I reached back into my tote and pulled out Lucy’s red plush rabbit.

The red fabric of the rabbit’s left ear was flat and faded from years in the wash.

Mr.

Vance watched my hands as I set the toy in the middle of the conference table.

I pinched the seam along the rabbit’s right back leg where the threads had been pulled loose and sewn over twice with white cotton thread.

I worked the cotton loops free with my thumbnail and pulled a small brass object out of the stuffing.

The brass latch key clicked as it landed on the laminate tabletop.