Chapter 11 - The People in the Brochure
"Take your hands off her coat," I said.
The guard released it when he saw Monroe coming behind us.
Rosa Vega stood against the wall with her two children. She was older than Iris, with tired eyes and a paper invitation twisted between her fingers.
"We weren't told we couldn't come," she said. "They asked me to tell everyone how Haven Bridge saved our family."
"Where have you been?" Iris demanded, throwing her arms around her.
"My phone died. I got stuck on a bus. What happened to you?"
"A lot."
Rosa showed us a printed statement she'd been told to read. It said her apartment was newly renovated and her children were thriving there.
"We're sleeping on my aunt's couch," she said. "They locked us out three weeks ago."
Sloane took down her words. This wasn't a brochure model or an anonymous statistic. Rosa had two children asking why grown-ups kept lying about their home.
Elliot examined the prepared statement. "Who wrote this?"
Rosa pointed at Vanessa, who had followed us into the room.
"Her assistant brought it yesterday. She said I had to use their words or we wouldn't get housing again."
Vanessa's jaw tightened. "We're trying to protect families from unsafe buildings."
"Then where did the repair money go?" I asked.
"You don't know anything about running a foundation."
"I know a locked door when I see one. I know a threatened witness. And I know sixteen families aren't props for a fundraiser."
Monroe's radio crackled. The second officer had reached basement three. The inventory room's door showed signs of forced entry from the emergency key box, and a nearby cabinet contained Iris's phone.
"And Pike?" Monroe asked.
"Gone," came the reply. "His car's leaving the garage."
May you like
At that exact moment, Rosa's phone finally turned on. A text from an unknown number filled her screen.
MONDAY, 6 A.M. ALL UNITS CLEARED. NO EXCEPTIONS.
