The rain beat a steady, heavy rhythm against the pavement at my feet.

I slipped the phone back into my pocket and pulled my coat tighter around my shoulders.

Through the glass doors of the side entrance, I could see shadows moving rapidly.

Red and blue light pulsed against the marble walls of the interior corridor.

I stepped deeper into the shadow of the stone archway, my boots sinking into a shallow puddle.

The metal hard drive in my bag pressed hard against my ribs.

It was heavy, cold, and held every file my father had gathered before his death.

A sudden shout echoed from the main entrance around the corner.

I crept along the wet brick wall, keeping low beneath the decorative hedges.

The cold rain ran down the back of my neck.

From my position, I had a clear view of the grand steps leading down to the street.

Three police cruisers were parked at angles across the asphalt, their doors flung wide.

Alexander was already on the steps.

Two officers in yellow slickers held his arms, guiding him down toward the lead car.