Rebecca had contacted Eleanor, who was on her way from home.
But before she arrived, Agent Miller called Arthur's room.
AGENT MILLER:
"Mr. Whitmore, this is Agent Miller. How are you feeling?"
ARTHUR:
"A little better."
AGENT MILLER:
"Good. I wanted to update you on your documents."
ARTHUR:
"Have you found everything?"
AGENT MILLER:
"We have recovered the envelope, the pension authorization, and two sealed documents."
Arthur closed his eyes in relief.
ARTHUR:
"Thank goodness."
AGENT MILLER:
"However, one item is missing."
Arthur immediately became alert.
ARTHUR:
"What item?"
AGENT MILLER:
"The restricted identification card you mentioned."
Arthur looked toward Rebecca.
REBECCA:
"What is it?"
ARTHUR:
"One of my old credentials."
AGENT MILLER:
"We found the cardholder sleeve, but the card itself was not inside."
Arthur frowned.
ARTHUR:
"Are you certain?"
AGENT MILLER:
"Yes. We've checked the envelope and the surrounding area."
ARTHUR:
"It was there when I left the retirement office."
AGENT MILLER:
"Do you remember placing it inside the envelope?"
ARTHUR:
"Yes. I checked everything before leaving."
Miller paused.
AGENT MILLER:
"Mr. Whitmore, did Officer Vance handle the envelope at any point before you fell?"
ARTHUR:
"He took it from my hands. He opened it and removed the documents."
AGENT MILLER:
"Did you see him remove the identification card?"
ARTHUR:
"No. But he had the envelope for several minutes."
Miller looked toward Harris.
AGENT MILLER:
"All right. We'll examine the footage."
ARTHUR:
"Agent Miller, what exactly is that card connected to?"
Miller hesitated.
AGENT MILLER:
"I'd prefer to explain that in person."
ARTHUR:
"Why?"
AGENT MILLER:
"Because it concerns an active investigation."
Arthur slowly nodded.
ARTHUR:
"I understand."
But he did not look satisfied.
***
An hour later, Eleanor arrived at the hospital.
She entered the room carrying Arthur's glasses and a small bag of personal belongings.
ELEANOR:
"Arthur!"
He turned.
ARTHUR:
"Hello, sweetheart."
She approached the bed and gently touched his face.
ELEANOR:
"What happened to you?"
Arthur tried to reassure her.
ARTHUR:
"I'm all right."
ELEANOR:
"Don't tell me you're all right when you're lying in a hospital bed."
Rebecca stood beside her mother.
REBECCA:
"A police officer pushed him down at the station."
Eleanor stared at her husband.
ELEANOR:
"What?"
ARTHUR:
"It happened quickly."
ELEANOR:
"Who was this officer?"
ARTHUR:
"His name was Vance."
Eleanor looked furious.
ELEANOR:
"Did he take your pension money?"
ARTHUR:
"The envelope has been recovered."
ELEANOR:
"Then what is the problem?"
Arthur looked toward Rebecca.
ARTHUR:
"One of the identification cards is missing."
Eleanor sat down.
ELEANOR:
"What identification card?"
Arthur took a breath.
ARTHUR:
"The old serial credential."
Eleanor immediately understood that this was more serious than an ordinary lost document.
ELEANOR:
"Arthur, why didn't you tell me you were carrying that?"
ARTHUR:
"Because I didn't expect anyone to take my belongings."
Rebecca looked between them.
REBECCA:
"Can somebody explain what this is about?"
Arthur remained quiet for several seconds.
Then he began.
ARTHUR:
"Before I retired, I worked on a federal transportation security program. It was established after a series of incidents involving compromised infrastructure and unauthorized access to restricted systems."
REBECCA:
"I remember you working on government projects. But you never explained the details."
ARTHUR:
"Some of the work was classified. I couldn't discuss it, even with family."
Eleanor nodded.
ARTHUR:
"During my final years, I was responsible for reviewing several old security records. Some of those records contained serial identifiers associated with restricted equipment and archived evidence."
REBECCA:
"And the card?"
ARTHUR:
"The card confirmed my identity and linked me to the archival records I had been authorized to review."
Rebecca frowned.
REBECCA:
"Why would you need it now that you're retired?"
ARTHUR:
"Because the pension settlement required verification of my final service history. The retirement office asked me to bring the credential so they could close an outstanding administrative file."
REBECCA:
"So it was just a verification document?"
Arthur looked toward the ceiling.
ARTHUR:
"Not entirely."
Eleanor reached for his hand.
ELEANOR:
"Arthur..."
ARTHUR:
"There's something I haven't told either of you."
Rebecca pulled her chair closer.
REBECCA:
"What?"
Arthur hesitated.
ARTHUR:
"Several months ago, the federal office discovered that certain archived records had been accessed without authorization."
Rebecca stared at him.
REBECCA:
"Accessed by whom?"
ARTHUR:
"We don't know yet."
ELEANOR:
"Is that why you were receiving all those calls?"
Arthur nodded.
ARTHUR:
"Somebody was trying to determine which records I had reviewed before retirement."
REBECCA:
"Why would anyone care about old records?"
Arthur looked at his daughter.
ARTHUR:
"Because those records contain the serial numbers of equipment that was supposedly destroyed years ago."
Rebecca became silent.
ARTHUR:
"According to the official records, the equipment no longer exists. But some of the serial numbers appeared in transactions connected to private contractors."
Eleanor's face turned pale.
ELEANOR:
"Are you saying somebody sold government equipment?"
ARTHUR:
"I'm saying there are discrepancies that haven't been explained."
REBECCA:
"And the identification card connects you to that investigation?"
ARTHUR:
"Yes."
He paused.
ARTHUR:
"That's why the FBI wanted to find me this morning."
Rebecca looked toward the door.
REBECCA:
"Then why didn't they contact you at home?"
ARTHUR:
"They tried. My phone had been switched off during the appointment, and the retirement office had instructed me to collect the final documents in person."