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“Oh, that would be a most terrible thing.” Chi-Chi folded her arms and shook her head.
“That’s just it. I didn’t get a vibration that the person had crossed over. It was much more a sense of abandonment.” She paused for a moment.
Chi-Chi asked softly, “But who? The person in the drawing or the person who wrote the letter?”
Luna thought hard. She placed her hands on the trunk. A swarm of images swirled through her head. Like a movie in fast-forward. She steadied herself.
“Are you all right?” Chi-Chi unfolded her arms and placed a hand on Luna’s shoulder.
“Yes. Wow. That was weird, even for me.” Luna sucked in a big gulp of air through her nose and took a step back, away from the trunk.
“What was it?” Chi-Chi gently urged.
“They were flashes of an old swing, tickets, and something like a county fair. Maybe a carnival. You know, the ones that have a midway with games.” Luna took another deep breath. “It went by so fast. It wasn’t creepy or anything. I felt like I was spinning really fast on a carousel.”
“Have you been able to open it?” Ellie motioned to the trunk.
“I was waiting for all of you. The lock is jammed. I’m going to have to use jeweler’s tools. Plus, I want witnesses.”
“Witnesses? Why?” Ellie asked.
“The letter said there might be contents and if I could set them aside and return them with the trunk. Since this whole situation is rather unusual, who knows what is in there and what the person might do.” Cullen leaned against his workbench.
“I’m not following you, Cullen,” Ellie said.
“Like if there was something valuable in there and it turned up missing?” Luna asked.
“Exactly.” Cullen pushed himself off the bench and grabbed his tools. “Everyone ready?”
“What are you waiting for?” Luna cried out in excitement.
“Let’s lay it down horizontally first.” Cullen motioned everyone to help him tilt the trunk so the top was facing upward.
Cullen squatted and sat on his heels. He opened a small pouch and pulled out two small tools: a needle file and utility tweezers. He then wiped the old lock and hardware with a polishing cloth and some lubricant.
Luna folded her arms and was tapping her foot in anticipation. Cullen looked over his shoulder, put up his hands, and said in mock distress, “If you don’t mind. I am trying to perform a very delicate operation here.”
Luna cackled. Her brother was trying to be funny and succeeded. Maybe there was hope for his sense of humor.
Chi-Chi tried to stifle a laugh. “Apologies, Dr. Locksmith.”
Cullen snapped his head around and looked at Chi-Chi. Was she flirting with him? He exaggerated clearing his throat. “A-hem.”
Ellie, Luna, and Chi-Chi moved in closer to watch. Chi-Chi’s face was inches from Cullen’s. He could feel her breath on his neck. He almost dropped the tweezers. “Room, please. This is a very delicate procedure.” He waited for everyone to give him some space. And for his silliness to subside.
“Aye-aye, sir!” Luna gave him a tap on his shoe. She knew exactly what was happening and couldn’t be more delighted. She actually got goose bumps. It reminded her of when she was with Chris Gaines. That awkward feeling.
It took a few minutes, then Cullen proclaimed, “Success!” He gingerly removed the hardware. “OK, before I open it, everyone should put on a mask in case there’s ash or dust. Luna, can you grab them and some disposable gloves, please?”
Luna opened one of the storage cabinets and pulled out four surgical-looking masks and the gloves. “Boy, I thought I’d never have to wear these again.” She thought about the nearly two years when everyone had been encouraged to wear a mask in public. “Gives me the willies just thinking about it.” She handed the protective items to Ellie, Chi-Chi, and Cullen. Just before she was about to put her mask on, she suggested, “Maybe we should get the dogs out of here.”
“Good idea.” Cullen nodded at Ellie to round up the pooches and put them in the showroom. “They can’t do too much damage.”
Ellie motioned for the dogs to follow her. Wiley looked up at Luna. “It’s OK. You can go with your buddies.”
Wiley obediently followed his pals, and Ellie shut the door.
“Everyone ready?”
