“Yes, I did.”
“So that means he just had a heart attack, then?”
Caleb glanced at Stone, who, out of Philips’ line of sight, gave a slight nod.
“Yes, I think that’s exactly what it means.”
Philips shook his head. “God, he was younger than me. It gives one pause, doesn’t it?” He looked over at Stone. “Dr. Aust, would you like me to give you the fifty-cent tour?”
Stone smiled and leaned heavily on his cane. “No, Herr Philips, I would much prefer you to take that time and begin your friend’s paper on
Philips chuckled. “It’s good to see that distinguished scholars can retain a healthy sense of humor.”
“I try, sir, I try,” Stone said with a slow bow.
After Philips had left them, Caleb and Stone headed into the vault.
“How did you find out about Jonathan’s scholarly work?” Caleb asked once they were alone.
“I asked Milton to dig around. He located it on the Internet and brought me a copy. I scanned it in case someone like Philips showed up, to prove my scholarly pedigree.” Caleb looked disgruntled. “What’s the matter?” Stone asked.
“Well, it’s a little deflating to one’s ego to see how easily a scholar
“I’m sure your validation of my pedigree made all the difference to your boss.”
Caleb brightened. “Well, I’m sure it contributed somewhat to the success,” he said modestly.
“All right, take me through your exact movements that day.”
Caleb did so, ending on the top floor. He pointed at a spot. “That’s where his body was.” Caleb shivered. “God, it really was terrible.”
Stone looked around and then stopped and pointed at something on the wall.
“What’s that?”
Caleb looked to where he was pointing. “Oh, that’s a nozzle for the fire suppressant system.”
“You use water in here with all these books?”
“Oh, no. It’s a halon 1301 system.”
“Halon 1301?” Stone asked.
“It’s a gas, although it’s really a liquid, but when it shoots out of the nozzle, it turns to gas. It smothers the fire without damaging the books.”
Stone looked excited. “Smothers! My God!” His friend looked at him curiously. “Caleb, don’t you see?”
What Stone was referring to suddenly dawned on Caleb. “Smothering? Oh, no, Oliver, no. It couldn’t have been the cause of Jonathan’s death.”
“Why not?”
“Because a person would have several minutes to escape the area before he’d start feeling the effects. That’s why they use halon in occupied places. And before the gas is discharged, a warning horn comes on. We’re changing systems actually but not because it’s dangerous.”
“Why, then?”
“Halon significantly depletes the ozone layer. In fact, while it can still be used in this country and recycled for new applications, the manufacture of halon 1301 is banned in the U.S. and has been since the mid-nineties. Although the federal government is still the biggest user of it.”
“You seem to know a lot about halon.”
“Well, all employees were given an in-depth review of the system when it was first installed. And I did some extra reading on the subject.”
“Why?”
He blurted out, “Because I come into this vault a lot, and I didn’t want to die a horrible death! You know I lack any shred of personal courage.”
Stone examined the nozzle. “Where’s the gas stored?”
“Somewhere in the basement level of the building, and the gas is piped up here.”
“You say it’s stored as liquid and then comes out as a gas?”
“Yes. The speed with which it’s blown out of the nozzle turns it into a gas.”
“It must be very cold.”
“If you’re standing in front of the nozzle, you could get frostbite, in fact.”
“Anything else?”
“Well, if you stay in the room long enough, I suppose you
“Could the gas cause a heart attack?”
