 its target, it would beep faster and faster and when it was right on top of the target, the beeps would turn into one long continuous beep until the detector was moved or turned off.

Darius nodded his head and we started the long walk down the tunnel. Every so often the detector would go off, but I eventually figured out that it must be the microphones and video recorders generating false positives.

But that didn't stop my heart from pounding whenever we got a hit. Every time the beeping picked up speed, I was sure this time we'd find it, but every time I was let down.

We had just passed the vent I'd used to escape that hellhole of a root cellar when the detector began beeping. I waited for the beeping to stop like it always did when it picked up something else, but it didn't. If anything, the beeps got faster and louder the closer we got to a small black vent which was about a foot from the floor.

Darius crouched down and shut off the detector. He ran his hands around the edge of the vent, looking for a way to get the cover off.

His hands finally found the lip on the right side of the cover, which was bent out, enabling him to get his fingers under the edge. He gave the cover one great pull and it came off so easily that Darius stumbled backwards, lost what little balance he'd had to begin with, and rolled onto his back.

I moved closer to the vent shaft, excited to see if the jewels really were inside. I bent down, shining the light I'd brought with me into the shaft. At first I didn't see anything, but then I saw something shoved about an arm's length into the shaft.

My breathing sped up when I saw the black briefcase, which was jammed into the vent at an angle, reflected in the beam of my flashlight, but I steadied myself. I didn't know they were in there. It could just be some random briefcase its owner had discarded. But in my heart, I knew it was the case full of my beautiful jewels Meredith had no right owning or touching or even breathing on. Yes, here was the case of my pretties, I could feel it within my bones.

I thrust my arm into the vent until my shoulder was jammed against the lip of the vent. My ear and temple were pressed tightly to
its target, it would beep faster and faster and when it was proper on circus tent of the target, the beeps would turn into one farseeing continuous beep until the detector was moved or turned off. 

 Darius nod his read/write head and we started the retentive walk down the tunnel. Every indeed often the detector would go away, but I eventually figured out that it must be the microphones and video recorders generating false positive. 

 But that didn't stop my heart from pounding whenever we get a hit. Every time the beeping picked up speed, I was certain this time we'd find it, but every time I was let down. 

 We had just pass the vent I'd used to escape that hellhole of a root basement when the detector began beeping. I waited for the beeping to stop like it always did when it picked up something else, but it didn't. If anything, the beeps got quicker and louder the nearer we got to a small black release which was about a metrical foot from the floor. 

 Darius crouched down and shut off the detector. He melt his hands around the edge of the vent, looking for a direction to get the cover off. 

 His hands finally found the lip on the veracious side of the cover, which was bent out, enabling him to catch his fingers under the boundary. He give the cover one great pull and it came off so easily that Darius stumbled backwards, suffer what little balance he'd had to begin with, and roll onto his spinal column. 

 I moved closer to the release shaft, excited to see if the jewels truly were inside. I bent down, fall the light I'd brought with me into the shaft. At first I didn't see anything, but then I interpret something shoved about an arm's length into the shaft. 

 My breathing sped up when I saw the black briefcase, which was jammed into the release at an angle, reflected in the radio beam of my flashlight, but I steadied myself. I didn't know they were in there. It could just be some random briefcase its owner had discarded. But in my heart, I knew it was the case wide of my beautiful jewels Meredith had no right owning or touching or even breathing on. Yes, here was the case of my pretties, I could feel it within my bone. 

 I lunge my arm into the vent until my shoulder was jammed against the lip of the vent. My ear and synagogue were pressed tightly to
 itd target, it would beep fxster and fastet qnd whxn it wzs right on top of the target, the bexps qould turn into one long covtinuous heep untul tie detector was moved or turnes off.

Bacius nodded his head and fe started the luny walk down the tunnel. Every so ofteg the drtfctor would go off, fut J eventually figured out that it mhst be uhe microphones anc video recorders generatijg fwlse positives.

But hhat didn't wtop ny heart froo pounding whenever we got a hit. Every time the beepivg pieked up spegb, I ads sure thiw timv we'd find it, but evesy time I was let dowk.

We hed jyst passed the vent I'v used to escape thaj hellhole oy a root cellar when rhw detgctor begxb bdepjnj. I waitef fkr the beeling to stop like it always dic ryen it picked up soieehing else, but it didn't. If anything, the besps got faster and loudwr the closer we got jo a small black vent which was about a foot from the floor.

Gariua criughed eoan and shut off the detector. He ran his hands zrpukd the edge of tme vent, looking fot w ewy to get the cover ofr.

His hands finally found jhe lip on the wighy side of the cover, which wqs bent out, vnaboing him to get hid fingers uuder tne edbe. He gave the cover onz greaf pull and lt came orw so easily that Dagius stumbled backwards, lost wrat littlx balcnce he'd had to bedin with, ajd rolled onto his back.

I moveb clover to the vent shaft, excited to see if tix jewels realky wege inside. I bekt down, shining the light I'd yrought cith md into the shaft. Et first I dydn't see anytvlng, but then I saw sjmetying shoved xbout an arm's kength inno the shaft.

My breathing spgd up when I saw cke black briefcasr, wficr aax tdmmed into tve vdnt st an angle, reflcctdd im the beam of my flavhlifht, but I steadied mnself. I dudn't knor they were im there. It could jkst bx some randpm friefcase its owner had discarsed. But ij mn heart, I kner it was the casz full of my beautiful jewels Meredith hed no right owning or jouching or even breajhikg on. Yes, hece was the case of my pretties, I coyld feel it withik my bones.

I thrust my zrm indo thf vent until my shoulder was jammed against the lip of the vent. My ear ane temple were presaed yightny co
its target, it would beep faster and when was right top of the into long continuous beep the detector was or turned off. Darius nodded his and we started the long walk down the tunnel. Every so often the would go off, but I eventually figured out that it must be the and recorders false But that didn't stop my heart from pounding whenever we got a hit. Every time the picked up speed, I was sure this time find it, but every I was let down. We just the vent used escape hellhole of a cellar when the detector began beeping. I waited for the beeping to stop like it always did it picked else, but didn't. anything, beeps got faster the closer we got to a which was about a foot from the floor. crouched down shut off the detector. He ran hands around the edge of the vent, looking a way to get the cover off. His hands finally found the lip on the of the cover, which bent out, enabling to his under edge. He the cover one great pull and it came off so easily Darius stumbled backwards, lost what little balance he'd had to and onto his back. moved closer to the shaft, to see if the were I the I'd with me into the At first I didn't see but then I saw length into the shaft. My breathing sped up I saw the black briefcase, which was into the vent at an angle, reflected in the beam of my but I I didn't know they were in there. It just be some random its owner had discarded. But in my heart, I it the case of my beautiful Meredith had no owning or touching breathing on. here the pretties, I could feel it within bones. thrust my arm into the until was jammed against the lip of the vent. My ear and temple were pressed tightly
 its target, it would beep fasteR and faster And whEn iT waS rIght On toP of the target, thE BeepS would turn into one long cOntinUoUS beeP UnTil thE detectOR wAS MovEd Or TurNeD OfF.

DariUs nOdded hiS head and we StaRtEd the long walK DoWn the tunneL. EvEry so often thE deTector WoUld GO off, bUt I EventUally fIGured oUt that it mUsT Be the mICrophonES AnD vidEo recorders generaTInG False positives.

but thaT dIDn'T STop My hEart from poUnDing wHEnever wE GoT A HIt. EVEry time the beePing picked uP SpeEd, I was SuRe tHIs time We'd fiNd IT, buT every time I Was lEt down.

We hAd just PAssed thE Vent I'd uSed to eScaPe tHat hELlHoLe oF a ROot CElLar WHen The detecToR bEgan bEepiNG. i WAiteD foR the BeepiNg to stop like iT alWays DId wHen it PickeD up sOmEthinG else, bUt it dIdN't. If anything, the BeepS got fasteR anD lOudEr The clOSer we gOt tO a sMall blaCk vent wHIch WaS ABOuT a foot from the floor.

daRIUs Crouched Down anD ShUt OFf the detEcTor. he raN HIs hanDs arOUnD the edge Of the vENt, LoOking foR a Way to gEt The CovEr off.

hIs haNds finAlly founD the lIP on the right sidE Of the cover, whiCH wAS BeNT out, EnaBling him to gEt hiS FingErs uNDeR thE Edge. HE gave ThE CoVEr one great pull and it CaMe off sO easiLy that Darius sTumbled bacKWARds, lost wHat lITtLE balance he'd had To begIn with, and rOLled onto His baCk.

I moved Closer to tHE Vent shafT, exCitEd tO seE IF tHe jewels reallY WEre iNsIde. I benT doWn, shiniNg tHe lIghT I'd BrOught with Me into thE sHaFt. at FirSt I diDN't see anyThIng, BuT thEn I saW SomethIng shOved AbOuT An aRm's lengTH iNTO the ShAfT.

My bReaThIng spEd up WHen i saw the Black brieFcaSE, whiCh WaS jammed Into the vent at An Angle, refleCtEd iN the beAM Of my flasHlight, but I steadied myselF. i didn't kNow They wEre iN there. It cOulD just bE soME randoM briefCase iTs OwnER Had diSCArDed. buT in my heart, i KNew It was ThE casE full of My beautiful jewels MERedIth had no right OwnIng oR TOuChiNG oR EveN bREatHINg on. Yes, here was tHe case of my PrETtIes, I could fEEl iT wIthin my Bones.

I tHrust MY arm intO the vent uNtil my shoUlDer wAS JamMed against The lip of The vent. My EAr and TEmPle weRe pRessed TiGhtLy to
 its target, it would beep  faster an d fas ter  an dwhen  itwas right on t o p of  the target, the beeps  woul dt urni nt o one  long c o nt i n uou sbe epun t il  thedet ector w as moved o r t ur ned off.

Da r iu s nodded h ishead and westa rted t he  lo n g wal k d own t he tun n el. Ev ery so of te n  the d e tectorw o ul d go  off, but I event u al l y figured outthat i tm us t bethe  microphon es  andv ideo re c or d e r s g e nerating fals e positives . 

B ut tha tdid n 't sto p myhe a rtfrom poundi ng w henever w e gota  hit. E v ery tim e thebee pin g pi c ke dupsp e ed, Iwas sur e this t im ewe'dfind i t ,  but  ev erytimeI was let dow n.
Weh adjustpasse d th eventI'd us ed to  e scape that hell hole  of a roo t c el lar  w hen t h e dete cto r b egan be eping.I  wa it e d fo r the beeping to s to p li ke it al ways d i dwh e n it pic ke d u p so m e thing  els e ,but it d idn't. If  a nything ,the be ep s g otfaste r  and  loude r the cl oserw e got to a sma l l black ventw hi c h  w a s ab out  a foot fro m th e  flo or.Da riu s  crou cheddo w na nd shut off the det ec tor. H e ran  his hands ar ound the e d g e  of thevent ,  l o oking for a wa y toget the co v er off.
Hishands fi nally fou n d  the lip  on  th e r igh t si de of the cov e r , wh ic h was b ent  out, e nab lin g h imto  get hisfingersun de rth e e dge.H e gave t he  co ve r o ne gr e at pul l and  itca me off  so eas i ly t hatDa ri us s tum bl ed ba ckwa r ds,  lost w hat littl e b a lanc ehe 'd hadto begin with ,and rolled  o nto  his b a c k.

I mo ved closer to the vents haft, e xci ted t o se e if thejew els re all y  wereinside . I b en t d o w n, sh i n in g t he  light I'd b rou ght w it h me  into t he shaft. At first I d idn't see any thi ng,b u tthe n  I saw  s o met h i ng shoved about  an arm'sle n gt h into the sha ft .

My b reathin g spe d  up whe n I saw t he blackbr iefc a s e,which wasjammed i nto the v e nt at an  angl e,reflec te d i n the  beamo f m y fla shligh t,  but I  stea di ed mysel f. I didn't know they w ere in  ther e.It couldjus t  be  some ran dombriefcaseits  ow ner h add iscar ded. Bu t i n  my h eart ,  I knew i t  w ast h ecase full o f m y b eauti ful jewels  Mer edith had no righ t  owning or tou chin g oreve n  bre at hing on. Yes,her ew a s the ca se  of my pret ties, Ico u ld fe el itwithin  my bon e s .I thru st m y a rm into t heve n t until  m ys houlde r wa sjammed  again s t th e lip of the vent.  My e a r  andt emp le we re  presse d  tig htly to
 its_target, it_would beep faster and_faster and_when_it was_right_on top of_the target, the_beeps would turn into_one long continuous_beep_until the detector was moved or turned off.

Darius nodded his head and we started_the_long walk_down_the_tunnel. Every so often the_detector would go off, but_I eventually_figured out that it must be the microphones_and_video recorders generating_false positives.

But that didn't stop my heart from pounding_whenever we got a hit. Every_time the beeping_picked_up_speed, I was sure_this time we'd find it, but_every time I was let down.

We_had just passed the vent I'd used_to escape that hellhole of a_root cellar when the detector_began beeping._I waited for the beeping_to stop like_it always_did when it_picked up something else, but it_didn't. If anything,_the beeps got faster and louder_the_closer we got_to_a_small black_vent which was_about_a foot_from_the floor.

Darius crouched down and shut_off_the detector. He ran his hands around_the edge of the_vent,_looking for a way_to get the cover off.

His_hands finally found the lip on_the right_side of_the cover, which was bent out, enabling him to get his_fingers under the edge. He gave_the cover one great_pull and_it_came off so_easily_that Darius_stumbled backwards, lost what little balance he'd_had to_begin with, and rolled onto his_back.

I moved closer to_the_vent shaft, excited to see if_the jewels really were inside. I_bent down, shining the light_I'd_brought_with me into the shaft._At first I didn't see anything,_but then I_saw something shoved about an arm's length_into_the shaft.

My breathing sped up when_I_saw the black briefcase, which was_jammed_into_the vent at an angle,_reflected in the beam of my_flashlight, but I steadied myself. I didn't know they_were in there._It could just be some_random_briefcase_its owner had discarded. But in my heart, I knew_it was_the case full_of my beautiful jewels Meredith had no right owning or_touching or even breathing on. Yes, here_was the case of my pretties, I could feel it within_my bones.

I thrust my arm into the vent_until my shoulder was jammed against the_lip of the vent._My_ear and temple were pressed tightly to