I got back to Elmwood Lane at half past one in the afternoon and walked down the damp stone path along the south side of the detached garage.

Dry brown leaves skittered along the edge of the brick foundation beneath a cold, cloudy autumn sky.

I went around behind the bare hydrangea bushes at the back corner of the house and crouched on the damp concrete path.

The exterior basement ventilation port was set into the red brick foundation three inches above the dirt line.

A thin galvanized steel wire ran through the iron mesh cover, fastened with a small lead disk stamped with a military serial code.

I leaned in closer, examining the metal face in the dim afternoon light.