Chapter 7 - THE ROOM BENEATH THE HARBOR
Harbor Street had been partially demolished after the fire.
But the original foundation remained beneath a newer commercial building.
Roman arranged legal access through the property owner.
A structural engineer accompanied them.
Sloan insisted on attending.
Roman objected.
She ignored him.
They entered the basement through a service corridor.
The air smelled of damp concrete and rust.
Sloan carried a flashlight.
Roman stayed close.
At the eastern wall, she stopped.
"This is it."
The engineer examined the masonry.
"There's a difference in the material."
Sloan nodded.
"Because this section was added later."
A careful inspection revealed a concealed access panel.
Behind it sat a narrow metal case.
Roman stared.
Sloan's hands trembled.
The case was removed and opened under documented supervision.
Inside were old financial records.
Property deeds.
Shipping manifests.
And photographs.
Several names appeared repeatedly.
One belonged to Preston Hayes.
Another belonged to a powerful developer named Malcolm Voss.
Roman's expression darkened.
Voss had spent years trying to control the waterfront redevelopment district.
And now the records suggested he had been using forged property transfers and concealed financial arrangements to acquire valuable land.
Sloan looked at Roman.
"Preston wasn't acting alone."
Roman nodded.
"No."
May you like
She stared at the documents.
"Then my father's company was destroyed for a reason."
