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He and Gamay slipped out of Brimmer’s office and quickly made their way across the wide looainst the wall, and they stepped out onto the fire escape, only to stop short

The rickety old fire escape was tre footfalls on the cast-iron steps The Trouts ducked back inside, and Paul picked up the two-by-four he’d just left behind They plastered thehtened his grip on the board

Low male voices could be heard, then a quick exclamation of surprise The men had found the smashed latch Then the voices ceased

The door opened slowly A figure stepped inside, followed by another There was a spark, as the lead hter Paul calculated that he would have a second to act and brought the two-by-four down on the head of the second figure The hter turned at the thwack of wood s a revolver in his other hand Paul jammed him in the midsection with the end of the two-by-four, and followed up with a blow to the head as the man doubled over

The Trouts dashed through the door, paused briefly tothe fire escape, then flen the steps and raced to their vehicle As they drove away fro toward it, lights blinking but sirens silent

Ga a bat like Ted Williams?”

“The Woods Hole suue I played first base for the institution’s oceanography team Strictly for fun Didn’t even keep score”

“Well, I’ to put you down for 2 to 0, after that neat double play,” Gamay said

“Thanks I guess we’ve reached a dead end on the Dobbs logbookLiterally,” Paul said

Gaht for a moment

“Captain Dobbs wasn’t the only one rote down his memoirs,” she said

“Caleb Nye?” he said “All his records went up in flames”

“Rachael Dobbs mentioned the diorama Isn’t that a record of sorts?”

Suddenly energized, he said, “It’s worth a try”

Paul pumped the SUV’s accelerator and headed across town to the Dobbs mansion