Chapter 14 - The Night Shift
"Call the fire department," Adrian told Miles. "And tell the police somebody may be entering a closed worksite with dangerous equipment."
He drove with Tessa to Ash Street. Lena stayed with Ivy and a trusted neighbor, though she argued until Adrian promised to call the moment he arrived.
At the building, the rear gate hung open. A chemical smell drifted from the basement stairwell.
"Don't go down there," Tessa said.
"I'm not," Adrian answered. "We evacuate people and let firefighters handle the equipment."
He woke the first-floor tenants while Tessa went door to door on the opposite side. Marisol came from her apartment above the day-care, already pulling on a coat.
"How many?" she asked.
"Twenty-eight apartments. Please use the front stairs."
Within minutes, residents gathered in the chilly courtyard carrying blankets, diaper bags, and pets. Adrian counted them with Marisol. One name was missing.
"Mr. Alvarez," she said. "Third floor. He uses a walker."
Adrian started toward the door, but a firefighter caught his arm. "We've got him. Stay outside and keep the exits clear."
They brought Mr. Alvarez down. A second firefighter found his cat.
Police found the cutting torch abandoned in the basement. A section of the ventilation wall had been opened, but nothing had caught fire. The intruder escaped through the rear loading dock.
Tessa photographed the fresh damage from an area the fire captain approved. "Someone was looking for the other records," she said.
Adrian stared at the hole. Someone had endangered sleeping families to get the evidence.
"We need to get the original documents into official custody tonight."
As the emergency crews packed their equipment, Marisol brought him something found beside the cut wall: a brass key attached to a plastic tag.
On the tag was a number, 308, and the name of a downtown safe-deposit facility.
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Adrian recognized the bank immediately.
It was where Preston had kept the family papers for decades.
