It’s not long after Sam’s return from another case that John Milton stopped by her home one evening, carrying his usual briefcase. The visit surprised her, as it’s the first time John had stopped by her home since she moved in.

              “John, what a surprise.” His face appeared a little cautious, as if he was carrying a heavy burden.

              “Sorry for dropping in unannounced,” he half whispered and Sam immediately waved him inside.

              “No, don’t be silly. Come on in.”

He did, following her gesture into the living room, where she offered him a seat on one of the lounge chairs.

              “What brings you by at this time of the day…or should I say night?” John opened his briefcase and pulled out a manila folder, one which Sam thought she recognized from a recent dream. But when John began to speak, she knew that wasn’t the case.

              “We were clearing out an old desk of Jim Lawson’s and sitting in one of the bottom drawers, Shelley found this. I didn’t think much of it at first, but…well, I’m sure you’ll see.” He handed it to Sam, who took it whilst trying to make out the small writing on the front.

              When she held it in her lap and looked at the front, the words written there stirred something inside her, almost as if she somehow already had a feeling about the folder’s contents.

For Sam?

It was the question mark that was intriguing her, almost as if Jim didn’t know whether the contents were really meant for her.

              Sam opened it and inside found a single sheet of paper that appeared older than Jim himself. It was yellow from age, stained with decades worth of passing time that seemed to leave its imprint on it. One corner was torn off, whilst a smudge of some sort was smeared near the small passage. Blood? Sam read it, unaware of the pounding in her chest that was growing in intensity with each word.

To find the answers you seek, you need to come home. They remain safe where I kept them until you find the key. Try to get them without it? Boom.

Sam read the message a second time and then a third. When finished, she looked at John even more confused.

“Jim found a safe buried back near the body of Harry Lightman’s father. It’s back at HQ. There was also this.” He reached back into his briefcase and pulled out a small bundle of notes, each with a single line. “Turns out your great-grandfather was quite a schemer. These are clues for finding the combination to get into the safe. It’s already been x-rayed and just as he says, there’s some sort of device rigged inside. We can’t access it without destroying whatever’s inside.” He sat forward in his seat, holding out the notes. “Jim was close to opening it, but somehow knew it was meant for you.”

              Sam reached out and took the notes, unfolded the first and read the clue. After reading several more, she sat them in her lap, looked up at John and smiled.

“I’m always up for a challenge.”