Chapter 365
“ I’ll check for you , ” Officer Shaw said as he made the request. However, after reviewing Eleanor’s records, he found nothing.
“ Caitlin , it seems that during the transition of our police records system, we no longer have data on older cases. The records that are past the retention period are no longer kept, and unfortunately, there’s no information we could find. I’m really sorry!”
Caitlin nodded understandingly, “It’s okay. I still appreciate your help, Shaw. I’ll leave my number with you. If any related information surfaces, please contact me right away. Thank you.”
“ Of course,” Shaw replied.
Caitlin had a feeling that even if there were records, they might have been deliberately erased. It would be nearly impossible to retrieve any information about cases from decades ago through the police.
Leaving the police station, Caitlin made a decision. “Let’s head to the old archives in Departure City.”
“Got it!” James quickly agreed, starting the car to head toward the archive building. On the way, Sebastian received a call from Tyler.
After hanging up, Caitlin asked, “How’s it going? Has Black Hawk spoken yet?”
Sebastian replied, “No, Black Hawk refuses to confess.”
This outcome was expected. Caitlin took a deep breath. “Black Hawk has an obsessive personality. He’ll never tell the truth. Let him face the consequences for his crimes. His time is up.”
“Yes, I’ve already arranged for his extradition back to the U.S. where Felix will handle him,” Sebastian added.
This was the best course of action for now. The U.S. authorities needed to catch Black Hawk and resolve the series of murders, bringing peace back to society.
At the Departure City archive building, Caitlin and her team met the person in charge and requested to look through old newspaper clippings from several decades ago. The elderly archivist asked Caitlin what she was looking for, and when Caitlin gave her name, the archivist looked surprised.
“You’re Eleanor’s granddaughter?” the archivist asked, astonished.
“Yes,” Caitlin replied.
The archivist smiled, revealing a mouthful of missing teeth, his dark bronze skin wrinkled with age. “Oh, I knew your grandmother. She used to come here to read the papers. She was quite a beauty back in the day, just like you.”
Caitlin was taken aback to meet someone who had known her grandmother . “You knew my grandmother?”
“ Yes , I did. I remember her well. She came by often, reading the papers, and we’d exchange a few words,” the archivist said with a smile, clearly fond of those memories. “I remember her being just as beautiful as you when she was young.”
Caitlin felt a sense of surprise and gratitude. It was rare to meet someone who had known her grandmother. She was eager to hear more.
The archivist continued, “You want to look at newspapers from sixty years ago, right?”
“Yes . ”
365
“ Well , you’d better hurry . The higher – ups recently ordered all old clippings to be sent to the scrap yard for disposal . The forklift is coming. today to take them away , so if you’re slow, you might miss it.”
Caitlin was puzzled. Why did they suddenly decide to destroy old records just after she arrived in Departure City?
Was it a coincidence or something more deliberate?
She followed the archivist to the old storage warehouse, but they were too late. The forklift had already packed the old newspapers into large bundles, pressing them tightly together and loading them onto a truck.
Caitlin sighed, “Looks like we’re too late.”
The archivist shook his head. “Such a pity. It’s really too bad.”
Caitlin didn’t seem discouraged, though. She looked at the elderly man and realized that , even though the papers were gone, this man could still be a valuable source of information. He was an old living archive, having known her grandmother and possibly knowing more about the past of The Yuncey Family.
She followed the archivist back, but instead of leaving, she went to his modest home to speak with him.
The elderly man, Miller, was living alone in a simple, dimly lit house. He didn’t have much, but he was still working at the archive out of necessity, earning just a little bit each month.
Caitlin sat down on a bamboo chair and began chatting with him. From their conversation, she learned that Miller had no children, and after retiring, he continued to guard the archives for many years.
“Miller, do you remember any major events related to The Yuncey Family from sixty years ago? I heard my grandmother went missing. That should have made the news, right?”
Miller nodded. “Yes, they published a missing person notice for your grandmother when she disappeared.”
“Before my grandmother disappeared, did you know her well?”
“Not very well. She used to come by the news office often, and I’d see her, talk to her a few times. She was a dignified woman. I was just a young man working at the paper back then, so I only admired her from afar. I didn’t dare get too close.”
Miller seemed a bit embarrassed as he spoke. He had been a young, nameless man while Eleanor was already a distinguished lady.
“Miller, could you tell me more about The Yuncey Family from back then? What were things like before my grandmother disappeared? What happened?”
“Well… I’m afraid I can’t say much.”
“Why not?”
“People who wrote about The Yuncey Family’s past, whether in county history or speculative novels, all ended up dying mysteriously. They say it’s a curse. That’s why, in Departure City, no one dares to talk about The Yuncey Family’s past. I don’t really know either.”
Caitlin was shocked. The Yuncey Family’s past was so mysterious? So dangerous that it couldn’t even be discussed?
Despite her pressing questions, Miller wouldn’t say anything further. Caitlin decided to leave but made sure to give him a gift as thanks .
James and Sebastian arrived with a basket of fruit, cigars, and wine, placing it on the ground.
“Please, don’t do this,” Miller said, clearly touched by the gesture. “I didn’t expect such kindness from you.”
15:42 Wed , ₺ Aug
365
“It’s nothing, really. Take care, Miller. We’ll be on our way now,” Caitlin said, as she, Sebastian, and James prepared to leave.
After they left, Miller noticed that, hidden inside the fruit basket, there was also a roll of cash. His eyes welled up as he realized that , despite his old age and obscurity, someone cared about him.
He hurried out, calling after them, “Wait!”
Caitlin paused and turned around to see the elderly man approaching her.
“You’re just as kind as your grandmother,” Miller said, wiping away tears. “Though I don’t know where she went, I can tell you that there was someone else who disappeared with her.”
“Who?” Caitlin asked, shocked.