The funeral had already begun when Major Daniel Hayes stepped toward the open casket.
His mother, Eleanor, lay peacefully inside wearing the pale blue dress she had chosen years earlier for her final farewell.
Daniel wore his formal military uniform.
His white gloves trembled slightly as he reached for her hand.
Behind him stood his aunt Margaret.
Daniel looked down.
Then he froze.
There was a ring on Eleanor’s finger.
A black stone set in a thin silver band.
Daniel had never seen it before.
Margaret stepped closer.
Daniel?
He carefully removed the ring.
Inside the band were two engraved initials.
R.H.
Daniel stared at them.
His father’s initials were not R.H.
Margaret’s expression changed the moment she saw the ring.
Daniel noticed.
You know what this is.
Margaret immediately looked away.
Daniel turned toward her.
Who is R.H.?
She said nothing.
Then Daniel noticed something else.
A tiny compartment was hidden beneath the black stone.
And inside it was a folded strip of paper.
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