Chapter 3: Uncovering New Evidence

Alex Carter worked tirelessly in the dimly lit archive room of Thornwood Manor, his flashlight casting eerie shadows on the walls. He had been sifting through stacks of old documents and photographs for hours when he came across a ledger that seemed out of place. The pages were yellowed and brittle, but the neat handwriting was legible.

Alex flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning the entries. His heart raced as he noticed a series of visitor logs from the night Thomas Callahan disappeared. The logs detailed names, times, and brief notes about the guests, revealing a detailed account of who was present at the manor.

He picked up the ledger and began to scrutinize it more closely. One entry in particular caught his attention:

November 15, 1978—Guest: Emily Thornton, Arrival: 8:00 PM, Departure: 11:30 PM. Noted: Seen conversing with Thomas Callahan.

Beside this entry was a photograph of a woman he didn't recognize. She was elegantly dressed, standing near Callahan in what appeared to be a lively party setting. Alex studied the photograph closely. The woman's presence at the party seemed significant, but her role remained unclear.

As he pondered over the photograph, Emily Hayes arrived at Thornwood Manor. She had been assisting Alex with his investigation and had agreed to meet him at the estate to review the new findings. She walked into the dusty room, her eyes widening at the sight of the cluttered space.

"Hey, Alex," Emily greeted, her voice echoing slightly in the large room. "How's it going?"

"Emily, look at this," Alex said, holding up the photograph and ledger. "I found a visitor log from the night Callahan disappeared. This woman, Emily Thornton, was at the party and had close interactions with Callahan."

Emily took the photograph and examined it closely. "She doesn't look familiar. Do you think she could be connected to his disappearance?"

"It's hard to say," Alex replied. "Her presence at the party and the fact that she was seen conversing with Callahan is intriguing. We need to find out who she is and why she was there."

Emily nodded, her gaze shifting to the ledger. "I'll start looking for any records or references to Emily Thornton. Maybe she was a local figure or someone who had a notable presence at the time."

Alex continued to examine the ledger. "There are a few other names here that might be worth checking out, but Thornton stands out. Let's see if we can find any more information about her."

As they worked together, Alex's phone buzzed. It was a text message from Detective Sam Rivers.

"Heard you're digging into Callahan's old case. If you find anything worth mentioning, let me know. There were rumors of corruption and hidden agendas back then. Be cautious."

Alex read the message aloud. "Rivers just sent me a text. Apparently, there were rumors of corruption linked to Callahan's case. That could be another angle to explore."

Emily's eyes narrowed. "Corruption? That could explain why this case was so messy. Maybe Thornton was involved somehow."

"Possibly," Alex said, still absorbed in the photograph. "We need to track down Emily Thornton and see what she knows. She could be a key piece to this puzzle."

Emily gave him a reassuring smile. "Alright, I'll start digging through old records and reach out to any contacts who might know about her. In the meantime, why don't you try to find more information about the other names in the ledger?"

Alex nodded, appreciative of Emily's support. "Sounds like a plan. Let's see if we can make sense of this."

As Emily set off on her task, Alex returned to the ledger and photograph, his mind racing with possibilities. The discovery of Emily Thornton's presence at the party and the hint of corruption opened new avenues for investigation. The shadows of Thornwood Manor seemed to whisper secrets long buried, and Alex was determined to uncover the truth behind Thomas Callahan's disappearance.