Chapter 18
That evening, Maya sat on her back patio, watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
The ocean breeze blew softly, carrying the soothing scent of saltwater and pine trees.
A quiet chime echoed from her kitchen, indicating that a physical package had been dropped into her smart mailbox at the gate.
Maya stood up, wiping her hands on her sweatpants as she walked down the driveway to collect the mail.
Inside the secure metal box sat a single small box wrapped in heavy black paper without any postage marks.
Maya felt her heart skip a beat, her instincts instantly flashing red alerts in her mind.
She brought the box inside, setting it carefully on the kitchen counter while Marcus watched with concern.
"What is that?" Marcus asked, stepping back cautiously.
"I don't know," Maya whispered, pulling a small pocketknife from her drawer.
She sliced through the black paper, opening the cardboard lid to reveal a bed of dark velvet.
Resting inside the box was a polished silver pocket watch engraved with an intricate crest showing a falcon and two swords.
May you like
It was her grandfather's personal pocket watch—the one he was wearing the day he supposedly died ten years ago.
Beside the watch lay a small printed photograph and a handwritten note on heavy cardstock paper.
