Chapter 7 — The Sudden Hallway Draft
The front door downstairs had been left slightly ajar when the delivery driver dropped off the morning mail.
The powerful exhaust fan running in the basement drew air upward with steady mechanical force.
That combination created a sudden wind tunnel effect through the central staircase.
The rushing air barreled straight down the second-floor hallway.
It gathered speed as it funneled toward the open landing.
The living room door had been unlatched for nearly an hour.
It hung loosely on its polished brass hinges.
The sudden draft caught the wide wooden panel flat.
The door accelerated rapidly down its natural hinge path.
It swung outward with unexpected velocity.
It did not stop until it slammed squarely into the side table.
Vincent watched the door re-enact the sequence on its own.
His gaze traced the exact path of the swing.
The draft was still faintly rustling the curtains by the front window.
Jordan turned his attention back to the table.
The impact marks on the wood were clear under the afternoon light.
A faint scuff matched the height of the brass door handle.
It was an exact physical alignment.
Samantha wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater.
She looked up at the door and then at her grandfather.
Vincent swallowed hard.
His mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
The evidence was written plainly across the scarred wooden edge.
Jordan did not say a word.
He knelt beside the scattered glass on the carpet.
He reached out to retrieve the empty wooden frame.
His fingers brushed against the polished corner of the display.
He tilted the frame upward to examine its base for matching impact debris.