It was less money in her wallet than she had started with, but there was now an account whose details she knew herself.

At Claire’s apartment, they brought down the cedar box.

Claire stood on a kitchen chair while Maya held the chair steady.

Lily was assigned the job of keeping the cupboard door open, which she performed with great seriousness.

“Behind the lamp,” Maya said.

“I see it.”

Dust marked the lid in a pale line.

Maya wiped it with her sleeve and set the box on the table.