Chapter 56

Frank wasn’t particularly unnerved once alone. In fact, he calmed considerably the moment Renny and his mates had taken off. He’d half-expected to be beaten until he bled. His hip was a little sore from being kicked, but otherwise no bones were broken, no blood had been drawn.

In the hours that passed, at least by Frank’s estimation, he thanked God several times they hadn’t touched him more than they had. He’d been worried about their safety as much as his own. Frank quickly reconciled himself to being at the bottom of the pit until Vaughn arrived in the morning and threw down the ladder. He’d been sitting, actually humming El Capitan, when—“Frank!”—when he first heard the voice. “Get up, Frankie. Come on.”

“Who’s there?”

“Get up, man. Hurry up.”

“Renny?”

Frank could hardly see through the pitch darkness, but the white stripe on the blue sleeve of the jacket Renny had on stood out.

“No. Betty Crocker. Drag ass, Frankie. Grab ahold of me.”