But this time, the documents existed independently of their opinions.
She would not be pressured into silence.
That evening, Isabella returned to her apartment and placed her father's letter on the desk.
She sat beside it for a long time.
The city lights reflected across the window. Outside, traffic moved through the streets, and people continued their ordinary routines.
She thought about the family estate, the old garden, and the years she had spent trying to earn approval from people who seemed determined to misunderstand her.
Then she remembered the ballroom.
The slap.
The veterans standing.
The Master Chief addressing her by her rank.
Her mother looking frightened when Richard placed the briefcase on the table.
Everything had happened so quickly that she had barely processed the emotional weight of it.
She opened her laptop and searched through her old messages.
There were conversations with Victoria from the period when Frank had become ill. Some were brief. Others contained repeated requests for updates.
She found one message she had sent after a particularly difficult assignment.
ISABELLA'S OLD MESSAGE: "Mother, I can arrange leave next week. Please tell me if Dad is well enough for a visit. I really want to see him."
Victoria's reply had been short.
VICTORIA'S OLD MESSAGE: "He is tired. You should not disturb him. Focus on your work."
Isabella stared at the screen.
She scrolled further.
Another message.
ISABELLA'S OLD MESSAGE: "I spoke with the hospital. They said I need confirmation from the family before receiving an update. Can you please call me?"
No response.
Then a message sent three days later.
VICTORIA'S OLD MESSAGE: "Everything is under control. Stop worrying."
Isabella leaned back.
She had believed those words.
She had believed that her mother was protecting her from unnecessary worry. She had believed that her father preferred to rest rather than speak. She had believed that the family had everything handled.
Now she wondered whether those messages had been intended to keep her away.
She opened another conversation, this time with her father.
The last direct message he had sent her was months before his death.
FRANK'S MESSAGE: "I hope you are looking after yourself. I would like to see you when you can. There are some things I want us to discuss."
Isabella had replied that she would visit as soon as her schedule allowed.
But the visit never happened.
The following week, she had received the news that his condition had worsened. By the time she reached the hospital, he was no longer able to speak.
She closed her eyes.
For years, she had blamed herself for not arriving sooner.
Now she wondered whether someone had deliberately made it difficult for her to reach him.
Her phone vibrated again.
This time, the message came from Richard.
RICHARD: "Thomas Reed has agreed to meet tomorrow. He says he has information concerning the original authorization and the Harbor House transfer."
Isabella read the message carefully.
Then another arrived.
RICHARD: "He also asked whether you would be attending alone."
Isabella looked at the screen.
She typed a response.
ISABELLA: "Tell him I will attend with you. I want to hear everything directly."
She put the phone down.
The next morning, Richard arrived at the meeting location with a sealed envelope. He looked more serious than he had the previous day.
Isabella noticed immediately.
ISABELLA: "What's happened?"
RICHARD: "Thomas sent me a document before the meeting."
He placed the envelope on the table.
RICHARD: "It appears to be a copy of an internal instruction concerning the transfer of Harbor House."
Isabella opened it.
The document contained a short description of the proposed transaction and a list of people who had been notified.
Her name was absent.
Victoria's name appeared.
Alexander's name appeared.
And beside the section marked "final authorization," there was a reference to a document that had not been included in the records Richard originally received.
ISABELLA: "Where is the final authorization?"
RICHARD: "Thomas says he does not have it anymore."
ISABELLA: "Who does?"
Richard looked at her.
RICHARD: "He believes it may have been returned to the Montgomery estate."
Isabella stared at the paper.
That meant the missing document could still be in the house where she had grown up.
The house she had left years earlier.
The house where her mother and brother still lived.
She slowly closed the envelope.
ISABELLA: "Then we need to find it."
Richard nodded.
RICHARD: "Yes. But before we do that, I want you to hear what Thomas has to say."
A few minutes later, the meeting room door opened.
Thomas Reed entered carrying a small leather folder. He was in his late fifties, with thinning gray hair and a cautious expression. He looked at Richard first, then at Isabella.
THOMAS: "Admiral Montgomery."
ISABELLA: "You knew my father."
THOMAS: "For many years."
ISABELLA: "Then I hope you can help me understand what happened."
Thomas sat down slowly.