Chapter 86: Buried Memories
Lily’s fingers trembled as she flipped through the documents bearing her father’s handwriting. Every harsh stroke and sharp curve reminded her of the man who had caused her so much pain. While these papers proved her father knew about the vault, they weren’t what they needed.
She placed the documents down with a sigh, her eyes scanning the bookshelves once more. If the answer wasn’t in these records, perhaps it was hidden elsewhere. Her gaze drifted across the room, searching for anything else that was unusual.
She looked at the empty spot where the accounting ledgers had been. She narrowed her eyes, reaching her hand out to touch the back panel of the shelf. She ran her fingers along the wood. She felt a small indentation that didn’t match the rest.
Her heartbeat quickened. She pressed it.
A soft click echoed in the quiet vault.
The back panel of the bookshelf slid open, revealing a hidden nook behind it. Lily gulped, her breath caught in her throat. In the nook sat a brown leather-bound notebook and several yellowed scrolls covered in cobwebs and dust.
This had to be what they were searching for! Filled with excitement, Lily ran to get Zayn. He was back facing her, hunched over a shelf he had cleared out. He was furiously flipping through the pages of a book in his hands.
She approached him quickly, tapping him on the shoulder.
Zayn whirled around, irritation flashing in his eyes. “What—” His expression softened instantly when he saw her excited expression. “I’m sorry. What is it, Lily?”
She pursed her lips, signally him to follow her. She brought him back to the secret nook she had found and pointed out the leather-bound book and yellowed scrolls. She also held up the account ledgers she had found, thinking they might be of use.
Zayn’s eyes widened in shock. He reached for the leather-bound book, flipping through it eagerly to see if it contained what they were looking for. A small smile formed on his face as he looked over at Lily.
Seeing the smile on his face confirmed her suspicions. She pushed the account ledgers into his hands while she looked through the scrolls. In it, she found maps with circled locations and specific instructions.