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My entrance into the locks over the door to ringing A anizing stock Was he the locksmith? He was just a kid, but then so was everyone I’d served with in Afghanistan

The young man came to attention and said, “May I help you?”

“Hi,” I said “I’ure out what this key unlocks Would you be able to tell me?” I showed him the photo, the outline of the key, and the information I’d noted on the key itself

“The key to a safe,” he said, with barely a look at the photo

“How can you tell?”

“The manufacturer’s number you wrote down Hudson makes keys for standalone safes”

I squinted at hi you, but I need to be sure Are you positive?”

“Let ain and nodded vigorously “The shape is right, too Take my word for it I can look up the specific model, if you like”

“You said it was a standalone So it’s movable?”

“Could be Depends on who’sit”

How about a dead Russian’s wife or ex-wife? Thoughts best left unspoken “Is it possible to ?” I asked instead

“I’h-tech ways, but we don’t have those here I’d need either the key or an impression of it”

My heart sank a bit Time to make another command decision

Chapter Nine

As I trudged uphill toward ht be located I could’ve sworn I had checked every inch of Kandinsky’s house Maybe his killer made off with the safe If so, surely they’d find a way to force it open