Detective Rez Chamba in... The Case of the Restless Shovel

Chapter 17: New Tunnel System

BACK at the riverbank, Rez’s frustration was palpable. The police had thoroughly searched the tunnels, yet the shovel was missing. He was convinced that there was something they had overlooked or that someone had deliberately hidden.

Amelia approached Rez, her eyes filled with concern. "Rez, what do we do now? We can't just let this go."

"We need to dig deeper," Rez replied, his mind racing. "There has to be another way out of the tunnels or a hidden compartment we missed."

Dacumog, who had been quietly assessing the situation, suggested, "We should check with the police again, but we need a way to get back into the tunnel system without attracting too much attention."

Enrico Ricochet, who had been nearby, offered a solution. "I know some of the officers guarding the hidden lift under Doc Caridad’s basement. I can help you get access."

Before returning to the tunnels, they decided to address another pressing matter. Hugo, the junk shop owner, had been apprehended by the police. Rez, Amelia, and the others went to the police station, where Hugo was being interrogated. Under pressure, Hugo revealed a troubling truth.

"They took my son," Hugo admitted, his voice trembling. "The Shadow demanded the shovel or else I would never see him again. I had no choice but to comply."

Doctor Caridad, moved by Hugo's plea, persuaded the police to release him. Hugo agreed to assist in the search for his son and the missing shovel.

With Enrico's help, they bypassed the police guarding both the exit cistern and the hidden lift. They re-entered the tunnels through a less scrutinized entrance. Inside, the group resumed their search with renewed determination.

As they navigated the familiar tunnels, Fred noticed something unusual—a faint seam in the wall that hadn’t been there before. "Look at this," Fred pointed out. "It looks like a concealed door."

Rez inspected the wall closely and discovered a hidden panel. He pushed it open to reveal a stone stairway leading downward. The sight of the hidden passage sent a shiver of anticipation through the group.

"This must have been overlooked by the police," Rez said. "Or worse, it was deliberately hidden."

Dacumog nodded. "The head of the investigation team might be involved with the Shadow gang. This door could lead us to more answers."

The group descended the stone stairway, their footsteps echoing ominously in the narrow passage. The air grew cooler as they ventured deeper into the unknown.

At the bottom of the stairs, they found themselves in a new tunnel system, its walls etched with symbols and markings they had never seen before. The sense of urgency grew as they realized this might be where the Shadow gang had taken the shovel and where Hugo’s son might be held.

"We need to be cautious," Rez advised. "This could be a trap, but it's our best lead."

Determined, they pressed forward, ready to uncover the secrets hidden within the new tunnel system and rescue those who were in danger.