The letter continued for several pages.
Thomas described how he had met Detective Paul Mercer. He explained that Mercer had secretly recorded conversations between Deputy Chief Mitchell, Commissioner Harrington, and Mayor Caldwell.
He also wrote that the warehouse had been used to hold people temporarily while officials decided what to do with them.
Rebecca stopped at one paragraph.
Her voice broke.
I saw what they did to a man named Samuel Lewis. He was beaten because he refused to withdraw a statement. I tried to help him. I promised his wife that I would find a way to expose the people responsible.
Marcus looked at David.
Samuel Lewis was Margaret's husband.
The two investigations were connected.
Rebecca continued.
If you find this letter, please give the enclosed documents to someone outside Brookhaven. Do not trust anyone who tells you that the matter has already been investigated. The people responsible have friends in every office.
At the bottom of the page was another sentence.
The truth is not in this room. This room only tells you where to look.
Rebecca looked up.
“What does that mean?”
Daniel examined the letter.
“Maybe there's another location.”
Elena opened the box's remaining contents.
There were several photographs, a list of company names, and a folded map of the eastern industrial district.
One location had been marked with a red X.
The old river warehouse.
David studied it.
“That's where the vehicle transfer record said Thomas was taken.”
Marcus looked at Rebecca.
“Your father may have left the final evidence there.”
Rebecca wiped her eyes.
“Then that's where we need to go.”
Elena shook her head.
“Not yet. We need to secure this room and examine every document. We also need to establish whether the warehouse is safe.”
A sudden noise came from the corridor.
Everyone turned.
Footsteps.
Fast footsteps.
One of the investigators moved toward the door.
“State investigators! Identify yourself!”
No answer came.
Then the lights went out.
Rebecca screamed.
Emergency lights flickered on a few seconds later, casting the corridor in a dim red glow.
A loud crash sounded from the basement entrance.
Elena drew her weapon.
“Everyone stay inside!”
Marcus moved in front of Rebecca and Patricia.
David reached for his phone.
“There's no signal.”
Daniel Cho checked his radio.
“Command, this is Cho. We have a possible intrusion at the records building. Request immediate assistance.”
Static answered.
Then a voice came through.
“Cho, get away from the basement door. Someone has cut the external communications line.”
Elena looked toward the corridor.
“They knew we were coming.”
A shadow moved past the doorway.
One of the investigators shouted.
“Stop!”
A struggle followed.
Something struck the wall.
Then came a gunshot.
Rebecca dropped to the floor.
Marcus pulled her behind the filing cabinet.
“Stay down!”
Another shot echoed through the building.
Elena moved toward the door with Daniel behind her.
David crouched beside Marcus.
“Are you all right?”
Marcus nodded.
“Where's Patricia?”
“Behind the shelves.”
A voice came from the corridor.
“State investigators! Drop your weapons!”
Then another voice answered.
“You don't understand. We're here for the documents.”
Marcus recognized the tone.
It was not a police officer's voice.
It was the voice of someone who believed he had the right to take whatever he wanted.
Elena shouted.
“Put your weapon down!”
A moment later, a man stumbled into the room with his hands raised.
He wore a dark jacket and had a cut across his forehead.
Daniel seized his arm and forced him against the wall.
“Who sent you?”
The man said nothing.
Elena approached.
“Name.”
He looked at Rebecca.
Then he looked at the box.
His expression changed.
“You shouldn't have opened that.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“Who are you?”
The man smiled faintly.
“You're already too late.”
Elena tightened her grip on his arm.
“What does that mean?”
The man looked directly at Rebecca.
“Your father wasn't the only person who knew about this room.”
Before anyone could ask another question, a second attacker appeared at the end of the corridor and threw a small object through the doorway.
It struck the floor and released a thick cloud of smoke.
“Move!” Elena shouted.
The investigators pulled everyone toward the opposite exit.
Marcus grabbed the box.
David helped Patricia.
Rebecca held the photograph of her father against her chest.
They rushed through a service passage and emerged into the rear courtyard.