The recorder’s battery was completely dead, but Paige managed to find a fresh pack of batteries in the metal filing cabinet.

I put in the new batteries and switched the device on.

The small screen lit up, showing a list of saved audio files labeled by date.

Most of the recordings had been made in the month leading up to the fatal crash.

I selected the earliest file and pressed play.

Brandon’s familiar voice suddenly filled the quiet storage unit, and my heart ached.

“October ninth.