Chapter 196: The Locket's Secret
As I turned to leave room 301, a glint of metal caught my eye.
It was small silver locket half-hidden beneath Maria's pillow, its chain tangled in the folds of the bedsheet. The afternoon light struck its surface, sending a single needle of reflection across the wall.
I hesitated.
My conscience warred with my curiosity. Searching a patient's belongings without permission felt like a violation. But Maria was not an ordinary patient. And her father was not an ordinary man.
The locket might hold a clue. A piece of the puzzle that could help me understand his plan.
With a deep breath, I reached out and gently lifted the locket from beneath the pillow. The metal was cool against my palm, surprisingly heavy for its size.
And then I saw the engraving.
