The Sealed Box

On Wednesday morning Fiona called Emma with an update from the storage company. The storage firm's records team had traced the old entry marked “Location changed”. The entry dated from a 2013 reorganisation, when files were transferred between buildings and location codes were revised. The new codes described where the boxes were stored.

“Does that mean you have found the authorisation register?” Emma asked.

“Not yet,” Fiona said. “The index connects the old box number to a newer location code. It doesn't describe what is inside.”

A separate stock-check sheet from 2014 provided a second reference to the newer code. Beside the new code was a tick and a date. Fiona warned that a tick in a stock list did not prove every document in a box had survived.

Sarah was excited when Emma explained the news. “They must have the register, then.”

“They may have the box,” Emma answered. “Even that needs a physical check. We can't say the register is there.”

Fiona had asked the company to search its current shelves. Because the records belonged to the trust and could contain private student information, Emma could not visit the warehouse or inspect the box herself.

While she waited, she looked again at the four headings in her notebook: request, authorisation, transfer and receipt. If the missing book existed, it might show who had approved unusual payments. It would not, on its own, prove that the bank had sent the money.

Helen Ward sent a short message. Her cousin had nothing more to share at present. Emma thanked her. She would not treat an absent bank statement as evidence of a missing grant.

In the afternoon Fiona called again. The warehouse team had found a box carrying the newer location code. Its label included the old reference from the trust's transfer list. The seal was dusty but unbroken, according to the warehouse worker.

“So it is the right box?” Emma asked.

“It may be. We need to compare the references and check the contents properly. The company hasn't opened it.”

Finding a physical box strengthened the trail, but did not authenticate its contents or guarantee that the authorisation register had survived. Emma asked Fiona to ensure that anyone opening it recorded what was found, including any pages missing or damaged. She also asked that student details remain private.

Late that evening Fiona sent a final email. The trust and the storage company had agreed to arrange a supervised examination. The examination would verify the identifiers and preserve an inventory of the contents before any decision about lawful disclosure.

Sarah read the message and smiled. “Tomorrow we might finally learn who signed.”

“Maybe,” Emma said. “First we find out whether the book is inside.”

She closed her notebook, then opened it once more and wrote: Found a possible box. Not yet found the truth.