Page 22 (1/2)

"Yes," said Jackie

"No!" said Glynnis

I opened the box It creaked, and soasped "What is that? Oh, we shouldn’t have done this"

Neatly placed inside, wrapped in waterauzy dress, a simple ivory shift, the kind sold in tourist traps all over Mexico Age had stiffened and yellowed the fabric, but it was cut simply, in a style that never seemed dated A beautiful red patterned scarf rapped around the waist

"There’s so to a small, flat box

I was pretty sure it was a jewelry box Opening that seemed more personal, but I did it anyway

"Oh, those are so pretty," Glynnis said

I held the finely etched silver hoop earrings in h tarnished, they looked handly crafted thee to run her hand over our treasure, Jackie narrowed her eyes "Where did you find this?"

"Sort of under the fence, on the line betweenhas he lived here?"

The question chilled me when I realized the implications "Forever Like, I think he’s been here since the houses were built"

We stared at each other, wide-eyed

"What if he’s a serial killer?" Glynnis said, terror clearly etched on her face She snatched her hand back from the box and cradled it to her chest "What if that’s a souvenir of his victim?"

"What if there are boxes buried all over the yard?" Jackie added, running with it

I took a gulp of wine, and the alcohol loosened ination I pictured dozens of metal boxes, buried under Mr Eckhardt’s property, full of dresses and jewelry and the sad belongings of the woled

"What does the inside of his house look like?" Glynnis asked

I took another sip of wine and said, "I’ve never been inside"

An o roorave; la Silence of the Lambs?

Glynnis placed her hand protectively over the dress "Should we call the cops?"

I thought of Officer Leprechaun laughing at h his reddish whiskers With a start, my common sense returned If Mr Eckhardt was a a pants and Pandora bracelet into a box and buried it? "Maybe it belongs to the woman who used to live here"