Chapter 6 - THE STAR IN THE CORNER
Sloan returned to her apartment and opened an old storage box.
Inside were photographs.
School certificates.
A faded birthday card.
And a rolled sheet of drafting paper.
She carefully unfolded it.
The Harbor Street restoration drawing.
Her own handwriting.
Her father's corrections.
And in the lower corner, a tiny blue star.
Sloan stared.
Then noticed something she'd never understood.
The blue wall was thicker than the surrounding masonry.
Too thick.
Not by much.
But enough.
She took out a ruler.
Measured the scale.
Then measured again.
Her heart began racing.
The wall concealed a narrow cavity.
Not large enough for a person.
But large enough for a metal document case.
She called Roman.
He answered immediately.
"Sloan?"
"I found something."
His voice sharpened.
"What?"
"The drawing."
Silence.
Then:
"Where are you?"
"At home."
"Don't go anywhere."
Sloan rolled her eyes.
"Roman, I'm not twelve."
"I know."
His voice softened.
"That's why I'm asking, not ordering."
She paused.
Then smiled.
"Fine."
Twenty minutes later, Roman arrived.
Sloan spread the drawing across her kitchen table.
He studied it.
Then looked at her.
"You found the cavity."
She nodded.
"And I think I know where the access panel is."
Roman stared.
"How?"
May you like
Sloan pointed to the blue star.
"Because I drew it."
