He pointed to a shelf where a thick layer of dust had been recently disturbed, leaving a clean rectangular outline in the center of the wood.
“Someone has been out here,” I said, tracing the clean edge of the wood with my thumb. “This was where he kept his metal lockbox.”
“The safety deposit box at the bank is also a priority,” Walter said, adjusting his collar. “I will contact the branch manager this afternoon to schedule an appointment.”
“I will search the house again,” I said, looking at the dark shape of the Shelby under its canvas cover. “The keys have to be nearby.”
“Ensure you check the kitchen drawers as well,” Walter said, stepping back toward the door. “Arthur had a habit of keeping smaller tools in domestic spaces.”
By two o’clock, the lobby of the Grace Methodist Church was quiet, the carpet muffled by the heavy gray wool coat I wore to keep out the drafts.
Karen was sitting on a velvet bench near the double doors, holding her purse tightly against her lap.
I walked over and sat beside her, the silver band on my finger cold against my skin. “Karen, do you have the remote for the garage door opener?”
Karen adjusted her pearl earrings again, her eyes darting toward the sanctuary doors. “I don’t know. It’s lost. Everything is lost.”
“We need to get inside the workshop to find the title,” I said, pausing to let her look at me. “The lawyer is asking for the paperwork.”
“The insurance is too high anyway,” Karen said, her voice dropping to a breathless whisper. “We can’t afford to keep that garage.”
“My father built that workshop with his own hands,” I said, my voice steady and deliberate. “We are not selling the property.”
“You don’t pay the bills here,” she said, her breath catching as she spoke. “You don’t know what it costs.”
“The estate will cover the maintenance once the probate is filed,” I said.
“There is no money, Gail,” she said, her voice sharp and rapid. “He left us with nothing but that blue car.”
She stood up quickly, smoothing her skirt, and walked toward the ladies’ room before I could ask her another question.
