Ellis noticed.
“Don't.”
Eli crouched near the burned side.
“I didn't say anything.”
“I know your face.”
“What face?”
“The one you make before I lose money.”
Eli smiled faintly.
Then his attention returned to the cut.
Ellis sighed.
“What are you looking at?”
“The torch mark.”
“Yes. Someone tried opening it.”
“Maybe.”
Ellis crouched beside him.
Up close, the cut looked different.
The outer steel had been breached.
Behind it, another layer appeared.
Thicker.
The torch had approached that second wall and stopped.
Not gradually.
Abruptly.
Eli ran one finger near the edge without touching the sharp metal.
“Why stop here?”
“Could've run out of gas.”
“Could've.”
“Could've gotten caught.”
“Could've.”
Ellis looked at him.
“You have another idea.”
Eli pointed.
“The heat color.”
Ellis leaned closer.
Around the original torch scar, the steel carried one pattern.