Page 96 of Arranged Addiction
“That is the key to your mother’s safe deposit box.”
I stare, my heart rate doubling. “I didn’t know she had one.”
“Nobody does. I doubt your father even knew. She left me that key in her will and told me never to mention it to anyone under any circumstances unless your life was in immediate danger.And while there’s no gun to your head, I think it’s about time you took a look at what your mother left for you.”
“For me?” I hold the key up to the light. It’s surprisingly plain.
“She also made that clear. Whatever’s in that box is for you and you alone. I never opened it. Never even tried.”
“Mom left me this,” I say quietly to myself like I’m trying to believe it. “What am I supposed to do now?”
“Well, if you want my opinion, it’s pretty simple.” She leans back like she just got a huge weight off her shoulders. “You should go to the bank.”
Chapter 33
Casey
I’ve never been so nervous in my entire life. I’m alone in the bank’s back safe deposit room, practically bouncing all over the place. The older clerk smiles as she closes the door. “Take all the time you need, dear, and let me know if I can help with anything.”
The room’s filled with numbered slots. I hold my key up and stare at the little 39 engraved on the top. The corresponding box is one of the larger models but isn’t anything special. The key slips in and turns without issue, and I slide out the metal tray and carry it over to the long desk.
I’m afraid to open the top flap. Once I do that, I’ll know what’s inside, and what if Mom left me something terrible? What if she told Sheila to keep this from me for a reason?
But I can’t keep being terrified of the past. Senesi’s the perfect manifestation of all my nightmares coming together in real life. And if I can’t get past him, I’m going to be trapped in this vicious cycle forever.
I flip it open and stare.
There’s cash on the top. I don’t know how much. It’s a bundle of hundreds. Maybe a few thousand. There’s a gun next to them. It’s small and simple. I take it out and place it down on the table gingerly, afraid it might go off. Under that is a stack of passports. America, France, Germany, Italy, Senegal. The details inside are all blank like they’re waiting for someone with the right skill to come along and fill them out. Mom must’ve thought I’d need to get out of the country fast at some point.
Under that is a letter.
I stare at my name. Mom’s writing is legible and curly. It flows across the page at a slant. My eyes tear up, and I have to wipe them a few times before I can start to make sense of what she left me.
Casey darling, if you’re reading this, I suppose all the bad things I feared came true. Your father and I must be gone. And now I guess my sister gave you that silly key for this silly box, and while I feel silly right now, maybe you don’t feel that way. Maybe you’re afraid and you need help.
Darling, I love you, and so does your father. We never should have gotten ourselves involved in this ugly mess, but here we are. What’s in this box should help if you need it. On the back of this page, I’ll list some names of people who might still owe a couple of hardened criminals a favor and just might lend you a hand. But most important of all, there’s the evidence.
Senesi is a menace. His obsession went too far. It didn’t matter what I said or what I did. He couldn’t release me. I’ve known it for a long time, but the underworld turns a blind eye to men like him. I can’t do it anymore. I can’t live like this. Senesi deserves what he’s going to get, only I’m afraid, Casey. I’m very afraid of what he might do.
This is my only chance at freedom.
So here is everything we have on him. If that helps, wonderful. If it’s just nonsense, throw it all into a fire and never look back.
I love you, my darling. I hope you never read this. But in case you are, good luck, my love. Do what you must do to survive. I’m always here, even if I’m not.
Love forever, Mom.
I read it over a few times before I take the last object from the box. It’s a thick manila envelope stuffed with documents. Slowly, my hands shaking, I start to take a few out.
Police reports. Credit card statements. Call transcripts. And a few gruesome photographs of what look like crime scenes. There’s more, a lot more, but I shove it all away with shaking hands.
My mother knew this was going to happen.
Or at least she strongly suspected.
Senesi was a terror even in her day. She was aware that she was going up against a real monster, and she thought she might not survive it.
And she was right.
