Chapter 25 - An Unexpected Witness
The following morning, Detective Morris received an unusual phone call from a retirement community nearly thirty miles outside the city.
An elderly resident insisted he possessed information about the silver emblem.
Most anonymous tips proved unreliable.
This one sounded different.
Within two hours, Elena and one officer arrived at the quiet residence.
The man introducing himself as Arthur Collins appeared nearly ninety years old, yet his memory remained astonishingly sharp.
Before Elena even mentioned Harold's name, Arthur spoke first.
"He's alive."
"You know him?"
"We met only twice."
"When?"
"Many years ago."
Arthur disappeared briefly into another room before returning with a carefully wrapped envelope.
"I promised this would only be given to someone investigating the emblem honestly."
Inside lay an old newspaper clipping.
The headline described a devastating bridge collapse decades earlier.
Dozens of civilians had been rescued before emergency crews fully arrived.
Yet no rescuers had ever been officially identified.
Arthur tapped the faded photograph.
"They're standing here."
The image was blurry.
Almost impossible to distinguish.
But Elena immediately recognized one familiar silhouette.
Harold.
Standing far behind the firefighters.
Helping carry survivors.
Never looking toward the camera.
Arthur smiled sadly.
"That was always his way."
"You knew what they were doing?"
"No."
"I only knew they appeared wherever people needed help."
"Did they work for the government?"
Arthur laughed softly.
"If they had..."
"...someone would have taken credit."
Before leaving, Arthur handed Elena one final object.
A small brass key attached to a worn leather tag.
Across the tag someone had written two words.
Archive East.
Elena stared at it.
"There was another archive?"
Arthur's smile disappeared.
May you like
"There were several."
...
