Chapter 24 - Unpleasant Blasts from the Past

"Kind of flimsy for personal effects, isn't it?" Saul remarked.

"It was just supposed to be an envelope. They didn't bother sending her clothes back and Rachael didn't travel with any personal possessions other than her weapons."

"O.N.I. training," Lee added.

Saul picked up the envelope and dumped the contents in front of him. "Letters from you, Roger, all opened. A couple of letters in Arabic. They're still sealed. Guess we'll need to get a translator in here. That could take a while."

Lee reached for the envelopes. Roger saw Lee gulp.

"Lee, what do they say?"

"Rachael MacAdam, 466-298-0328."

"Her service number," Roger sighed.

"Well, they do belong to Rachael. Maybe we should take them to her," Saul offered.

"No!" Lee said as he felt through the thin paper of one. "There's something in this one other than a letter."

"It's too small to be a bomb," Saul reassured.

"Let me see it," Roger said. He felt through it. "Oh, Jesus. It might as well be a bomb." Roger's hands shook as he opened it. A bracelet made from bright auburn hair fell out. Roger turned and threw up.

"Why the hell would this be in with Rachael's personal stuff?" Lee grabbed the envelope and reached inside and found a note, also in Arabic. Lee couldn't understand every word, but he understood enough.

"Do you know what it says? Who it's from?" Saul asked.

"It's got nothing to do with Mel's murder. I can't tell you. Leave it at that." Lee reluctantly reached for the other letter and opened it. "More of the same. We need to destroy them."

Saul reached across the table for them. Lee stopped him by grabbing his wrist roughly.

"Lee, they are evidence in a murder investigation. I can't let you destroy them."

"You still have the envelope with the other stuff. You don't need these. There's no possible connection to Melanie's murder."

"Maybe they'll be helpful to Rachael's treatment?"

"No." Lee pulled back with the letters in hand. He threw them into a trash can. He reached back to the credenza and pulled a lighter off of it.

"Lee, I can't be party to this," Saul said.

"Then I suggest you go out for a few minutes." Lee set fire to a corner of one envelope and dropped it back into the waste can.

"What was in those letters, Lee?"

"Bad memories."

"I'm glad she never saw them then."

"Mel did her a favor by intercepting these, Roger. She paid a hefty price too."

"I'll get rid of the bracelet later. I don't think my stomach could take the smell of burning hair right now."

"Agreed."