It was locked.

I looked around the empty hallway.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the brass key Ethan had described, which I had found hidden behind the small landscape painting near his door.

I inserted the key into the lock.

It turned with a soft, heavy click.

I slipped inside the dark room, closing the door quietly behind me.

The air smelled of old paper, leather, and cedar.

I walked quickly to the massive mahogany desk in the center of the room.

My hands shook as I opened the deep bottom drawer on the right side.

I felt along the wooden base, pressing hard near the back corners just as he had instructed.

A small latch clicked, and a false bottom popped up a fraction of an inch.

Underneath lay a thick, dust-covered blue folder.

I pulled it out and opened it, my eyes straining to read the documents in the dim light.

Suddenly, the brass doorknob jiggled.

I froze, holding the papers to my chest.

The lock turned.

The study door began to swing open.