Morning sunlight filtered through the tall cypress trees surrounding the abandoned pumping station that had become the investigation's temporary command centre. Outside, armed officers maintained their discreet watch over Black Ridge, while inside, the atmosphere was calm but unusually tense.For nearly twenty-four hours, the encrypted file had remained unopened.Bethwel preferred it that way."Patience," he often reminded younger investigators, "is the only weapon criminals never expect."Alex arrived carrying two cups of coffee. Without saying a word, he placed one beside Bethwel before studying the large investigation board. The names, photographs and maps seemed more organised than before, yet the gaps between them still bothered him."We're chasing a story that began long before any of us were born," Alex murmured.Bethwel smiled faintly."And those stories usually leave patient witnesses."Ezekiel completed one final forensic scan."No malicious code.""No hidden executables.""
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