The Golden Files: Where Cases Go Unsolved

Part 3: Chapter 6 - 8

Chapter 6

Valentine turns off the camera and walks back over to the coat rack to put the camera back in his jacket pocket. He walked to the bedroom and layed on the bed hoping that would help him have a better dream than the one before.

The next day, Valentine awoke to banging on the door. He looked at the clock to find it was only 7:00 a.m.

"Who the hell is banging on my door at this hour? You better have a damn good reason."

Valentine walked to the door and looked through the peephole to find it was Anderson banging on his door.

"Anderson, do you have any idea what time it is??" Valentine looks at Anderson confused and rubs his eyes from all the sleep, gunk, and tears.

"Yes I do, but I didn't come over here to socialize this time. I found out something you may want to hear. It's rather important."

"You're pregnant." Valentine jokes as he puts on a clean t-shirt.

"It's not funny. It's about your brother's case."

Valentine looks at Anderson confused, "What are you talking about? What about his case?"

"I saw a file on my desk and I remembered that I didn't put the Andrew file away. As I picked it up off my desk, something fell out of the folder."

"Well, what was it? Don't leave me in suspense."

Anderson reached in his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

"This. This is what fell out of the folder."

Valentine grabbed the piece of paper and unfolded it and saw that it read:

Dear Andrew,

Here is the list you wanted,

1. Hunter *

2. Chris

3. Ashley

4. Beth

5. Angel Valentine

Than

"What the hell is this? This tells us nothing. It's just a list of people."

Anderson points at the paper in Valentine's hand. "But look at number 5. That is your name on that list. Hell, his girlfriend is number 4. The only thing I don't understand...who the hell is Than???"

Valentine looks at Anderson confused, "I can tell you one thing...Than is Greek for death. I can see that my name is on it. But why? What is this list? What is it for?"

"My guess is a hit list. I just don't know why he would need a hit list and why you and his girlfriend would be on it. What does that mean? Is he going to create death? Is he going to kill or has he killed already?"

Valentine starts pacing back and forth in the living room. He walks left towards the kitchen and then right back into the living room.

"I know who Beth and I are, but who is Chris and Ashley?"

"I don't know. Maybe friends of Beth's?"

"Well, I'm going to find out one way or another. I have to get to the bottom of this."

"But you can't, remember? You were taken off the case because it was a family connection."

"Then, why did you bring it to me? Why did you show me this list? Why even come here at all?"