Taking a deep breath, I crouched down and tugged at the top drawer. It opened smoothly, revealing Richard’s meticulous organization—pens aligned, papers stacked with precision. But my eyes were drawn to the section beneath it, the area circled in the photo.

My hands shook as I fumbled with the false bottom, finally prying it open. Inside lay a single envelope, yellowed with age and sealed with a familiar wax stamp—Richard’s insignia. I broke the seal, pulling out the papers with trembling hands.