Chapter 54 - The Envelope Beneath the Files
While Kevin continued scanning the blueprint, Rachel picked up the sealed manila envelope from the bottom of the briefcase.
Unlike Thomas Hale's other notes, this one had been wrapped with old evidence tape.
Across the front, written in bold black ink, appeared a warning.
> If Elizabeth is still alive... do not trust what she tells you about Evergreen.
Rachel slowly handed the envelope to Marcus.
He broke the brittle seal.
Inside rested only three sheets of paper.
The first contained a list of names.
Every one had already appeared during the investigation.
Daniel Whitmore.
Eric Whitmore.
Steven Marshall.
Richard Lawson.
Elizabeth Ashcroft.
But unlike previous documents, Thomas had drawn arrows between them.
Not upward.
Downward.
As if every one of them answered to someone else.
The second page held a family tree.
Not of Rachel.
Not of Marcus.
Not of Daniel.
It traced generations of judges, court administrators, police officials, and child welfare directors over nearly sixty years.
Certain surnames appeared repeatedly.
Ashcroft.
Marshall.
Lawson.
Whitmore.
Marcus frowned.
"This isn't coincidence."
Kevin compared the chart with public records.
"Thomas was tracking bloodlines."
Rachel looked puzzled.
"Families?"
Marcus nodded.
"Positions changed."
He remembered Thomas's earlier warning.
> Never chase the faces. Chase the positions.
Now another possibility emerged.
Maybe the positions had never truly changed.
Maybe the same families had occupied them for generations.
Marcus unfolded the final sheet.
Unlike the others, it contained no diagrams.
No names.
Only one handwritten sentence.
> If you discover Level Zero before they discover you, find the ledger hidden behind the first door. Do not open the second. No matter what you hear.
Before anyone could discuss the warning, Kevin's laptop emitted a sharp alert.
He turned toward the screen.
His expression changed instantly.
"Marcus..."
"What now?"
"The blueprint..."
He enlarged the digital image.
A small red dot had appeared on Archive Level Zero.
It wasn't part of Thomas Hale's drawing.
It was moving.
Rachel stepped closer.
"Is that us?"
Kevin slowly shook his head.
"No."
He zoomed in again.
The red dot continued advancing through a tunnel toward the chamber labeled Original Record Room.
May you like
Someone else...
Was already inside Level Zero.
