Or so I remembered.
The cassette explained.
Months before his d/e/@/th, Richard Brooks had visited me while Alexander was overseas.
He introduced himself not as the architect of Meridian, but as a frightened father trying to undo his life’s worst mistake.
He gave me a sealed legal authorization connected to the archive vault.
I had signed it.
I had forgotten.
Not because I was careless.
Because nothing happened afterward.
Richard d/i/ed.
Daniel disappeared.
Alexander left.
Life swallowed the memory.
Marcus looked at me.
“You may be the only person legally authorized to access the final confession.”
Javier whispered, “That’s why Thomas said they need Caroline.”
Exactly.
Not Sofia.
Not Alexander.
Me.
Sofia stepped closer and took my hand.
“We don’t open it alone.”
Marcus nodded.
“We need federal oversight.”
Alexander shook his head.
“We don’t know who is compromised.”
“Then we choose someone outside the old chain.”
