Page 289 of Rangers Unexpected Return

Somehow...

It felt right.

The three of us climbed the stairs again.

Mace carefully slid the atlas from the shelf.

The hidden compartment waited behind it.

Empty.

Except for decades of dust.

He placed the cassette and letter back inside.

Then paused.

"I think one more thing belongs in here."

She reached into her sweater pocket.

A faded library card.

Yellow with age.

"I found this years ago."

She handed it to me.

The name across the top read:

Emily Ross

Issued:

Camp Reading Program

Eighteen years earlier.

Tucked inside was a handwritten note.

"Books remember."

I smiled.

"So did you."

Doris blinked away tears.

"I promised myself that if anyone ever came looking..."

"...I'd help them finish her story."

Back downstairs, Sheriff Tate was already making a list.

"Camp records."

"Volunteer lists."