Chapter 81 - Locker 214
Before sunrise, Margaret, Arthur, Samuel, Olivia, Judge Eleanor Walsh, and two federal evidence specialists arrived at the abandoned central railway station.
Most of the original lockers had been sealed behind decorative walls during renovations years earlier.
Only a narrow maintenance corridor still led to the forgotten storage section.
Locker 214 stood at the far end.
Its brass surface had darkened with age.
No signs of forced entry.
No maintenance stickers.
No modern electronic lock.
Only a mechanical keyway matching the engraved token found inside the anonymous envelope.
Arthur looked toward Margaret.
"Once we open it..."
"...the chain of custody begins," she finished.
Every camera activated.
Every movement was documented.
Margaret inserted the token.
The lock resisted at first.
Then, with a heavy metallic click, it released.
Inside sat a single fireproof document case wrapped in faded blue velvet.
No cash.
No jewelry.
No personal belongings.
Only one carefully preserved archive.
Arthur recognized the velvet immediately.
"The missing library case."
Margaret gently lifted it out.
Attached to the handle was another handwritten tag.
To the first person willing to ask why instead of who.
No signature.
Only the familiar compass symbol.
May you like
For the first time since the investigation began, Margaret felt as though someone had anticipated every step she would take.
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