“Then why are you asking about the guitar?” I asked, remembering the officer’s earlier comment on the porch.

Officer Morgan smiled warmly, tucking her hat under her arm.

“Because when the school administrators contacted Autumn’s mother, Mrs.

Miller mentioned that someone had anonymously left an envelope containing eleven hundred dollars in cash in their home mailbox yesterday evening.”

Noah gasped, his face flushing crimson as he realized his secret had been completely uncovered.

“The envelope had Autumn’s name written on the front, but Mrs.

Miller turned the funds over to our department to ensure they were legitimate,” Officer Morgan added.