Chapter 16 - The Crowbar in the Dark
The sparks from the circular saws rained down upon the wet terracotta tiles like a desperate fireworks display. The firefighters pressed their entire body weight against the heavy machinery, the diamond-tipped blades screaming as they finally bit through the reinforced Kevlar and the thick aluminum tracking beneath it.
"We're through! Pull it back!" the captain roared over the deafening noise.
Three heavily geared men jammed iron pry bars into the newly created jagged slit. With a synchronized, agonizing grunt of exertion, they peeled a section of the heavy black cover upward, folding it back just enough to expose a three-foot gap of churning, dark water.
Instantly, the captain dropped his heavy coat and plunged headfirst into the pitch-black abyss with a waterproof tactical flashlight.
Above, Valeria fought against the paramedics holding her down. "Is he there? Do you see him?!" she screamed, her voice tearing her throat.
Underwater, the beam of the captain's flashlight cut through the murky gloom. He swam straight down toward the deepest trench. There, pinned beneath the massive, fallen marble statue, was Daniel. His eyes were closed, his body entirely limp. The thick iron chain was wrapped viciously around his lower leg.
But clutched in Daniel's right hand, rigid with the final, desperate spasm of a dying man, was the heavy iron crowbar Aunt Elena had dropped earlier. In his last moments of consciousness, Daniel had grabbed the rusted tool and used his fading strength to strike it repeatedly against the metal drainage grate at the bottom of the pool.
The captain didn't waste a second. He swam to the statue, wedging his heavy diving boots against the concrete floor. Using all his leverage, he shoved the marble pillar just enough to slide the chain off Daniel's ankle. He grabbed the unconscious man by the collar of his ruined shirt and kicked violently toward the surface.
They breached the water with a loud, splashing gasp.
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"I've got him! Pull him up!" the captain shouted.
Dozens of hands reached down into the gap, hauling Daniel's lifeless, blue-tinged body out of the water and slamming him onto the hard deck.
