Annie sucked in her breath and slid the hard plastic sheet to the side. She tapped at the floor-boards until she found the one that would pop out. She lifted the panel and peered down at the secret safe and went to work. She wanted to shout at the top of her lungs when she got it right the first time. She opened the door of the safe and stared down at the contents. Small bundles of money. She flipped through the bills and estimated there was twenty-five thousand dollars, give or take a few dollars. Quick-getaway money, nothing more. She riffled through the files but couldn’t find anything related to baby adoptions. A huge file about a road project in Bowie, Maryland, took up one shelf in the safe. The second shelf held personal papers, including birth certificates, passports, and other assorted papers pertaining to Bell’s family. It also housed other files, one for a senator and some young boy charging him with things he shouldn’t be charged with, at least according to the senator. She shrugged, then almost jumped out of her skin when Myra tapped her on the shoulder. She whirled around, her eyes big as saucers.

“Someone is out in the hallway. I could hear voices. What did you find, Annie?”

“Nothing, but if you want the skinny on Senator Lantzy, I can give it to you. There’s some money, not a lot, but that’s it. Someone beat us here. The carpet was wet by the big old safe, and there was a puddle on the plastic before I moved it. What did you hear?” Annie asked as she closed the safe, slid the hard plastic back into place, then pushed the chair under the desk.

“Just voices. Sounded like men to me. There’s a dentist and an insurance agency on this floor, but I can’t believe someone came out in this weather to go to a dentist or to buy insurance. We can’t leave until they leave, whoever they are. I was going to turn the lights out but decided to leave them on. The light might be reflected on that funny-looking door.”

“Good thinking, Myra. Who did you get hold of?”

“Jack. Harry is with him, and they’re at the house in Georgetown. Jack said it took him almost three hours on foot to get home. The babies are supposed to be taken to Maggie’s house. They’re there to help. Ted and Espinosa are on the way. Jack said he’s been trying to call Nikki and Charles, but there’s no signal. He did get hold of Maggie, who is still at the paper. She is sitting tight and doesn’t want to attempt the trip home. Jack says we should stay put for a little while since this phone is our only means of communication.”