“I know,” Derek said. “And Jake threatened to evict him if he didn’t have the cash by tonight.”

“He’s doing the same to Mrs. Patterson right now,” Derek added.

My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket, the silent buzz feeling like an electric shock against my hip.

I grabbed it quickly to stifle the vibration.

It was a text from Jake: *Where are you? Alvarez is stalling. I need the master keys.*

I looked back through the crack in the door.

Carl was standing up now, using the boiler pipe to support his weight.

“He won’t touch my tenants,” Carl said.

“You can’t just walk up there, Carl,” Derek said, reaching out to stop him.

“If Jake sees you with this drive, he’ll take it,” Derek said.

“I have the police on speed dial,” Carl said, slipping the flash drive into his wool coat.

“No, they won’t believe you without a lawyer,” Derek said.

“You need to get to Mr. Alvarez’s apartment first,” Derek insisted.

“If you can get Alvarez to back you up, Jake can’t do anything,” Derek said.