“Pffft.Two-dollar coins at least,” I say, hefting it.
“Jewelry,” April says.
“Coins,” Dalton says. “Maybe pennies, before they went out of circulation. What are they worth now, one and a quarter cents each?”
I shake my head and open the box to reveal…
Dalton puts out his hand to April. “Pay up.”
“I never laid a bet.”
I kiss his cheek. “There. Your prize.”
“What would I have gotten?” April asks.
“Acknowledgment that you were right, which is all you really need.”
I shake the box’s contents onto my hand. They are indeed coins. Not loonies or toonies. Not modern Canadian or American coins of any sort. I’m… not sure what they are. The dates make them very old, but the coins look new, and they’re loose in the box, like spare change.
“So Muriel’s secret treasure was a bunch of old coins?” Dalton says.
“Why do I feel like I’m in one of those escape rooms?” I mutter. “Here’s a random clue—now figure out how it applies to the mystery.”
“You need to decipher the language on the coins,” April says. “And then arrange the numbers in the right order to open a combination lock located in another planter.”
I snort. “Probably. And inside that will be a playing card that leads to the next clue.” I hold out the coins. “Are these valuable? Or just mementos? Do we have any residents who might know? I really hate to add more work to Émilie’s list.”
“Kenny used to collect coins,” April says. “It was a hobby when he was young. He might have some idea what we are looking at.”
Kenny lifts one coin and stares at it. “This… this…” He looks at me. “You found these just tossed into a box? Where they could get scratched?” From his expression, you’d think we’d left Rory in the woods by herself.
We’re just outside town. Kenny had been on patrol, and Dalton and I had waited along the path until he appeared with Brian. We ended their patrol early, so Brian could go, leaving us alone to explain things to Kenny.
“I take it that’s a rare coin?” I say.
“It’s a buffalo nickel. I wouldn’t say it’s extremely rare, but it’s worth about five grand. The others are all foreign coins, and I don’t recognize most, but I’d guess you’re looking at anywhere from thirty to forty grand here.”
I whistle. “Wow. Okay. That’s… a lot. Thank you. Eric and I will finish up your patrol shift. My sister’s at the clinic with Rory, but we’ll come by right after and take her. Rory won’t be spending the night with April.”
“Uh… okay.”
I shrug. “Just in case you were heading over there.”
Kenny rocks back on his heels as Dalton shakes his head. “If that’s a very clumsy way of asking me something, Casey, I’d rather you didn’t.”
“It wasn’t. I just wanted to be clear that we are aware of a change in the situation and will accommodate it without saying anything to April.”
A slow exhale. “Okay. Just… give your sister time. She needs that.”
“I understand.”
He catches my gaze. “And please don’t take it personally, even if I know it stings.”
Now I’m the one exhaling. “I know. She needs to tell me in her own time. I won’t push, and I won’t hint. That’s why Iwas telling you that we’ll be picking up Rory, and if we need someone to watch her at night, Dana’s on call.”
“If you need April, she’s there. Just give her a minute to get to the door. And don’t be offended if she doesn’t invite you in.”
I laugh softly. “Got it.” I look at him. “I’m happy for you. Both of you.”
