Page 59 of Afraid to Hope

Bane followed her upstairs into the master, where she disappeared into the closet.

“What’re you doing?” he asked, following her in.

Natasha slid her finger under a mounted board with hooks and pressed. The board released from the wall. She lowered it to the floor and slid her hand into the small, horizontal recessed area. “Got it!”

“Got what?”

“Mémé’s safe-deposit box key.” She opened her hand and flipped the key over. L-91 was stamped into it. “This appears to be a match to the two keys we have in our possession. So, with my key, four keys. I certainly hope that’s all of them.”

Bane’s brow furrowed. “Usually there are only two. Why so many, and why the effort to hide this key so carefully? Kinda overkill, isn’t it? After all, ID has to be presented at the bank by the person seeking to access a safe-deposit box.”

She felt around the recessed cavity some more and withdrew a legal-sized ivory envelope. “I have no idea. Mémé showed me this hideaway and how it worked when I was a young child. She told me the most important things were kept here. I just remembered now that it existed.”

Natasha withdrew a paper from the envelope and scanned it. “This letter is a copy of the one I received from Mémé’s attorneys upon her death. They handled everything tied to the estate and still do.” She felt around with her fingers. “Nothing else,” Natasha said, slipping the letter back into the envelope and returning it to the hideaway before pressing the mounted board until it clicked into place. Facing Bane, she lamented, “What if I’m wrong?”

“What if you aren’t? Too many things are falling into place for this to be mere conjecture.”

Natasha walked past him and out of the closet.

Bane followed her out and downstairs, talking as they made their way back to the kitchen where Simon continued to work.

“I believe we’re onto something. The bank is closing soon, and you’ll need proper identification,” he said, glancing at his watch. “I’ll call Emmet and ask that your passport is delivered tonight. We can go tomorrow. First thing. We still need to go through theriad.”

“I forgot about the passport. Yes. Thank you.” Natasha moved toward the french doors and rested her hand on the lever. “I’m going to let Clara know Simon is also coming to dinner. I’ll be right back.”

“Wait a minute, Natasha,” Simon said. “I think it’s best I remain here. I can continue going through theriadwhile you’re having dinner and wait on your passport. Let Clara and Oliver know I’m staying here while you’re gone so that I don’t alarm them.”

“I agree with Simon. That makes the best use of our time.”

“Clara’s a wonderful cook. We’ll bring you back dinner,” she promised.

“We’re finished here.” Simon glanced at her. “Shall I reshelve?”

“Please.”

“Where should we begin next?” Bane asked, angling his head.

“We went through the office thoroughly and we know the guest room is empty. Let’s start with thebâyts.Simon, you can continue while we’re at dinner. We’ll join you where you are after we’ve eaten. Bane and I can go through the master later tonight.”

“You are sure, Natasha?” Simon asked.

Natasha smiled, her gray eyes moving from Simon’s and connecting with Bane’s hazel ones before she answered, “I trust you.”

Several hours later, Bane stretched his arms toward the ceiling in the master bedroom, revealing chiseled abs. His jeans hung from lean hips. “I’m happy our search of theriadturned up nothing else. But we’re pushing back our departure again.”

“We have to go to the bank.” Natasha sat cross-legged on the bed and unabashedly stared. The ache for him simmered under the surface like an ember just waiting to be fanned into a fire of passion.

He yawned loudly. “We do. Tomorrow morning on our way out.”

“What if it’s a dead end?”

“Somehow I doubt it since the office was rifled through, we discovered important information tied to the American, and your grandparents went to the trouble to leave a trail of clues for you about something yet to be revealed.”

“We may have to delay even further depending on what is in the safe-deposit box.”

“Emmet cleared his morning for us, and he’ll clear the rest of the day if necessary. Just in case we need him.” He ran his hand over his face and yawned again. “Fuck, I’m tired. You comfortable sleeping with me while Simon snoozes in the guest room?”

“I am, and with everything going on, I actually feel better that he’s here. And the surveillance is operational, which is comforting too.”

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