Chapter 19 - The Hidden Safe
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One year after the trial concluded.
Because Amanda had been sent to prison and the state had seized her primary assets, I was appointed by the probate court to clear out the remains of her foreclosed home in La Jolla before the property went to public auction.
I walked through the empty, dusty rooms with my cane.
The house smelled of stale air and abandoned memories. The elegant furniture was gone, sold off to pay court restitution fees to the victims' estates.
I went down into the dark basement to make sure nothing personal remained.
While shining my flashlight against the back concrete wall near the old water heater, I noticed something strange.
A section of the drywall was painted a slightly lighter shade of gray than the rest of the room.
I reached out and pressed my hand against the panel.
It yielded slightly.
Curious, I grabbed a crowbar from my tool bag and pried the drywall panel open.
Behind it was a small, dusty alcove built directly into the foundation.
Inside sat a small, heavy steel fireproof box that the police search team had missed during their initial raid a year ago.
The box had a simple four-digit combination lock.
I tried my mother's birthday. Incorrect.
I tried Austin's birthday. Incorrect.
Then, on a strange hunch, I entered my own birthday: 11-04.
May you like
CLICK.
The heavy steel latch popped open.
