“Yes.”
“But what’s the routing sheet?”
Nathaniel looked toward Sofia.
“In our old system, important documents traveled between departments with a paper log. Whoever received a file signed for it.”
Sofia leaned forward.
“If Eleanor had that sheet—”
“We could know exactly who intercepted the cooperative agreement.”
Ruby looked between them.
“But Grandma said she was bringing both.”
Claire’s expression had changed.
“She never went to the meeting.”
Nathaniel frowned.
“Why not?”
Claire stared at the letter.
“Because she went into the hospital that weekend.”
The room became quiet.
“She died six weeks later,” Claire said. “By then the building deal had been canceled. I was nineteen and trying to keep everything together. Whatever she intended to give you…”
Her voice faded.
Ruby leaned against her arm.
Claire kissed her hair.
Sofia broke the silence gently.
“If the routing sheet existed, Eleanor may have kept it with the original authorization.”
