No longer at this address.
Daniel picked up the oldest one.
The return mark was dated two weeks after October 14.
“I lived in the same house for another five years.”
Elena nodded.
“I thought you were returning them.”
“I never saw them.”
One envelope had been opened.
Daniel removed the letter and recognized Elena’s handwriting.
At the bottom, below her signature, someone had added a sentence in blue ink.
Do not write again.
Daniel stared at it.
“That isn’t my handwriting.”
“No,” Evelyn said.
Everyone looked at her.
Her hands trembled.
“I know that ink.”
She turned toward Silas.
“In the hidden room, beneath the bed, there is a metal box. Walter kept his fountain pens in it.”
Daniel stood.
“What else is in the box?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why didn’t you mention it yesterday?”
“I forgot it was there.”
The pain in her voice stopped him from asking anything more.
