Chapter 56 - Benjamin's Last Assignment
Searching deeper into the studio, Elena discovered Benjamin Cross's appointment ledger.
Most entries involved ordinary customers.
Passport photos.
Family portraits.
Graduation pictures.
But beginning thirty-one years earlier, every Thursday afternoon had been blocked with the same note.
Private Assignment.
No client name.
No address.
No payment amount.
Only those two words.
Arthur recognized the handwriting immediately.
"Benjamin wrote this after every meeting."
"What meetings?" Elena asked.
Arthur smiled faintly.
"He never told me."
Marcus examined the final pages.
The appointments continued...
...until six months ago.
Elena frowned.
"That's impossible."
"Benjamin was officially dead."
"So who wrote these?"
The final completed appointment contained a location.
North Pier Warehouse.
The date matched exactly three days before Harold was assaulted.
A receipt tucked inside the ledger listed the purchase of fresh photographic chemicals and new archival paper.
Someone had still been developing film.
Someone had still been preserving evidence.
As the team prepared to leave, Catherine paused beside Benjamin's old desk.
One drawer remained locked.
The key was nowhere to be found.
She looked toward Harold.
"You remember where he hid spare keys."
Harold smiled for the first time in hours.
"He always complained thieves searched desks first."
He reached beneath the window frame.
His fingers found a small metal key taped underneath the wood.
The drawer opened immediately.
Inside rested only a cassette tape.
Its label read:
May you like
My Last Assignment.
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