Page 132 of Rangers Unexpected Return

Rylie touched Emily’s face. “That was taken the week before she died.”

We opened another box.

Then another.

Old jeans. Camp shirts. A pair of boots. Letters. A broken flashlight. A stack of cassette tapes Trigger stared at as if he’d discovered buried treasure.

It was in the ninth box.

Rylie froze with both hands beneath a folded red sweatshirt.

“I found it.”

The room went silent.

She lifted it slowly.

The material was faded, but the dark green letters were still visible across the front.

CAMP EAGLE RIVER.

“Emily’s key was in this pocket,” Rylie whispered.

Judy pulled on a new pair of gloves. “Set it down on the table.”

Rylie obeyed.

Judy checked the front pocket, then ran her fingers along the seams. “You said the key was in the pocket?”

“I thought it was. I remember putting it in my pocket.”

The pocket appeared empty.

Trigger stepped closer but didn’t touch the sweatshirt.

“Could it have fallen out?” he asked.

“Maybe.”

Judy turned the sweatshirt over.

Something made a faint metallic sound against the wooden table.

We all heard it.

She pressed along the bottom hem until her fingers stopped.

“There.”

Rylie leaned forward. “What is it?”

“The key.”

It had slipped through a small tear in the pocket lining and lodged inside the hem.

Judy carefully worked it back toward the opening. A moment later, a small brass key slid into her gloved palm.

Rylie released a breath.