I don't blame you for not wanting to follow him into the basement-- he probably just wants you to come down so he can club you and take your wallet.
My cat Gabby is always trying to get me to follow her (rather than just pet her where ever we happen to be) too. I think for cats like that it's less about the pettings and more about the control of getting a hy00man to follow them around as they wander aimlessly. Cats are such bastards.