Arthur refused to approve it.
Cora was a person, not a promotional opportunity.
The refusal angered Celeste because the foundation’s annual gala was scheduled in three weeks.
She had hoped to announce a new donor campaign around the restored ferry station.
Arthur told her that restoring the building without restoring its record would be an insult to everyone who had sheltered there.
Chapter 20: The Survey
Priya completed a structural survey of the west room with an independent engineer observing.
The wall built in 1981 was stable enough to remain temporarily, but its concealed cavity could be inspected without demolishing the building.
Simon obtained written permission for a supervised examination.
Emily attended as Lillian’s descendant, alongside Arthur, Julian, Priya, and a city preservation officer.
Celeste sent her own attorney to observe.
The room smelled of old plaster and river mud.
Emily heard water moving through a drainage channel beneath the floorboards.
Arthur held his cane lightly and listened to Priya describe the wall.
A small metal cabinet was visible through an inspection opening.
Its lock had corroded but retained the outline of a warded keyhole.
Emily gave Priya the brass key.
The engineer examined it and said they could attempt an ordinary fitting without forcing the mechanism.
The key turned halfway before stopping.
Priya applied a conservation-approved lubricant under the officer’s supervision.
On the second attempt, the mechanism released with a dull click.
The cabinet contained a cloth bag, three bound notebooks, and a small tin painted blue.
Nobody touched the contents until the officer photographed their positions.
Emily watched the process with aching impatience.
Arthur asked whether the notebooks had writing.
Priya said one cover carried the words Emergency Registry in Lillian’s handwriting.
Arthur sat down on a folding chair.
For the first time since Emily met him, he seemed unable to find anything to say.
Chapter 21: The Names in the Ledger
A conservator separated the registry pages at a municipal records laboratory the following day.
The ink had survived surprisingly well inside the cabinet.
Many pages recorded supplies, shelter assignments, and transport requests.
Other pages listed children and adults separated by the flood.
Some entries were corrected in Lillian’s handwriting.
Several corrections had been crossed out using a different pen.
Emily and Simon reviewed digital scans in a private conference room.
Lillian had recorded Caroline’s mother as hospitalized rather than missing.
Beside that entry, another hand had written Parent unavailable, placement authorized.
Arthur asked Simon to read the signature at the bottom of the form.
