Chapter 8 - The Music Box Held More Than Music
They landed in Burlington.
Federal agents met the jet.
Adrian was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Testing suggested he had ingested a medication inconsistent with his
prescription.
Investigators took custody of the altered bottle.
Claire refused to leave until she knew what came next.
Then she remembered the music box was in a storage unit in Connecticut.
Agents recovered it with her consent.
The box arrived the next morning.
Claire sat in a secure conference room with Adrian, investigators, and
Marcus.
Marcus was cooperating.
His sister Hannah was now officially listed as a missing person
connected to the case.
Claire opened the music box.
A faded ballerina turned.
Nothing else happened.
Then she remembered something Evelyn used to say.
Never trust the first bottom of an old box.
Claire removed the velvet lining.
Beneath it was a metal plate.
Under the plate:
A flash drive.
A folded letter.
And a photograph.
Claire unfolded the photograph first.
Her mother stood beside Thomas.
Adrian stood with them.
And beside Adrian was Julian.
All four were smiling.
On the back Evelyn had written:
Before we knew who he was.
Claire opened the letter.
My sweet girl,
If you are reading this, someone finally found the trail I hoped would
stay buried until you were safe.
The flash drive contained Northstar records.
But one folder was encrypted.
Its title was:
T.M. CRASH - ORIGINAL.
Claire looked at Adrian.
“My father.”
He nodded.
Then Marcus whispered:
“I know the password.”
Everyone turned.
Claire stared.
“How?”
Marcus looked ashamed.
May you like
“Because Julian made me delete the same folder from another computer six
months ago.”
