for not planning better.”
“Do you think there’s another will somewhere?” she asked. “In his house, perhaps?”
“It’s a possibility. Do you have access to his safe?”
“No. I didn’t even know he had a safe.”
“Oh, sure, he’s got a safe. An apartment like that? I’m certain of it. Look behind some pictures or in the back of his closet. You’ll find it.”
“How would I get into it?”
“You’d call in an expert. Donna can give you a reliable phone number.”
“Well, that’s it, then.” She stood. “There has to be a safe. And in it, we’ll find a more recently written will. Maybe he wrote it out just before this last trip.”
Walt looked hopeful. “That’s possible, but I would’ve expected him to leave a copy with me. I have copies of everything else pertaining to his estate.”
“Maybe he was in a hurry.”
Walt reached out to shake her hand. “I hope you’re right, Rachel.”
“I’m sure of it.”
“But if you’re wrong—if there is no second will—Holly needs to be delivered to her aunt in Ohio within the week.”
“Within the week?”
“That’s what Lydia told me.”
“You spoke to her?”
He nodded.
“I thought the Amish didn’t have phones or electricity. How did you speak to her? Did you go out there?”
“I sent her a telegram and she called me from someone else’s phone. We spoke at length. If it’s any comfort, she seems like a good person, and she really loved Miriam. She was quite shocked and saddened to hear of her baby sister’s death. She was very glad to hear that Holly is coming to live with her, and she told me they live on a farm with cows and pigs and chickens and all sorts of things. She felt it was best to get Holly settled in during winter break. That way she can start back to school in January with the other children.”
“They have a school?”
“Sure. Why wouldn’t they?”
“I don’t know. I guess I really don’t know much about the Amish. I thought maybe they homeschooled or something.”
“Well, Lydia mentioned a school. And, anyway, if you don’t find a more recent will, you can be assured that Holly will be in very good hands.” He made a stiff-looking smile. “And that will allow you to get on with your life, Rachel. I know you’re a flight attendant. Not exactly an easy career for a guardian of a young child, being on the go all the time like that.”
“I quit my job,” she said in a flat tone.
“Oh, well, I’m sure they’d happily take you back.”
She sighed. Maybe they would happily take her back. But would she happily go? “Anyway, I intend to find Michael’s new will. I’ll get back to you as soon as I do.”
“Good luck.”
Rachel kept the emotions from her face and her voice as she and Holly walked back home. As soon as they were in the apartment, her search for the safe began. “What are you looking for?” Holly asked curiously.
“Your daddy had a safe. I need to find it.”
Holly’s brow creased. “What’s a safe?”
“A place where you keep important or valuable things. Sometimes it’s behind a picture on a wall.”
“Oh, you mean the little box inside the wall?”
“Yes,” Rachel said eagerly.
Holly led her to a modern-art painting in the master bedroom that covered “the little box inside the wall.” Rachel peered down at Holly. “You don’t happen to know the combination, do you?”
Holly looked confused. “Huh?”
Rachel laughed. “No, of course not.” She called the number that Donna had given her, and after a few hours, a man came and deftly opened it. After she paid him for his services, she carefully removed the contents of the safe, only to find a nice stash of cash, some of Miri’s jewelry, their marriage license, and a few other pieces. No will.
“Did you find what you wanted?” Holly asked from where she was sitting on the bed.
Setting the contents back into the safe, Rachel just shook her head. She closed the door and replaced the
MR. PINK-WHISTLE INTERFERES