Chapter 4 - THE WAREHOUSE BENEATH THE MUSEUM.
Vivian called the order a routine redevelopment notice.
The warehouse had housed artists, framers, cleaners and immigrant-owned workshops. After Elsie’s father refused to sell, the museum reported unsafe conditions and pushed every tenant out.
A retired frame maker named Luis Ortega stepped forward from the staff line.
“We repaired masterpieces upstairs while our own work was thrown into dumpsters downstairs.”
The museum built a donor wing on the cleared land.
Gabriel looked toward the chandeliers.
“You built the expansion on property owned by a child?”
The board’s attorney confirmed the deed remained in trust for Elsie. Vivian had tried to obtain guardianship so she could sign the sale.
Evelyn had discovered the plan and copied the files before being confined in the conservation room.
Then Luis produced a photograph from the eviction.
It showed Naomi carrying boxes out of the warehouse beside Vivian.
Elsie looked up at her guardian.
“You helped them?”
Naomi lowered her eyes.
May you like
“I worked for the relocation company. I believed the tenants had accepted settlements.”
The final photograph showed Naomi signing the inventory that declared the building empty.
