Chapter 11: Locker 417
The drive to Union Station took less than twenty minutes.
To Julian, it felt like hours.
The black SUV tore through the rain-soaked streets with police escorts clearing every intersection.
No one spoke.
Clara sat beside him, staring at the small brass key in his hand.
"It doesn't make sense," she whispered.
"If Marcus had the key..."
"...who opened the locker?"
Julian's answer was quiet.
"Someone who knew he was going to talk."
Union Station was already surrounded by police when they arrived.
Yellow tape stretched across the baggage locker hallway.
Travelers watched from a distance as detectives photographed the scene.
The lead investigator met Julian at the entrance.
"Locker 417."
He pointed down the corridor.
"It's empty."
Julian frowned.
"Completely?"
"Almost."
The locker door hung slightly open.
The lock wasn't broken.
It had been unlocked properly.
Julian slowly inserted Marcus's key.
It turned effortlessly.
Whoever had emptied the locker had used an identical key.
Inside...
There was nothing except a single white envelope taped to the back wall.
The detective carefully removed it using gloves.
No fingerprints.
No handwriting.
Only three typed words.
Too Late Again.
Julian crushed the note in his fist.
"They're mocking us."
The detective nodded.
"They knew we'd come."
A forensic officer suddenly called from the opposite end of the hallway.
"Detective!"
Everyone hurried over.
"The security cameras."
Julian looked toward the ceiling.
"There aren't any."
"There were."
The technician pointed to several loose wires.
"They were professionally disabled."
"When?"
"Less than two hours ago."
Julian closed his eyes.
Whoever was behind Project Echo wasn't just watching.
They were always one step ahead.
Then an elderly station employee approached hesitantly.
"Excuse me..."
The detective turned.
"You work here?"
"For twenty-eight years."
He pointed toward the lockers.
"I saw someone."
Julian stepped forward.
"What did you see?"
"The person wore a dark baseball cap."
"A man?"
The employee shook his head.
"I... I'm not sure."
"They kept their head down."
"But I remember one thing."
"What?"
"They were limping."
Clara suddenly stiffened.
"Limping..."
Everyone looked at her.
"I've heard those footsteps before."
Julian frowned.
"What do you mean?"
She closed her eyes.
Back to the cabin.
Back to the west wing.
Late at night.
Someone always came after Victoria left.
She never saw the person's face.
Only the sound.
A slow...
Uneven...
Footstep.
Right.
Left.
Pause.
Right.
Left.
Pause.
Her eyes flew open.
"It wasn't Marcus."
Julian felt a chill.
"You're sure?"
She nodded.
"Marcus walked normally."
"But another person..."
"...always limped."
The station employee spoke again.
"They dropped something."
He reached into his jacket pocket.
"I didn't think it mattered."
He handed the detective a small silver button.
Julian immediately recognized the engraved symbol.
The same circle divided by three thin lines.
Project Echo.
The detective carefully bagged the evidence.
"It probably came from a coat."
Julian turned the button over.
On the back...
Tiny engraved letters.
A.C. Tailors
Within minutes, detectives traced the engraving.
A.C. Tailors was a small luxury shop that specialized in handmade suits.
The owner agreed to open after hours.
When Julian and the detectives arrived, the elderly tailor examined the button under a magnifying lamp.
"I know this."
Julian leaned forward.
"You do?"
The tailor nodded.
"I made only six coats with these custom buttons."
The detective quickly asked,
"Do you have the client records?"
"I should."
He disappeared into the back room.
Several minutes later, he returned carrying a thick appointment book.
He flipped carefully through its pages.
Then stopped.
His face changed.
"I'm afraid..."
"...there were seven."
The detective frowned.
"I thought you said six."
"I did."
He pointed to the final entry.
"This customer paid cash."
"No name."
"No measurements written down."
"Only one instruction."
Julian looked at the page.
The tailor slowly read the note aloud.
'Replace every button after each assignment.'
The room fell silent.
The detective exchanged a glance with Julian.
"They never wanted to leave evidence."
The tailor nodded.
"But this one..."
He held up the recovered button.
"...must have come loose."
As they prepared to leave, the tailor called after Julian.
"Wait."
Julian turned.
"I remembered something else."
"What?"
"The customer with the limp..."
"He wasn't alone."
Julian's heartbeat quickened.
"Who was with him?"
The tailor thought for a moment.
"A woman."
"What did she look like?"
"Elegant."
"Gray hair."
"Very polite."
Clara's face went pale.
"Evelyn."
The tailor nodded.
"Yes."
"I believe..."
"...that was the name she used."
Julian froze.
"So she does exist."
The tailor hesitated.
"I'm not sure."
"What do you mean?"
"I've seen that same woman..."
"...over twenty years."
The detective frowned.
"That's impossible."
The tailor looked directly at Julian.
"Maybe."
"But she hasn't aged a day."
A heavy silence settled over the shop.
No one knew whether the old man was mistaken...
Or whether the mystery surrounding Evelyn Cross had just become even darker.
As Julian's phone suddenly rang, he answered immediately.
The lead detective's voice came through, urgent and strained.
"Mr. Vance..."
"We've identified the body found in the river this morning."
Julian's stomach tightened.
"What body?"
There was a long pause.
Then the detective spoke.
"It's Dr. Leonard Grayson."
Julian closed his eyes.
Another witness...
May you like
Silenced forever.
And whoever was behind Project Echo was erasing every loose end.
