Page 81 of The Silent Note

I stop.

Finn glances over.

We both catch sight of the beer can that I slammed against the wall. It’s rolling on the ground next to the dumpster.

“Did that just…” I point.

Finn swings his gaze between me and the can.

Abruptly, we both rush after it.

He gets to it first.

I swipe it from him and shake it.Cling. Cling. Cling.

“Something’s in there,” I gasp.

“My ears are working.”

Fingers trembling, I turn the can upside down and try to dislodge whatever’s inside. An object falls against the opening, but it’s too big. I can’t maneuver it out.

“The tab. Bend the tab,” Finn says, an unexpected note of anticipation in his voice.

I snap the tab and a key slithers into my palm. It’s attached to a cheap, red plastic fob.

“This is it,” I whisper, holding it up like it’s a sparkling diamond.

“How are you sure it’s from Slavno?”

“It feels right.”

“Feelings aren’t reliable,” my brother lectures. “We need to confirm it. Maybe we should go talk to the cleaner again.”

“Wait.” I notice something carved in the fob. Lifting it so the sun shines through, I note the shape. “Look at that.”

“A plus sign?”

“No.” I look up with determination. “A cross.”

Finn snaps the key from me. “The label is from a self-storage facility.”

I grin, excitement rushing through my veins. The evidence he promised must be in there. “Slavno, you sneaky son of a?—”

“Dad,” Finn says on a quiet breath.

“Actually, it’s afemaledog…”

“No.” Finn looks up soberly, showing me his phone. Our father’s face fills the screen. “Dad is calling.”

Chapter Nineteen

GREY

I underscore the wordtragedyon the white board. “We’re approaching the end ofRomeo and Juliet.Everyone knows what’s about to happen, right?” I walk in front of my podium, looking over the faces staring back at me.

Several seats are empty.

So is Zane’s.

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