Chapter 612

Madelyn packed her things and left through the staff exit, oblivious to nearby dangers. As she stepped out from a corner, a Maybach was pulling away from the art exhibition hall in the opposite direction.

They crossed paths without noticing one another.

After he landed, Zach grabbed a quick bite and headed to the gallery. Despite his efforts, he arrived a bit late. Leaning back in the car seat, he shut his eyes. “Any idea where she is?”

Kevin paused before answering. “Our guy’s outside her apartment. He’ll update us when Ms. Jent gets back.”

Zach just nodded, taking a deep breath.

He had waited four years, but these last minutes felt endless. He needed to see her now. Breaking the silence, Zach said, “Let’s go to the apartment.”

“But we have another appointment.”

“Forget it.”

“Alright,” Kevin replied.

Thirty minutes later, Zach pulled up to Madelyn’s apartment complex. The building looked run–down.

Judging by its condition, it was likely forty or fifty years old. It didn’t seem safe.

Kevin knocked on the door, but there was no answer. “Ms. Jent might not be back. We probably have to wait,” Kevin said.

Zach noticed a red doormat beneath his shoes. Pushing it aside, he uncovered a key.

Kevin’s eyes popped as he grabbed the key, “How did you know this was here?”

Zach replied, “Open the door.”

Madelyn was known for her forgetfulness. She constantly misplaced things, whether lunch cards in elementary school or library cards. To help her, Zach had crafted keychain charms out of those lost electronic cards. But he had not anticipated that she would lose her house key. That day, she missed school. With no housekeeper around, she was locked out, waiting and crying outside until Zach returned from work. She kept a spare key under the doormat to ensure she would not face that ordeal again.

Upon entering Madelyn’s apartment, Zach was met with a familiar scent. Nearby, her trench coat hung neatly. The compact apartment gleamed from a recent cleaning, and there was no speck of dust by the entrance. Drawn to a particular door, he opened it to find clothes On the bed, books on a desk, and an opened notebook. Settling into a chair, he immersed himself in her writings, detailing the past four vears.

He turned to the first page of the notebook. The date, June 30th, 2001, caught his eye. It was just one week after Madelyn left.

Clear skies.

Today, Prof. Monet and I arrived in Azania. Along with our team, another expedition group will join us.

In about ten minutes, we’ll venture urther into the destination. The rumors of dangerous wild animals in this region give me a thrill. I hope our expedition goes well.]