Chapter 56 - The Master Key
The imaging scan confirmed what everyone had suspected.
The locked cabinet contained hundreds of documents arranged with extraordinary precision. Every folder carried a coded reference instead of an employee name. The organizational system was unlike anything Margaret had encountered in previous investigations.
The locksmith examined the cabinet again before stepping back.
"This wasn't designed for convenience."
Arthur looked at him.
"What was it designed for?"
"Control."
The answer lingered in the room.
Unlike ordinary filing cabinets, this one required two separate locking mechanisms to open simultaneously. One mechanical key. One coded release hidden behind the steel frame.
Someone had expected the cabinet to survive far beyond the people who originally used it.
The facilities engineer suddenly remembered something.
"When we renovated this floor twenty years ago, an inventory team reported that one executive key was never returned."
Margaret immediately looked up.
"Who signed it out?"
The engineer searched the archived maintenance log.
The final entry remained legible.
Master Access Key – Office 7C
Issued to:
Executive Projects Office
Returned:
No Record
Arthur slowly folded his arms.
"So the key may still exist."
Margaret nodded.
"And if someone kept it..."
"...they expected this room to matter again someday."
The legal counsel ordered every former facilities employee connected to the renovation project to be located.
The investigation was no longer searching only for documents.
May you like
It was searching for the last person known to possess the key.
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