Forty-Seven Guests Watched Maya Leave With Two Suitcases—Then Her Mother’s Orchid Ring Led to the Money Her Husband Said She Didn’t Have

Her mother’s papers were not all here.

The cedar box from the last sorting of her mother’s belongings had been stored at Claire’s apartment, away from this crowded closet.

Maya had intended to collect it months ago.

There had always been another errand.

She put the documents she had into a zipped compartment.

The door handle moved once.

Maya stopped packing.

“Open it,” Richard said.