I stood before Dr. Rachel Lee's desk, my determination evident. "Rachel, I need to know what happened to my parents." Her expression softened, a mix of concern and understanding. "Ethan, we've discussed this. The police investigation turned up nothing. It's been ten years." I shook my head. "That's exactly why I need to start searching now. I'm not a kid anymore. I deserve answers."
Rachel sighed, her eyes scanning the room before settling on me. "Okay, Ethan. Let's start with what we know. Your parents were working on a top-secret project. They received threats, but we never thought..." Her voice trailed off, memories clouding her eyes. I nodded, urging her to continue. "What about their research? Could that lead me to them?" Rachel hesitated before handing me a folder.
The folder contained cryptic notes, equations, and diagrams. I recognized some of the symbols from my parents' old papers. "This is their research?" I asked, excitement building. Rachel nodded. "A portion of it. Be careful, Ethan. If someone wanted their research badly enough to threaten them, they may still be watching." A shiver ran down my spine, but I was undeterred.
That evening, I pored over the documents, searching for patterns. The more I read, the more questions I had. What was the "Eclipse Project"? Why did my parents hide their findings? As the night wore on, my eyes grew heavy, but my mind refused to rest. Tomorrow, I'd start digging deeper.
Next morning, I visited the local library, scouring newspapers and online archives for any mention of my parents or their research. Hours passed, yielding nothing concrete. Frustration simmered, but I refused to give up. A chance encounter with an old family friend, Professor Thompson, offered a glimmer of hope. "Ethan, I might have information," he said, his voice low. "Meet me at the university tomorrow."
The possibility of finally uncovering the truth electrified me. I left the library with renewed purpose, the search for my parents now an all-consuming passion.