Ellis smiled.
“That question cost you forty dollars.”
Sunday afternoon, they began cleaning the area around the added weld.
Not opening it.
Understanding it.
Rust came away in flakes.
Old paint appeared beneath.
Then bare steel.
The evidence became clearer.
The added reinforcement had been installed intentionally.
Somebody had effectively built a smaller compartment inside an already secure safe.
Eli's imagination ran wild.
Cash.
Documents.
Weapons.
Company secrets.
Ellis repeatedly brought him back to reality.
“Until we see something, we know nothing.”
On Monday evening, they began carefully opening a section near the later repair.
The work was slow.
Loud.
Hot.
Ellis insisted on frequent pauses.
They removed only enough material to understand the structure.
Eli wanted progress.
Ellis wanted control.
“Patience,” Ellis told him.
“I am being patient.”
“You've asked if we're through yet six times.”
“Five.”
“Six.”
On Tuesday, they reached another steel layer.
Eli stared into the narrow opening.
“You were right.”