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A building from the 1990s stood before him, its windows adorned with blue awnings. The walls, now a faded grey-white, were plastered with numbers offering services from unclogging drains to obtaining documents and locksmith services. Along the hallway, the brown paint on the railings had chipped away, revealing patches of weathered, grey-brown wood. As Asher arrived, the eastern sky hinted at dawn, chilled air swirling before daybreak, the streets deserted save for dimly lit street lamps. Checking the address and apartment number, he confirmed he was at the right place, then quietly slipped into the top-floor residence under cover of pre-dawn darkness.

Inside, despite its age, the apartment was neatly kept, recently renovated a few years ago. It was spacious enough for a family of three. Everyone inside was asleep; presumably for the convenience of caring for a child, the woman and her young one slept in the master bedroom, while the man slept in another room.