40:The Man Without a Name
Chapter 40: The Man Without a Name
The unmarked envelope lay untouched on Ophelia's dining table.
She had picked it up from beneath her apartment door only minutes earlier.
No sender.
No stamp.
No return address.
Only her name, written in neat black ink.
She slipped on a pair of latex gloves before opening it.
Old habits never truly disappeared.
Inside was a single photograph.
Her breath caught.
It was a picture of April standing on the university campus.
She was smiling.
Beside her stood several classmates.
One face had been scratched out so violently that the photograph had nearly torn in half.
Someone didn't want that person to be recognized.
On the back of the photograph were six handwritten words.
"She trusted the wrong person."
Ophelia stared at the message.
"Who sent this?"
Her phone vibrated.
The screen displayed only one word.
Anonymous.
She answered immediately.
"I was wondering how long it would take you."
The familiar male voice carried the same calm confidence she remembered from years in the Agency.
"You sent the photograph."
"It wasn't me."
"Then how did you know?"
"I know more than you think."
Ophelia walked to the window and drew the curtains shut.
"Talk."
Anonymous didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he asked,
"Has anyone discovered who you really are?"
"No."
"And Nathan?"
"He doesn't trust me."
A quiet chuckle came through the speaker.
"I'd be disappointed if he did."
Ophelia smiled faintly.
Some things never changed.
Years ago...
Anonymous had been more than her partner.
He had been the only person she trusted with her life.
When a mission went wrong, he was the one who dragged her out of a burning warehouse.
When she wanted to resign after April's death, he was the one who stopped her from making an emotional decision.
And when she chose revenge over justice...
He was the one who made Olivia disappear.
He had erased every record.
Every document.
Every photograph.
In the eyes of the world...
Olivia no longer existed.
Only Ophelia remained.
"You've been quiet," Anonymous said.
"I'm remembering."
"Don't."
She frowned.
"What?"
"The past will slow you down."
She leaned against the window.
"I received a photograph."
"I know."
"And the message?"
"I didn't send it."
A long silence followed.
Then his voice became serious.
"Listen to me carefully."
"Someone else knows you're looking into April's death."
Her heartbeat quickened.
"I've kept your identity buried for over a year. If someone managed to find you..."
"They're good."
"No."
Anonymous corrected.
"They're dangerous."
Ophelia looked at the photograph again.
"The face..."
"It was scratched out for a reason."
"I'm trying to identify the others."
"So am I."
"You have leads?"
"A few."
He paused.
"But I'm not calling about the photograph."
"Then why?"
"I need you to be careful around Ethan."
She stiffened.
"You think he's involved?"
"No."
"I think he's becoming important to you."
His words landed harder than she expected.
"You taught me never to get emotionally involved during an operation."
"I did."
"And now?"
Anonymous sighed.
"This stopped being an operation the day your sister died."
The line fell silent.
Before hanging up, Anonymous spoke one final sentence.
"If anyone asks about Olivia..."
"She's dead."
The call ended.
Ophelia slowly lowered the phone.
For several moments, she stood motionless.
Then she turned the photograph over once more.
This time...
She noticed something she had missed before.
In the corner of the picture, barely visible behind April...
Was a young man walking away from the camera.
His face couldn't be seen.
But on the back of his university jacket...
Was the Ashford family crest.
Ophelia's eyes narrowed.
"This wasn't sent to scare me."
She carefully placed the photograph inside a protective folder.
"It was sent as a warning."
Outside, thunder rolled across the evening sky.
Somewhere in the darkness...
Anonymous looked at a classified file stamped CONFIDENTIAL.
On the cover was a single name.
OPERATION VEIL
He closed the file.
"The game has finally begun."