The Letter Inside

I know Tank told me not to, but I could not resist. Some mysteries have a way of announcing themselves. Others wait patiently until you’re curious enough to open the door. This one would not wait for me.

Inside was an old newspaper clipping. Yellowed with age. Folded carefully. The headline stretched across the page:

HARBOR WAREHOUSE DESTROYED BY FIRE

It was from thirty years ago. A story most people had forgotten. Someone had circled a single sentence in red ink.

“Only one shipment was never recovered.”

Across the bottom…

Four words written in fresh black ink.

Find what was lost.

I noticed Tank, despite his reservations, was looking over my shoulder. Curiosity often brings down our defenses, hopefully it doesn’t kill the cat. If anyone remembered the fire… It would be him.

I handed it to him so he could properly analyze it. Tank read the article without saying a word. When he finally looked up, I noticed something

“I remember the smoke,” he said quietly. “The whole harbor smelled like burnt timber for days.”

“What was in the missing shipment?” I probably was too eager to jump to that question.

Tank leaned back. “If you ask five people…you’ll get six answers.” He continued, “Some said artwork.Some said gold. One fellow insisted it was nothing more than fishing supplies.”

He smiled. “Funny thing about rumors. They grow more valuable every year.”

I folded the clipping back into my pocket. Whoever had sent the envelope wanted me chasing a ghost.

The question was…

Why now?