"Mr. Whitmore?"
The old man smiled.
"Hello, Claire."
Marcus stepped aside.
The woman stopped in front of the old man.
"I thought you weren't coming."
"I almost didn't."
Claire glanced at Marcus.
"He wouldn't let me upstairs."
Marcus frowned.
"Ms. Bennett, you know him?"
"Know him?"
She laughed nervously.
"He's the reason I have a job."
Marcus looked between them.
Claire lowered her voice.
"Mr. Whitmore was Harrison Grand's first chief engineer."
Marcus stared.
That didn't explain why he had no appointment.
Claire continued.
"He designed half of this building."
The old man looked embarrassed.
"I merely supervised construction."
Claire smiled.
"You designed it."
Marcus looked at the building around him.
Thirty-two floors.
A landmark structure.
Opened twenty-nine years earlier.
Marcus had seen photographs of the construction.
But he had never connected the name Daniel Whitmore to the building.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Marcus asked.
The old man shrugged.
"You didn't ask who I used to be."
Marcus didn't know what to say.
Claire stepped toward the elevator.
"Come on. Mrs. Harrison is waiting."
The old man turned.
Then he looked back at Marcus.
"Don't worry."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"About what?"
Daniel Whitmore smiled.
"I don't blame you."
The elevator doors closed.
Marcus remained in the lobby.
For some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that something important had just happened.
He was right.
But he had no idea how important.
The next morning, Marcus arrived at work at 4:30 p.m.
He expected nothing unusual.
Instead, his supervisor was waiting for him.
"Marcus."
"What's up?"
"Office."
Marcus followed him.
His supervisor closed the door.
"There's been a complaint."
Marcus sighed.
"About the old man?"
"Yes."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"I followed procedure."
"I know."
"Then what's the problem?"
"The problem is that Mr. Whitmore filed a written report."
Marcus's stomach tightened.
"What did he say?"
His supervisor slid a document across the desk.
Marcus read it.
He expected accusations.
He found none.
Instead, Daniel Whitmore had written:
"The security officer behaved exactly as he should have. He was polite, cautious, and professional. Please make sure he is not disciplined because of my visit."
Marcus looked up.
"That's it?"
"Not exactly."
His supervisor handed him another page.
"This came from Mrs. Harrison."
Marcus read it.
Then read it again.
"What's she asking?"
"She wants you assigned to the thirty-second floor tonight."
"Me?"
"Specifically you."
Marcus frowned.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
His supervisor leaned back.
"But apparently Mr. Whitmore asked for you."
Marcus felt a strange uneasiness.
"Why would he do that?"
"Maybe he likes you."
Marcus laughed.
"After I blocked him from the elevator?"
"Maybe that's exactly why."
At 7:00 p.m., Marcus took the private elevator to the thirty-second floor.
The floor looked nothing like the lobby.
Dark wood.
Quiet corridors.
Private offices.
Large windows overlooking the city.
Marcus checked his radio.
Then he saw Daniel Whitmore standing beside the window.
The old man was looking down at the streets.
"Mr. Whitmore."
Daniel turned.
"Marcus."
"Mrs. Harrison asked me to report here."
"I know."
Marcus waited.
Daniel gestured toward a chair.
"Sit."
Marcus remained standing.
"I'm working."
"I know."
Daniel smiled.
"That's why I asked for you."
Marcus frowned.
"Why?"
Daniel walked slowly toward a conference table.
He placed his canvas bag on it.
Then he opened it.
Inside was a collection of old papers.
Blueprints.
Photographs.
Construction documents.
Marcus looked at them.
"What is all this?"
"The history of this building."
"I don't understand."
"You will."
Daniel spread out an old blueprint.
Marcus recognized the tower immediately.
But then Daniel pointed to something unusual.
A narrow section beneath the building.
"Do you know what's underneath the Harrison Grand?"
Marcus shook his head.
"Parking garage."
"Partly."
Daniel pointed again.
"There is an old emergency structure beneath the foundation."
Marcus leaned closer.
"What kind?"
"An evacuation shelter."
Marcus stared.
"Why?"
"Because thirty years ago, there was a threat."
"What kind?"
Daniel's expression changed.
"Someone wanted this building destroyed."