Chapter 47 - Rebecca's Empty Office
Investigators finally granted Daniel and Samuel access to Rebecca's temporary office after completing their initial search.
Most shelves stood empty.
Computers had been seized.
Cabinets contained little more than office supplies.
Rebecca had removed almost everything before disappearing.
Almost.
Lily wandered quietly through the room.
Then stopped before a small corkboard hanging behind the door.
"It looks strange."
Daniel examined it.
Only pinholes remained.
Someone had removed dozens of papers in great haste.
One corner of a photograph had torn away and remained stuck beneath a thumbtack.
Samuel carefully removed the fragment with tweezers.
It showed only part of a handwritten calendar.
One date had been circled repeatedly.
October 18.
No year.
No explanation.
Inside the desk's bottom drawer, Daniel found a single appointment card tucked beneath the lining.
The handwriting wasn't Rebecca's.
Meeting confirmed. Seven chairs prepared.
Daniel exchanged a glance with Samuel.
"The photograph."
"The seven members."
Samuel nodded slowly.
"This meeting happened more than once."
Before they could continue, Officer Martinez entered carrying a sealed evidence envelope.
"We found this hidden behind the office baseboard."
Inside was an old cassette tape.
Across its faded label, written in blue ink, were four unsettling words:
Interview with Daniel Carter.
Daniel stared at the cassette in confusion.
"I've never given an interview."
Samuel turned the tape over.
May you like
A second line had been added in much smaller handwriting.
Recorded three months before he left overseas.
