Chapter 9: The Key
Amelia stared at the evidence bag.
The silver key looked exactly as she remembered.
A small scratch marked one side.
The faded blue ribbon was frayed near the knot.
She had tied it herself.
A childhood memory flashed through her mind.
She was twelve years old.
Sitting in her mother's study.
Laughing while helping organize old files.
The ribbon had fallen from her hair.
Her mother had tied it around the key and smiled.
"Now I'll never lose it."
Yet after her mother's death, the key had vanished.
No one had found it.
Not the police.
Not the family.
Not even Amelia.
Until now.
"Where was it?"
The officer pointed toward the rear garden.
"Near the hedge outside the study window."
Amelia frowned.
The location made no sense.
If the key disappeared seven
