Mia Was Blamed for Taking Something From Aunt Rebecca’s Package — Then the Porch Camera Showed Who Really Reached Into the Box
Chapter 6 — Walter Had Been Sent the Proof
Edward eventually found stronger evidence.
Ten years after Frank died, Harold Pierce’s old records were released during an unrelated administrative investigation.
Among them was a warehouse access log.
The night of the theft, Pierce’s master authorization had been used to override Frank’s employee account.
There was also a vehicle log showing Frank’s assigned truck never left the base.
Edward copied everything.
Then mailed it to Walter.
Walter stared at the letter.
“I never received anything.”
Rebecca frowned.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
Edward’s letter included the date.
March 4, 1981.
Walter looked troubled.
“I had moved by then.”
He and his wife had separated temporarily.
Walter spent several months living with his father.
His previous house was occupied by his wife, Anne.
“Could she have received it?” Lauren asked.
Walter looked away.
Anne had hated Frank.
She believed his scandal embarrassed the entire Ellis family.
Walter and Anne eventually divorced.
She died years later.
There was no way to ask her.
But Edward apparently assumed Walter had received the evidence and ignored it.
That created another misunderstanding.
Edward believed Walter didn’t want the medal back.
Walter believed Edward never tried to defend Frank.
Neither spoke honestly to the other again.
Lauren shook her head.
“So both of you spent decades angry about conversations that never happened.”
Walter looked at the medal.
“Apparently.”
Then Rebecca noticed the final line of Edward’s letter.
The original records are not with me anymore. I gave them to someone who could put Frank’s name where it belonged.
Underneath was another name.
DR. HELEN MORROW — COUNTY VETERANS ARCHIVE.
