Chapter 31 - The Notebook of Names
While forensic specialists copied the recorder's memory, Detective Collins opened the leather notebook.
Every page contained neat handwriting.
Not diary entries.
Lists.
Hundreds of names.
Doctors.
Nurses.
Researchers.
Medical suppliers.
Delivery drivers.
Security guards.
Beside many names were symbols.
A green circle.
A yellow triangle.
Or a red X.
"What do the markings mean?" Dr. Lewis asked.
No one knew.
Until Ethan turned to the final page.
There...
His mother had written a short legend.
Green Circle:
Can Be Trusted
Yellow Triangle:
Watch Carefully
Red X:
Never Be Alone With Them
The room grew colder.
Detective Harris slowly turned back through the notebook.
Several respected physicians carried green circles.
Some administrators had yellow triangles.
But the pages marked with red Xs drew everyone's attention.
Victor Hale.
Red X.
Several unknown names.
Red X.
One hospital executive.
Red X.
Then...
Near the bottom of the final page...
Detective Collins suddenly stopped turning pages.
"Harris..."
"What?"
He silently pointed.
One name had been added using different ink.
Far newer than the others.
The handwriting wasn't Ethan's mother's.
It had been written after the notebook was hidden.
Only one line.
Detective Samuel Pierce
Red X.
Harris frowned.
"Pierce retired two years ago."
A young officer standing near the doorway slowly looked up.
"No..."
"What is it?" Harris asked.
"I saw Detective Pierce this morning."
"When?"
"At headquarters."
The room fell completely silent.
"If that's true..."
Harris said quietly,
May you like
"...then someone officially retired may still be working in the shadows."
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