Valerie looked at the court order and smiled.
“You people are so dramatic.”
Grandma said, “Move.”
Valerie stepped aside.
The house smelled different.
Not like Mom’s lemon cleaner. Not like Dad’s coffee.
Like perfume and lilies.
Valerie had already removed half of Mom’s photographs from the walls.
The sight hit me so hard I nearly stumbled.
In the living room, where Mom’s portrait used to hang, Valerie had placed a framed engagement photo of herself and Dad.
Her hand on his chest.
Her ring pointed at the camera.
My mother’s sister.
My father.
I looked away before I threw up.
Adrian led us to the basement.
Dad’s office door was locked.
The locksmith opened it in under a minute.
Inside, everything looked normal at first. Desk. Bookshelves. Filing cabinet. Printer.
Then Grandma pointed to the wall behind the desk.
“That panel is new.”
She was right.
The wood was a slightly different shade.
One officer helped move the desk.
The panel had no handle.
The locksmith pressed along the edges, then found a magnetic latch.
The panel popped open.
Behind it was a small wall safe.
Valerie appeared in the doorway.
“What are you doing?”
Adrian turned.
“Executing a court order.”
“That safe is Jack’s private property.”