Page 45 of Max's Mission

“It’s the twins’ birthday,” Max replied.

Gallagher muttered a curse.

“Twins?” Dye arched an eyebrow in question.

“My daughters,” Margot answered. “With Tad.”

“Maybe this is a legacy for them.” Max tipped his head, eyeing Margot. “We may not find anything at that location except the property itself. It could be why he left the key in your deposit box. He knows you rarely check it. That what you keep in there is an inheritance for the girls.”

“But why the scavenger hunt? If it’s a property for them, why wouldn’t he just put the deed in my box? Why a betting ledger and a key to this safe deposit box?” She tipped her phone toward the metal container on the table.

Max scrunched his nose. She had a good point.

A moment later, she sat up straight. “I found one.” Setting the phone on the table, she spun it around and pushed it toward Tess.

The woman picked it up, her brow scrunching. “He looks vaguely familiar, but nothing’s jumping out at me.” Face twisting, she looked at Agent Dye. “Sorry I can’t be more help.”

“It’s all right. You’re trying.” Dye glanced across the table at Margot. “Keep that picture handy. We’ll show it to the staff at your bank.”

Margot nodded as she took her phone back.

Dye turned his phone around to speak to Agent Gallagher. “I’ll call you later with updates about what we find at the other bank.”

“Sounds good.”

The two agents hung up, and Dye pocketed the phone.

“So, what now?” Max asked.

“Dr. Gaultier, with your permission, I’d like to take the contents of this box into evidence,” Agent Dye said.

She nodded. “Of course.”

The agent turned to Tess. “Ma’am, do you photocopy identification when people open accounts?”

“Yes.”

“Could you make a copy of his ID for me?”

“Of course.” She pushed her chair back. “Give me just a minute.” Whirling on her heel, she hurried out of the room.

Dye reached into an interior pocket of his coat and produced several evidence bags. “Dr. Gaultier, may I have the journal and the jewelry pieces that were tampered with?”

Margot opened her purse and retrieved the items. Dye bagged them up, writing on the front with a sharpie.

Tess returned. “Here you go.” She held out a sheet of paper to Agent Dye.

Max leaned forward, reading the address listed. It was the same address as the pin he’d dropped just minutes ago.

“Thank you, ma’am.” Dye gave her a polite smile. “We’re ready to put the box back now.”

“Certainly.” She picked it up and headed for the door.

Dye scooped up the evidence bags and followed her from the room.

Margot gave Max a quick look, then trailed behind the agent. Max picked up her purse and followed at a slower pace.

His mind whirled with possibilities of what they’d find at the property in Cass County. Everything from dead bodies to a stash of electronics Tad hadn’t sold scrolled through his mind. Whatever it was, it had to shed some light on why Tad was in North Dakota.

---