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CHAPTER41
Gabe still smelled smoke when he woke up the next morning, though he’d showered the night before. He needed to do laundry, wash everything he’d had on the day before thoroughly.
First things first, he started a pot of coffee. The door to his spare room was closed, so he figured Curtis was still asleep. He’d talked the old man into staying the night, promising to help him find something else today.
And he was glad Curtis had gotten some sleep because Gabe sure hadn’t. He’d gone through every box in the garage until he found the Bible Nicole had given him when he and Danni had returned from eloping in Vegas.
I hope someday this book will mean a lot to you,the note that came with the Bible had said.
Gabe thanked her, kept the book, but he couldn’t remember ever opening it. He knew the Bible and church had been important to Danni at one time, but the subject never came up during their brief marriage.
Last night, bone-tired and anxious, Gabe finally read what Nicole had written in the front of the book: Start with the book of John. Natasha had said the same thing.
He’d read all twenty-one chapters twice and wished he had someone to talk to about it. He wished Frank Grace were there. Drinking coffee and wondering if he should call Natasha and ask her, Gabe went about menial chores. He dumped all his dirty clothes into the washing machine and got the laundry started. He was hungry but didn’t know what he wanted for breakfast. He checked his phone and was surprised to see a voice mail waiting for him. Lettie Hill, D.K.’s daughter, had called the night before. Gabe played the message.
“Sergeant Fox, so sorry to bother you, but my father has been in such a state since your visit. It’s gotten worse and worse. I had to ask the doctor for anxiety medicine. He keeps going on and on about the car, the car, but I can’t make heads or tails out of what the problem is. He wants to get into the attic, and I can’t have him climbing a ladder. Is there any chance you can come back and look around up there? I’d do it but for the spiders. Please let me know if you can help.”
Gabe called her back right away.
“Lettie, Gabe Fox here. Sure, I can come by and help you. What’s up in the attic?”
“Oh, thank you, Sergeant Fox. I really don’t know what’s in the attic except spiders.” She gave a nervous laugh. “I never go up there, and my dad hasn’t been up there in years.”
He looked at the time. He should be able to check this out and still make it to work on time. “Is now convenient or too early?”
“Yes. Please. I’m hoping if you go up there and look around, he will calm down. I don’t like having to drug him. I just don’t want him to get hurt.”
“I’m on my way.” Gabe transferred his coffee to a travel mug. He was just putting the lid on when Curtis came out of his room. To Gabe, it looked as if he were having a hard time walking this morning. He was unsteady, leaning heavily on his cane.
As if reading Gabe’s mind, Curtis said, “It takes me a while to warm up in the morning.”
“How’d you lose your leg?”
“Long story.”
Gabe didn’t have time for a long story. “Mr. Curtis, I made some coffee, help yourself. I have to go out. I don’t think I’ll be long. You’re welcome to stay and fix yourself some breakfast.”
“Thank you. I’ll call around to some hotels.”
“Fine.” Gabe grabbed his car keys and coffee and left.
+++
“Thank you so much, Sergeant Fox,” Lettie said as she opened the door.
“No problem, and please, it’s Gabe.”
“Gabe. My dad is still asleep. I’ll show you to the attic access.”
Gabe followed her though the house. The access was in a hallway.
Lettie pointed to the cord hanging down. “You pull the cord and the ladder drops down. My dad keeps saying car and key, over and over. I don’t know if those words help you, but maybe there’s a key up there you need to look for.”
“Okay, I’ll give it my best shot.”
Gabe yanked on the string and a ladder dropped down. He could see why Lettie didn’t want her father on the ladder. Gabe had to take a large step up requiring balance and strength. The access wasn’t made for old men with dementia. He climbed up into the dark space.
“The light switch is on the left, if I remember correctly,” Lettie called up.
Gabe found it and switched it on. A single bare bulb illuminated the cramped, dusty space. Once all the way up and off the ladder, Gabe had to walk hunched over. Most of the boxes were labeled. There was one for each of the kids, plus a box labeled Sewing and one labeled Fabric. On one knee, Gabe shifted boxes around, trying to read every label. He opened unlabeled boxes but found only books and odds and ends. He did encounter many spiders and smashed the few not fast enough to scurry away.
The attic was hot and stuffy, and it smelled old and musty. It wasn’t long before he was wiping sweat from his brow. He’d moved several boxes around when he came to one labeled Accident Investigation.
It was taped shut. He removed a small knife from his pocket and cut the tape to open the box. There were old files in there, training files, it looked like to Gabe. Nothing said Pope or Curtis.
But at the bottom of the box, he found a file folder labeled Greeley. He took it out and opened it. There was nothing there but a smaller manila folder, the size of a three-by-five card. He pulled it out and opened it. Inside was the key to a safe-deposit box. Attached to it was a note: This will undo a horrible lie.
