Arthur Havelock continued to delve into the details of the investigation, when suddenly he received a message from an unknown sender. The envelope contained a note written on old, yellowish paper, and several antique photographs. The note was written in an exquisite handwriting, and its text sounded like a riddle:
"The mystery is hidden behind the mirror of time. Find a reflection of what has been forgotten."
Havelock was stunned: this clue could be related to previous finds or contain information that he had missed. The photographs that accompanied the note depicted various rooms of the mansion, including hidden corners that had not been explored by the detective. One of the photographs especially caught Havelock's attention — it depicted an antique mirror in one of the abandoned rooms of the mansion.
The note and photos were sent from an unknown source, which only added to the mystery. Havelock knew that this clue could be the key to the solution he was looking for.
With the final clue, Havelock resolutely set about revising his theories and approaches. The first step was to investigate the antique mirror mentioned in the hint. He decided that he needed to revisit the room where this mirror was placed and examine it carefully.
When Havelock entered the abandoned room, he saw a framed mirror covered with dust and cobwebs. He carefully examined the mirror, paying attention to any unusual signs. Suddenly, his attention was attracted by a small crack in the frame, in which he noticed that something was hidden.
Stolen novel; please report.
Using special equipment and caution, Havelock was able to extract the object hidden behind the crack. It turned out to be a small metal box with a lock that could only be opened with a certain key. Intuitively feeling the importance of the find, Havelock took the box and began searching for the key.
Havelock returned to the office and began sorting through the remaining evidence to find a key that could match the box. Upon careful examination of the notes and letters he had previously collected, he discovered that one of the letters contained references to closed documents and hidden records. These records were related to Lord Livingston's finances and personal affairs.
Havelock compared the notes with the contents of the box and found that inside were important documents and personal letters that could change the understanding of the investigation. These documents contained information about corruption, threats and manipulations that may be related to the motives for the murder.
Having revised his theories based on new data, Havelock realized that key events that he had previously considered insignificant could now become important factors in the investigation. For example, it turned out that Lord Livingston led a double life, including hidden transactions and financial manipulations that could cause discontent among several people.
This new information provided an opportunity to review the list of suspects and could help establish links between the motives and actions of the perpetrator. Havelock also realized that the findings could have an impact on the final stages of the investigation.
Realizing that the clue had led him to an important find, Havelock decided that the next step would be to draw up a plan for the final solution of the murder. He needed to combine all the facts, theories, and new evidence into a single picture. He decided to hold a final meeting with family members to discuss the latest discoveries and check their reactions to the new facts.
Over the next few days, Havelock focused on preparing for this meeting, gathering all the key data and refining his theories. He knew that this last step could be decisive in uncovering the mystery and establishing justice.