Chapter 21 - The Voice in the Darkness
The footsteps continued.
Slow.
Measured.
Neither hurried nor hesitant.
The beam from the old projector stretched across the room, illuminating floating dust while everyone instinctively turned toward the doorway. Several officers reached for their flashlights, but Detective Elena Morris quietly raised her hand.
"Nobody fires unless there's an immediate threat."
The footsteps stopped.
Silence settled over the underground chamber once again.
Then an elderly voice emerged from the darkness.
"I wondered how long it would take before someone found this place."
A flashlight clicked on.
Standing just beyond its beam was an old man wearing a weathered brown overcoat. His hair was almost completely white, and he leaned on a carved walking stick polished by decades of use.
Harold stared at him without speaking.
Samuel's eyes widened.
"It can't be..."
The stranger smiled faintly.
"Samuel."
"You said..."
"I know what people believed."
Harold slowly stepped forward.
"Michael."
The name echoed softly through the chamber.
Detective Morris immediately noticed the emotion crossing Harold's face. Throughout the investigation he had remained calm, almost impossible to surprise.
Now his hands trembled slightly.
Michael looked toward the projector.
"You watched the second reel."
Harold nodded.
"Not all of it."
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because the remaining footage was never meant for strangers."
The officers exchanged confused glances.
Elena stepped forward.
"I'm Detective Morris."
Michael acknowledged her politely.
"I know."
"You know me?"
"I've known about everyone investigating this case."
The room fell completely silent.
Michael looked around at the gathered officers.
May you like
"You've all been searching for the wrong mystery."
...
