Chapter 71 - The Chairman's Recording
Arthur spent the evening searching through boxes stored in his private residence.
Near midnight he found an old microcassette recorder tucked inside a leather briefcase he had not opened in years.
A small label remained attached.
Personal Reflections
Curious, he inserted fresh batteries.
The recording began with his own younger voice.
Routine observations.
Board meeting summaries.
Travel notes.
Then, nearly forty minutes into the tape, another voice interrupted.
Arthur stopped the recorder immediately.
"I don't remember anyone else being present."
Margaret rewound the recording.
The second voice lasted only six seconds.
Yet every word was clear.
> "You'll understand later."
Arthur's expression changed.
"I've heard that sentence before."
"When?"
"I can't remember."
The audio specialists enhanced the recording.
The unknown speaker never identified himself.
No introductions.
No greetings.
Only those four words.
Then silence.
Samuel leaned forward.
"May I hear it again?"
The tape replayed.
Samuel closed his eyes.
"It's him."
Arthur looked sharply toward him.
"The same man from the conference?"
Samuel nodded.
"I'm almost certain."
The room became completely still.
If the recordings were authentic...
Then the unidentified figure had not only attended the leadership forum.
He had met privately with Arthur Vance himself.
May you like
And Arthur had absolutely no memory of it.
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