Page 6 of Blood Ties

“I’m still at home.”

His breath left him. “Good. I’ve requested the older property files, but they won’t arrive today. Wait until I know what your grandmother was protecting you from.”

“The maintenance company hasn’t seen her at Harrowmere in fourteen years. Nobody entered her alarm code, and nobody witnessed the interior inspections she signed.”

“I know. I’ve been going through the same documents.”

“Did you witness the declarations?”

“I witnessed her signature in my office. She refused to discuss how the inspection had been completed.”

“And you accepted that?”

“Legally, she was competent and understood what she was signing. Personally, I argued with her until she threatened to appoint another solicitor.”

That was a real answer, even if I didn’t like it.

“Did you ever see the old key before today?”

“Once. She brought it when we finalised the new will and placed it in the box herself. I didn’t touch it.”

“Did she tell you not to?”

“She said it wasn’t mine.”

I looked at the raven worked around its bow. “It moves when my blood is near it.”

Silence came down the line.

“Arthur?”

“Are you certain?”

“It turned towards the cut in your office. It’s reacted twice since I came home.”

“Put it back in the box and leave it there.”

His answer came too quickly. “You don’t sound surprised.”

“I’m surprised your grandmother left you an object capable of moving on its own. I’m not surprised she knew things she refused to explain.”

“That’s careful wording.”

“It’s the most honest answer I have.”

I believed that much. It still left too many questions.

“You said the route to the case would only open for me. Where did that language come from?”

“Directly from Edith. She made me read the instruction back to her before she sealed it.”

“Then waiting for the older files won’t change who has to enter the house.”

“It may change whether you enter with the police.”

“And tell them what? My dead grandmother left me a restless key and instructions for a hidden route under a house she lied about owning?”

“Tell them you have reason to believe someone may be occupying the property.”