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“This was wedged in the Styrofoam inside the box.”
She takes it with delicate fingers. “That’s weird. Why would it be there?”
“It must be my parents’. Maybe they accidentally dropped it in when they were sealing up the painting.” I consider telling her about how my mom switched the painting around and painted the hideous side, but don’t feel ready to share it yet.
Maddie turns the key over. “It looks like a safety deposit box key. Or some other kind of lockbox.”
I nod, agreeing. “I don’t remember packing up a safe in the move. Do you?”
She shakes her head. “Maybe your parents didn’t put the key in the box.”
I consider the possibility for approximately two seconds, then promptly dismiss it. This key belonged to my parents. It was for something big; I can feel it in my bones.
“But what if they did put the key in the box?” I say, watching her hopefully. “What if they hid something really important?”
She chews her bottom lip then smiles at me. “I guess there’s only one way to find out. Let’s solve your mystery.”
“I’ve been waiting all my life to hear those words.” I grab her around the waist and jump and spin until she catches on and makes it a bit easier for me to turn her giant body. “Let’s do this, my Amazon Barbie.”
“Okay, whoa.” Maddie stops spinning. “No weird names.”
“No costumes either?”
She snorts.
“Fine.” I huff out a breath. “We’ll do it the boring way.”
“That’s all I ask.”
Chapter 18
Amelia
Maddie and I stayed up late last night researching all possible options for the key. Annoyingly, when Connor called to check in at midnight, and Maddie blabbed to him about the key, it took him all of twenty minutes to find the bank whose initials matched. He looked through all the paperwork we saved from our parents but couldn’t locate a single invoice from the bank. He said the fact that there was no record of it made the situation sketchy and made me promise not to go to the bank without him.
Which is why I’m going while he’s at work.
What’s that saying? It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission?
I should have waited. A good sister would have. But I’m too excited. What if it’s a huge family secret, what if it’s something life-changing?
I’m aware it could be nothing but old photos and videos, but I’m choosing to remain optimistic.
I park my car in a nearby garage and scope out the situation like a true amateur spy. But there’s nothing nefarious happening in or around the two-story colonial building. Stepping out of the car, I straighten my power outfit. The pencil skirt bunches around my hips and I tug at it, but it’s all twisted. I yank it this way and that, but it only becomes more bunched.
“What is wrong with you!” I grunt, pulling at the skirt.
“Excuse me?”
I jump, as surprised to see the older woman as she must have been to hear me yell at her.
“Oh, not you. My skirt.” I turn to show her my backside, then immediately think better of it.
“Hmph.” The woman scowls before clicking her heels out of the garage.
Well then.
I finally get my skirt situated and reach back into the car for my knockoff designer bag. And last but not least, the sunglasses. Perfect. Connor had said it was an upscale bank and I wanted to look the part. Which means I also made up a backstory. I’m a scorned daughter whose parents left her nothing but this safety deposit box while her evil brother inherited everything they owned and will kick her out and leave her destitute unless she finds the one item he secretly desires: their grandfather’s gold watch. I even practiced fake crying.
