Page 277 of Rangers Unexpected Return

The old wooden steps creaked beneath our boots as we climbed to the second floor.

The upstairs reading room looked frozen in time.

Large windows overlooked Main Street.

Long oak tables sat beneath green reading lamps.

Bookshelves stretched nearly to the ceiling.

Doris stopped in front of the tallest one.

"Emily loved these shelves."

She pointed toward the rolling ladder attached to the bookcase.

"She always climbed to the top."

"Why?" Will asked.

Doris smiled.

"She said everyone looked at eye level."

"But if you wanted to hide something..."

She looked up.

"...you hid it where nobody was willing to climb."

Judy looked at me.

"I'll get it."

"I've got you."

I steadied the ladder while she climbed.

Halfway up, she stopped.

"What is it?" I asked.

She reached toward the top shelf.

"One of these books..."

She pulled it forward a few inches.

"...is pushed out further than the others."

The room went completely silent.

She slid the heavy atlas free.

Behind it...

Sat a small metal box.

No larger than a cigar tin.