James straightened. "If you call the police, we'll explain that we're lawful tenants trying to enter our apartment."
"Try it."
From her balcony, Lillian Carter had begun recording. She captured Richard standing above the couple, the scattered groceries, and Jonah's comment about where they belonged. She captured the precise moment Richard pulled a copy of the Washington lease from his pocket, crushed the pages into a ball, and threw them at Eleanor's feet. Most importantly, her phone recorded his voice clearly enough that no one would later be able to claim he had spoken quietly or been misunderstood.
"Paper doesn't matter without somebody willing to enforce it," Richard said.
He walked into the lobby. The developers followed, though Grant paused long enough to look at the ruined groceries with an expression that might have been shame. Then the door shut. The lock turned with a hollow metallic click.
For several seconds, Eleanor and James remained under the rain. The people behind the windows stayed there, motionless silhouettes behind curtains. Eleanor understood some of their fear. Richard controlled leases, keys, and repairs. Speaking up for one neighbor could make someone the next target. Still, understanding fear did not erase the loneliness of standing outside while everybody watched.
James gathered the salvageable items and guided Eleanor to their old Honda. They sat in the car without starting the engine. The windows fogged slowly, and neither reached for the heater. Eleanor placed the crumpled lease between them and looked down at the ink bleeding into the paper.
"We should call Thomas," she said.
James's answer came too quickly. "Not yet."
"James, that man threatened us. He threw our food on the ground."
"I know what he did." He closed his eyes briefly. "I want us to have everything documented before Thomas enters the picture. Richard will claim we're using a judge to get special treatment."
Eleanor knew her husband was right about the accusation. She also knew that asking their son for advice did not mean asking him to misuse his office. They could hold two truths together: Thomas had professional knowledge they needed, and the law should protect them even if they were strangers to every judge in Pennsylvania. For the moment, she agreed to collect one more set of records before involving him.
She photographed the lease and typed a note at six forty-seven that evening: owner threw groceries, threatened police action, alleged eviction, made statements about neighborhood suitability, and physically obstructed entry. James photographed their damaged purchases and the locked door. A few minutes later Daniel Kim came downstairs with his keys, pale and apologetic. He admitted Richard had instructed him not to admit the Washingtons until the owner gave permission, but Daniel opened the door anyway.
"I can't keep people outside their own apartment in the rain," he said. "I won't."