“Did you touch the hallway door?” Derek demanded, his voice going suddenly frantic as the satellite connection crackled.

I looked past Officer Bell toward the dark hallway where the heavy brass lock glinted in the shadows.

“There’s a heavy brass padlock on our hall closet door,” I said.

“Why did you put it there?”

“Whatever you do, do not open that hall closet!” Derek screamed into the phone.

“What are you hiding behind that lock, Derek?” I asked.

“If you touch that lock, it’ll wreck everything we’ve built!” Derek yelled.