The Smoky Corridor

85

Zack and Zipper hurried down the staircase to the janitor’s closet.

Zack shoved open the door and saw that Malik or Azalea or somebody had left the sliding shelving unit wide open.

He quickly grabbed a flashlight.

“Come on, Zip. Into the root cellar. I’ll close the secret panel behind us.”

But then Zack heard somebody thudding down the steps from the main building.

He wouldn’t have time to close up the secret portal.

“Let’s go!”

Zack and Zipper darted into the root cellar.

Zack whistled.

Zipper jumped up into his arms.

Zack sat down in front of the hole in the wall, worked his legs into the opening, and, snuggling Zipper, slid down the chute into the darkness.