Page 201 of Ice Princess

Gunner’s nostrils flare. “So he’s still out there?”

“We’ll find him, son.”

I scramble to my feet. “Sherriff, thank you. For everything.”

He could have easily brushed this under the rug, but he investigated the case and even arrested his own brother.

Stewart Kinsey is absolutely awful.

But I have to admit. The Kinseys aren’tallbad.

Though it doesn’t surprise me that Gunner’s parents are so incredible given how wonderful Gunner turned out.

“I’m just doing my job, Ms. Hart.” Sheriff Kinsey glances at mom. “On behalf of the entire Kinsey family, I apologize to youand your daughter. Not just for what happened today but also for what happened in the past.”

Mom looks horrified. “Sheriff Kinsey, there’s no need to apologize. I truly think you’re mistaken. I was nothing important to your father. Truly. All I did was work for him.”

I take her hand gently, hating that she’s downplaying how incredible she is. “Mom, you inspire me with your hard work and cheerful attitude every day. I bet you inspired Clay Kinsey too.”

Mom still looks flabbergasted. “Still… a land is too much. The only thing I ever got from Mr. Clay was bonuses for Christmas and a key chain with a rusty old key still on it.”

I feel Gunner’s energy shift and look up at him. He glances at his father and the two share a meaningful look.

A moment later, Sheriff Kinsey approaches mom carefully. “Mrs. Hart, do you still have that key?”

Momand I arenotrich enough to even know what safety deposit boxes are, so I don’t blame her for not recognizing what the key was for. However, the moment Sheriff Kinsey sees it, he tells us that we need to go to the bank.

When we arrive, we’re treated like VIPs and taken straight to a private office where we’re offered tea while we wait for the manager.

A distinguished man wearing white gloves arrives and leads us through a heavily secured door, down some stairs and into a fancy room filled with bright lights and rich velvet, black boxes. The private room looks as fancy as a hotel. Mom and I both gawk at the high ceilings and fancy glass finishings.

“Did you know something like this was in Lucky Falls?” Mom asks, nudging me with her elbow.

“No ma’am,” I whisper back, in awe.

The bank manager pulls out the box with his gloved hands and sets it on the table in front of my mother. The entire process looks important and official, yet Gunner and Sheriff Kinsey remain completely unfazed.

Mom stares at the object and then at the clerk. “Am I supposed to…”

“Yes. The box is registered to you so only you can open it.”

I gasp in surprise.

“That’s probably why Clarence and Stewart never knew about it,” Sheriff Kinsey says, rubbing his chin.

“Go on. Open it,” I encourage.

Mom takes a deep breath and slowly fits the key into the lock.

She turns it.

There’s aclicksound.

Gunner, Sheriff Kinsey and I press in as mom stands on the other side of the table and lifts the lid. The creak the box makes as it pops open is the loudest I’ve ever heard.

“What’s in it?” Sheriff Kinsey asks, his voice subdued.

Gunner says nothing, but I can feel his curiosity building too.

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