Chapter 238: A Message (2)
"Colleen!" Georgia’s voice cut sharply through the room when she noticed the woman still frozen in place, her face ashen.
Nick stormed in from outside, his features tight with alarm. "What happened?"
Colleen’s hands shook as she pressed them against her mouth. "It’s... my sister’s voice," she whispered hoarsely.
Nick’s jaw clenched. "And?"
Colleen’s eyes darted between them, panic and grief colliding in her gaze. "The day before she died, she was restless. She left that afternoon, saying she needed to mail something to a P.O. Box. I didn’t think much of it—I assumed it was paperwork for her next contract on the cruise ship.
But the very next day, she told me to pack our things... and to make sure I brought that doll." Her voice cracked, the weight of realization crashing down. "I thought it was just because my niece loved it so much. I never pressed that button. I never listened. It was the day she died from the car accident."
Georgia leaned forward, her tone gentle but urgent. "It could be something meant for her daughter. Maybe money? Or a gift? We could go to the post office and check."
Nick shook his head, his voice low, firm. "No. If it were something ordinary, she wouldn’t have hidden it like this or left such a cryptic clue. This is something else. We need to check now."
Colleen swallowed hard, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Then she nodded with resolve. "Alright... let me finish packing, and we’ll go. I want to know the truth, too."
When they finally reached the post office, Colleen didn’t waste a second. She strode straight toward the P.O. Box counter, her hands trembling as she pulled out a folder of documents.
"Hi, I’m here for P.O. Box 1949," she said, her voice steady despite the tension coiled in her chest. "I’m the legal executor of Martha Hobbs. Here’s her death certificate and the supporting documents you’ll need to allow us access."
The receptionist took the papers, scanning them carefully before turning to her screen. After a moment, she looked back at Colleen, her brows lifting slightly. "You’re Colleen Hobbs?" she asked, holding up Colleen’s ID to compare with her face.
"Yes, that’s me," Colleen confirmed.
The receptionist nodded. "Then there’s no problem. P.O. Box 1949 isn’t under Martha Hobbs’ name—it’s under yours, Miss Hobbs. You don’t need any of these documents. You can just go ahead and open it."
Colleen blinked, stunned. "What? But... I don’t even have the key."
"It’s not a key lock. It’s a combination lock," the receptionist explained patiently. "If you don’t know the code, you’ll have to file for a replacement. That requires a notarized affidavit, and it’ll take time.
But since the account is under your name, no one here can stop you from trying to open it. Sometimes, people just use combinations that are meaningful to them." With that, she excused herself to assist another customer, leaving them reeling in confusion.
Colleen pressed a hand against her forehead. "What the heck is going on? I don’t understand anymore..."
Nick placed a steady hand on her shoulder, his voice calm but firm. "If your sister registered it under your name, it means she wanted to make sure you’d be the only one able to access it. Think carefully. The combination has to be something you’d recognize instantly—something only you could guess."
Colleen gave a firm nod, determination flashing in her eyes, and together they walked toward the rows of metal box clusters. She crouched in front of P.O. Box 1949, her fingers trembling slightly as she tried one number after another.
The tension in the air thickened with every failed attempt, Katie and her little niece clutching Georgia’s hands while watching quietly from behind.
On the eighth try, a soft click broke the silence. Colleen gasped, her eyes widening as the lock gave way. "It worked!" she exclaimed, yanking the small door open with shaky hands.
Inside was a plain brown money envelope, its edges worn as if it had been handled many times. Colleen quickly tore it open, only to find not cash but a single USB flash drive tucked neatly inside.
Nick leaned in, his gaze sharp. "So, she really did leave something behind. We’ll open it at Oliver’s office. It’s safer that way."
Colleen agreed with a tense nod, but Georgia’s thoughts immediately went to the children tugging at her heart. "Nick, it’s getting late, and the kids must be starving. Can we drop Katie off at home first? Colleen, your niece can stay with her too if you’d like. They’ll be more comfortable there or we can bring her along to Oliver’s office if you’d rather keep her close. The choice is yours."
Colleen looked at Georgia for a long moment, weighing her words. Finally, she softened, her shoulders relaxing. "I trust you. You run the agency my sister worked for, and I know none of this is your fault. If it’s your home, then I believe my niece will be safe there."
Georgia smiled gently, squeezing her hand. "Alright then. Let’s head home first. I’ll text Oliver to let him know, and I’ll message Wendy to prepare dinner for the girls."
Nick gave a decisive nod, already pulling out his car keys. The USB felt heavier than it looked, carrying the weight of answers they all desperately needed.
On the way back, Georgia pulled out her phone and quickly typed a message to Oliver.
[We found something. Colleen managed to open a P.O. Box her sister had left for her. There was a flash drive hidden inside. We’re heading home first to drop the kids, then we’ll bring it straight to your office.]
Almost immediately, Oliver replied.
[Good work. Don’t plug it in anywhere else. Bring it to me directly—we’ll check it under secure conditions.]
Georgia exhaled, her grip tightening around the phone. For the first time in weeks after her near-death experience, she felt they were finally closer to uncovering the truth.
*******
Thanks for the Golden Ticket!
Sabrina_Musieva