Chapter 16 - Rebecca's Final Letter
While technicians analyzed the newly discovered footage, Eleanor quietly sorted through the remaining letters tied with the faded blue ribbon.
Most were addressed to Daniel.
A few were addressed to Samuel.
One envelope had never been opened.
Its paper had yellowed with age, yet the wax seal remained intact.
Across the front, in elegant handwriting, were the words:
To Eleanor—Only if the Box Is Ever Found.
Eleanor's hands trembled.
"I've never seen this one."
Dana photographed both sides before carefully cutting the edge without damaging the seal.
Inside rested a handwritten letter on thick cream-colored paper.
The signature at the bottom made everyone pause.
Rebecca Lawson.
Marcus began reading aloud.
> Eleanor,
>
> If you are reading this, Daniel was right.
> The box was never meant to stay hidden forever.
> It was meant to stay hidden until the wrong people believed they had already destroyed the truth.
Dana leaned closer.
Marcus continued.
> They will search for documents.
> They will search for photographs.
> They will search for recordings.
> Let them.
>
> None of those contain the complete truth.
Victor, seated under guard across the room, subtly shifted in his chair.
Marcus noticed.
The letter went on.
> The real archive was divided into four parts.
> No single person was trusted with everything.
> Daniel believed that if one part was stolen, the others could still survive.
Marcus looked toward the evidence table.
"The four names on the envelope..."
Eleanor nodded slowly.
"Each person carried one part."
Marcus resumed reading.
> Samuel does not know what he carries.
> Keep it that way until he is old enough to choose whom to trust.
>
> Do not let anyone convince him that inheritance means money.
> His inheritance is memory.
The room fell silent.
Near the bottom of the page, Rebecca had written one final paragraph in darker ink.
> If someone reaches Locker 118 before you, do not chase what was taken.
> Follow the person who ordered it taken.
Dana looked up immediately.
"That's the first instruction we've found that tells us not to recover evidence."
Marcus agreed.
"Because Rebecca believed the person behind all this would eventually reveal themselves."
Just then, a technician hurried into the room carrying a tablet.
"We've identified something from the 9:31 footage."
Marcus accepted it.
The maintenance cart had passed beneath a ceiling camera just long enough for the operator's reflection to appear in a polished metal panel.
The face was blurry.
But one feature stood out with startling clarity.
A narrow scar ran from the man's left ear to the corner of his jaw.
Eleanor stared at the image.
Her face lost all color.
Marcus turned toward her.
"You recognize him."
She nodded almost imperceptibly.
"I saw that scar once before."
"Where?"
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"The morning Daniel told me never to trust another official investigation."
Before Marcus could ask another question, the airport fire alarm sounded throughout the terminal.
Not a drill.
May you like
The emergency control panel showed the alert had originated from one location.
North Storage.
