Chapter 71: Locker 1704
It was a quiet afternoon as Miles exited the office, the tiny key clenched in his palm. His mind buzzed with the weight of Cedric’s revelations, but he pushed it aside for now. There was something he had to see first. Without hesitation, he started the engine and drove straight to the heart of the city—toward a place few still remembered: the original branch of Star Harbor Bank.
Nestled between stone-paved alleys and old colonial buildings, the Star Harbor Bank’s oldest branch stood like a relic of another age. The structure was grand yet worn, its sandstone façade weathered by decades of rain and sun. Iron-grilled windows lined the ground floor, and a brass plaque near the entrance bore the faded engraving:
"Star Harbor Bank – Est. 1902"
Inside, the building breathed silence and dignity. The ceilings arched high above with ornate wooden beams, and antique chandeliers hung like forgotten memories. Rows of mahogany desks sat on polished marble floors, their age betrayed only by the creaking sound as people walked past. Time seemed slower here.
Miles stepped inside, his boots clicking softly as he made his way to the front desk. Behind it sat a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair and rimless glasses, scribbling notes into a ledger.
"Good afternoon, sir. How can I help you?" the man asked, setting down his pen with a polite smile.
"I want to check my locker," Miles said plainly.
"Of course, sir. Do you have a key?"
Without a word, Miles pulled out the small, antique key and placed it on the desk.
The man’s eyes widened as they landed on it. He carefully picked it up, studying the grooves and shape. A quiet tension filled the air.
"This key... one moment, please." He stood abruptly. "I’ll call the manager."
Miles watched silently as the man walked briskly toward the back. A few seconds later, an old gentleman emerged from a glass-paneled office. He walked with a firm, deliberate step—his posture proud despite his age. His tailored gray suit and silver pocket watch made him look like a character from a forgotten era.