Nice descriptions, and having read the sequel already it sets up very nicely why the letter would have been hidden here, since the desk represented a big project and a fair amount of time that he would have remembered after getting stuck back in time. Nicely, and casually set up, without a lot of dramatics. Might have been nice to have a hint as to his occupation that would set up the time travel later, but that might just be my own penchant for foreshadowing.
THX 0477