A second man answered.
Graham Sloane.
"We want to resolve the property situation."
Isaac sounded tired.
"I've already told you. I'm not selling."
Sloane sighed.
"Mr. Brooks, you're standing in the way of an investment that could transform this district."
"My family built this business."
"We understand that."
"No, you don't."
A pause followed.
Then Isaac continued.
"My father worked on this property before I owned it. I spent thirty-five years turning it into something. Eleven people work here. Some have children in college. Some have mortgages."
Sloane's voice became impatient.
"You've made your position clear."
"Then why are you here?"
A third man spoke.
Deputy Chief Harold Mercer.
"Isaac, nobody wants trouble."
I felt the room around me become very still.
The examiner sat beside the computer.
Dana stood behind me.
Mercer's voice continued.
"But you need to understand that this property has attracted attention."
Isaac answered sharply.
"From whom?"
"Several agencies."
"What kind of attention?"
"Regulatory. Criminal. Administrative."
A brief silence followed.
Then Isaac said something that made my skin tighten.
"Are you threatening me?"
Mercer answered calmly.
"I'm telling you that cooperation can prevent complications."
Isaac gave a bitter laugh.
"So that's what this is."
Sloane interrupted.
"Don't make this emotional."
The recording continued.
Isaac said he had an attorney.
Sloane replied that lawyers were expensive.
Mercer suggested that ongoing investigations could affect the company's ability to operate.
Then Isaac asked why a senior police commander was attending a private real-estate negotiation.
For several seconds, nobody answered.
Finally, Mercer spoke.
"I'm here to encourage a peaceful resolution."
Isaac's response was immediate.
"Then encourage him to leave my property."
The chair moved.
Footsteps followed.
Then Sloane's voice returned, colder than before.
"This offer won't remain available."
Isaac answered.
"Then let it expire."
There was a pause.
Then Mercer spoke again.
"Mr. Brooks, you'll want to think carefully about what happens next."
The recording stopped briefly.
The recovered data contained a damaged section.
Then another fragment began.
This time, the voices sounded farther away.
Mercer and Sloane appeared to be near the front of the office.
Sloane spoke first.
"He's never going to sell voluntarily."
Mercer answered.
"Then stop asking."
A long silence followed.
Then Sloane said, "What about the cameras?"
Mercer responded.
"If there's a lawful search, anything relevant can be seized."
Sloane asked, "And after that?"
Mercer's voice became lower.
"The property issue will become easier."
The recording ended.
For several seconds, nobody in the laboratory spoke.
I stared at the dark computer screen.