway.

  Cooper and Lunk were right behind him. The water was shallow but still moved fast. Lunk lost his footing on the moss, slid onto his side, and never got back on his feet.

  “Nice, Lunk!” Gordy shouted. “Wait for us at the bottom.” He took a wide stance like he was surfing, and slid halfway down the chute before falling.

  Cooper slipped once, regained his balance, and then lost it again. The concrete wall had absolutely nothing to grab on to. He felt a sharp stab in his shoulder and didn’t want to chance smacking it again. He sat down feet-first and let the force of the water and the law of gravity do their work.

  Like an entrance ramp to a highway, the spillway dropped steeply with high concrete walls on both sides. The tunnel was dead ahead — round at the top but flat on the floor. At its highest point it stood nearly five feet tall. Gordy and Lunk were standing in the knee-high water as it rushed into the gaping mouth of the tunnel.

  Hiro stood at the rail nearly fifteen feet above them and shook her head.

  “Last chance, Hiro!” Gordy pointed at the tunnel. “I bet you wouldn’t even need to duck.”

  “Go have your fun!” Hiro said.

  She seemed fine now. Maybe because she knew she wasn’t going into the tunnel.

  Cooper waved. “See you on the other side.”

  She smiled just a bit.

  Cooper focused on the blackness of the “demon tunnel,” as Hiro called it. He’d forgotten how long it was. The opening at the far end seemed small. Really small.

  “I’ll lead.” Gordy ducked inside the tunnel without hesitation.

  Lunk followed.

  Cooper glanced up at Hiro one more time and then stepped inside the concrete tube. Cool. Damp. And echoing. The tunnel darkened quickly, and with Lunk and Gordy walking ahead of him, there was little view of the light at the other end.

  Water rushed past their legs, and the tube magnified the gurgling, sucking sound.