Chapter 3 - BUILDING 14James had not heard his father's name spoken beside Connor's mother before.

His father had been dead for eleven years.

A heart attack, according to every official document.

A businessman collapsing at home.

A tragedy.

A closed chapter.

Now Tommy had reopened it with four words.

He wasn't supposed to die.

Police escorted Tommy to an ambulance.

James stayed behind.

An officer approached.

"You know anything about this building?"

"Not enough."

The officer glanced toward the chained door.

"We've got no legal reason to open that without a warrant."

James stared at it.

The red paint had faded into rust.

There were deep scratches around the lock.

Not scratches from forcing it open.

Scratches from forcing it shut.

James's phone buzzed.

Elliot.

"Dad."

"What is it?"

"We're still parked outside."

James frowned.

"You weren't supposed to leave the car."

"We didn't."

Elliot lowered his voice.

"But someone is standing across the street."

James looked outside.

A woman in a dark coat was standing near a vending machine.

She wasn't looking at the police.

She was looking directly at the ambulance.

Connor was beside Elliot inside the vehicle.

The moment Connor saw the woman, he ducked.

"That's her."

James walked back to the car.

"What did she do?"

Connor whispered, "She was with the man in the blue jacket."

James looked again.

The woman was gone.

He called the officer.

"Check the perimeter."

The officer nodded.

But whoever she was, she had disappeared.

Later that night, Tommy was awake in the hospital.

James sat beside him.

"Tell me everything."

Tommy stared at the ceiling.

"Your father came here once."

"When?"

"Three months before he died."

"Why?"

"Because Elena asked him for help."

"Why would she ask my father?"

"Because she worked for a company called Northstar Freight."

James recognized the name.

Northstar had been contracted to store materials for the massive Austin rail redevelopment project.

"What did she find?"

"Payments."

"What kind?"

"Payments to people who weren't supposed to receive them."

James leaned closer.

"Bribes?"

Tommy nodded.

"Officials. Contractors. Inspectors."

"And my father?"

"He started asking questions."

James felt his heartbeat increase.

"Then?"

Tommy hesitated.

"Then Elena became scared."

"Of Northstar?"

"Of everyone."

Tommy slowly reached under his pillow.

He pulled out a folded paper.

"I took this after they attacked me."

James opened it.

A handwritten note.

RED DOOR. 7-17-09. ASK THE BOY WHAT HE REMEMBERS.

James looked up.

"What does 7-17-09 mean?"

Tommy swallowed.

"I don't know."

James showed Connor the note.

The boy stared at the numbers.

Then he began shaking.

"Connor?"

He pointed.

"The door."

"What about it?"

"My mom wrote those numbers."

"Are you sure?"

Connor nodded.

"She told me to remember them."

James crouched.

"Why?"

Connor whispered, "Because she said one day somebody would come looking for me."

"Who?"

Connor stared at James.

"You."

James said nothing.

Connor's eyes filled with tears.

"My mom said if a man named James ever found me, I should trust him."

James felt the room shift around him.

"My father knew your mother."

Connor shook his head.

"No."

He pointed at James.

"My mom knew you."

James stared at the boy.

"Connor, we've never met."

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Connor whispered the final sentence.

"She had a picture of you."