Chapter 28 - The Empty GraveThree hours later...
Snow covered the Whitmore cemetery.
The family mausoleum stood beneath ancient pine trees.
Cold.
Silent.
Untouched.
Except...
Someone had recently placed fresh white roses on one grave.
No card.
No name.
Only flowers.
I knelt before my father's headstone.
JONATHAN WHITMORE
Beloved Husband. Beloved Father.
Born...
Died...
Everything carved into stone.
Everything I had believed.
Matteo handed me a small crowbar.
"I'm sorry."
I stared at him.
"For what?"
"For what's about to happen."
The workers stepped back.
Adrian looked away.
Sophia closed her eyes.
I took one deep breath.
Then nodded.
The stone slab was lifted.
The old coffin appeared.
Untouched.
Sealed.
My hands shook as I opened it.
The lid creaked.
Everyone leaned forward.
Then...
Nothing.
No skeleton.
No body.
Only a neatly folded navy suit.
A silver wristwatch.
And a cassette recorder.
My father's watch.
The one he never removed.
I picked up the recorder.
A single red button blinked.
Battery still alive.
Impossible.
I pressed PLAY.
Static.
Then...
A familiar voice.
"My son..."
My knees nearly gave out.
"If you're hearing this..."
"It means they finally opened my grave."
Everyone froze.
"I know you'll have questions."
"But there isn't much time."
"I couldn't let them bury me."
"So someone else took my place."
A pause.
"If you want the truth..."
"Don't look for me."
"Find the Archivist."
The tape ended.
One sentence.
One new mystery.
Alex frowned.
"The Archivist?"
May you like
Matteo looked terrified.
"I hoped he'd never mention that name."
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