Chapter 5 - INSIDE THE LOCOMOTIVE
Luciano took the locomotive to his father’s old workshop.
Bernadette and Marcus followed.
Theo stayed glued to Luciano’s side.
The workshop still looked exactly as Antonio had left it.
Luciano placed the train beneath the work light.
The brass keyhole was no larger than a shirt button.
“Where’s the key?” he asked.
Bernadette said nothing.
Marcus folded his arms. “You’re wasting time.”
Theo tugged Luciano’s sleeve.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah, buddy?”
“Grandpa gave me a tiny key.”
Every adult in the room froze.
“When?”
“Before he went to the hospital.” Theo touched his chest. “He said it was for when people forgot what belonged to who.”
Bernadette’s face drained of color.
“Where is it?” Luciano asked.
Theo swallowed. “Uncle Marcus took it.”
Marcus exploded. “That is a lie!”
Theo flinched.
Luciano turned so quickly Marcus stepped back.
“Don’t yell at him.”
“He’s making things up.”
“No,” Theo said, suddenly louder. “You took it from my blue box!”
Marcus pointed at him. “You spoiled little—”
Luciano slammed one palm onto the workbench.
“Finish that sentence.”
Marcus didn’t.
Bernadette closed her eyes.
Luciano studied her. “You knew about the key.”
She opened them again. “Your father was paranoid.”
“What’s inside the train?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then why are you scared?”
“I am not scared.”
Theo whispered, “She is.”
He picked up a precision screwdriver and removed the damaged wheel.
Behind it was a hidden wooden plug.
Marcus lunged.
Luciano caught him with one arm and shoved him against the wall.
The plug fell free.
A tightly rolled piece of paper slid from the locomotive.
Luciano unrolled it.
It wasn’t a note.
It was a bank deposit receipt from a safe-deposit box.
And written across the bottom in Antonio’s handwriting was one sentence:
May you like
IF MARCUS SAYS THE HOUSE IS HIS, OPEN BOX 317.
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