Chapter 64 - The Missing Signature
Back at the underground gallery, Catherine opened the Keeper’s Ledger under forensic supervision.
Every page was photographed.
Every signature cataloged.
Every date entered into a searchable database.
At first, nothing appeared missing.
Then Claire Donovan noticed a numbering error.
Page 118 ended with entry 642.
Page 119 began with entry 644.
“There should be a 643,” she said.
Arthur adjusted his glasses.
“That number was never used.”
Claire shook her head.
“The ink spacing says otherwise.”
The final signature on page 118 had been written slightly higher than normal. The first signature on page 119 began lower than expected.
A narrow strip of paper had been removed between them.
Not an entire page.
Only one line.
Catherine looked stunned.
“I inspected this ledger for years.”
“Who had access?” Elena asked.
“Keepers. Senior witnesses. Original members.”
Harold approached the ledger.
“Daniel said someone rearranged the beginning.”
Samuel frowned.
“This is near the middle.”
“Unless the numbering itself is false.”
Forensic light revealed faint pressure marks beneath entry 642.
Someone had once written a name on the missing strip.
The surname could not be recovered.
But three letters from the first name remained visible.
E-L-I
Michael whispered, “Elias?”
Arthur slowly shook his head.
“Elise.”
Catherine looked toward him sharply.
“You know that name?”
Arthur closed the ledger.
“I know a woman who was offered the Ninth Promise.”
Harold stared at him.
“You told us no one accepted.”
“She didn’t.”
“Then why was her name recorded?”
Arthur’s voice fell.
May you like
“Because refusing the promise did not stop her from becoming part of it.”
---
