60:The Night at the Annex

The Night at the Annex

Ophelia stared at the photograph on her desk.

Nathan stood behind April and Celeste.

The image was old and slightly faded, but there was no mistaking him.

She picked up her phone and called Anonymous.

"Are you sure that's Nathan?"

"Yes."

"You've met him before?"

"Not personally. I've seen enough photographs and records to recognize him."

Ophelia looked at the photograph again.

"Then we need to know what happened that night."

"I agree."

"Can you find out when the photograph was taken?"

"I'm already checking."

The call ended.

Ophelia sat back in her chair.

For the first time, Nathan's connection to April felt real.

But she reminded herself not to jump to conclusions.

Nathan was a suspect.

That didn't make him guilty.

The next morning, Ophelia returned to the university.

She went straight to the library archives.

The elderly librarian recognized her immediately.

"Back again?"

"I'm afraid so."

The woman smiled.

"You certainly don't give up."

"No."

Ophelia placed the photograph on the table.

"Do you recognize this building?"

The librarian studied it.

"That is the Fine Arts Annex."

"And these people?"

She looked carefully.

"I don't remember them."

Ophelia pointed to the date written on the back.

"Do you have records from this week?"

The librarian thought for a moment.

"There's an old event register."

She disappeared into the archives.

When she returned, she placed a thick book on the table.

Ophelia opened it.

The date matched.

She searched through the names.

Then she saw it.

Nathan Ashford.

Celeste Harrison.

April Hayes.

Three names.

One evening.

Ophelia turned the page.

There was another name.

Evan Cole.

Her heart sank.

All four of them had been at the Annex that night.

She photographed the page and sent it to Anonymous.

His response came almost immediately.

Now we have something.

Ophelia stared at the register.

"Not enough."

"Not yet."

"Find Evan."

"I will."

"And find out why all four of them were there."

"I'll try."

Ophelia closed the register.

As she stood up, the librarian called after her.

"Miss?"

She turned.

"There is something else."

"What?"

The librarian looked uncertain.

"I remember that night."

Ophelia walked back toward her.

"What do you remember?"

"There was an argument."

"Between who?"

"I don't know."

"But I remember hearing shouting."

"Then there was a loud crash."

The librarian lowered her voice.

"After that, someone ran out of the building."

Ophelia's heart began beating faster.

"Do you remember who?"

The librarian shook her head.

"It was dark."

"But I remember one thing."

"What?"

"The person was carrying a blue folder."

That evening, Nathan sat alone in his office.

He had been trying to remember the night at the Annex.

Fragments kept returning.

A hallway.

A broken frame.

April's voice.

Someone shouting.

Then nothing.

He opened an old drawer.

Inside was a small blue folder.

He stared at it.

He didn't remember keeping it.

Slowly, he opened it.

There was only one sheet of paper inside.

A handwritten note.

You promised you would never tell anyone.

Nathan's face changed.

He read it again.

Then his phone rang.

He answered.

"Hello?"

No one spoke.

Only silence.

Then a voice whispered,

"You should have left the past alone."

The call ended.

Nathan remained frozen at his desk.

For the first time in years, he was afraid.

Not of Ophelia.

Not of the investigation.

But of whoever had just reminded him that the past was still alive.