Daniel grabbed the ladder they kept in the garage, his hesitation clear, but his determination stronger. “We have to see what’s down there.” Megan’s mouth opened in instinctive protest, but she closed it again. Whoever had done this hadn’t just tried to hide something. They’d tried very hard to make sure it stayed hidden.
He steadied the ladder against the opening, bracing it between two support beams. “You stay here,” he said. “No chance,” she replied, pale but firm. “We go together.” For a long second, they simply looked at each other, two renovators who’d torn down dozens of walls, uncovered hundreds of odd fixes, and never once felt afraid of a structure.