Chapter 40 - The White Suit
The clapping continued.
Slow.
Measured.
Mocking.
From between the towering shelves emerged an elderly man dressed entirely in white.
His silver hair was perfectly combed.
His polished shoes reflected the emergency lights.
He carried no weapon.
Only an elegant walking cane.
He smiled politely.
"Captain Elias Reed."
Elias stepped forward.
"You know my name."
"I've known it for thirty years."
The stranger looked around the archive with quiet satisfaction.
"I'm pleased someone finally appreciated all this work."
Samuel narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you?"
The old man chuckled.
"My name isn't important."
Henry stared at him.
Then his face turned pale.
"No..."
"It can't be."
The man inclined his head.
"Good to see you again, Henry."
"You were supposed to be dead."
"I've been declared dead several times."
The old man tapped his cane against the concrete floor.
"The title survives."
Elias understood immediately.
"You are Nathan Cross."
The stranger smiled.
"No."
He leaned slightly closer.
"I'm merely..."
"...the current Nathan Cross."
Silence filled the archive.
Then the old man slowly raised his cane and pointed toward Aaron.
"Now tell me, Captain..."
"...would you like to know why that young man was placed on your rescue team five years before either of you first met?"
Aaron's face lost all color.
Elias realized this wasn't just another revelation.
It was a trap carefully prepared long before any of them had found Jacob's notebook.
May you like
And somewhere beyond the archive...
More footsteps were already closing in.
