I held the master ring up to the pale gray light coming through the high side window.

Six years ago, Daniel’s master key ring vanished from the top kitchen drawer three days after his empty aluminum boat was pulled out of the weeds by the dam.

For years I’d assumed he lost those keys on the water.

When Dean stepped into the flashlight beam outside the lake shed last month, the heavy brass padlock was hanging open on the door bracket, completely undamaged.

There wasn’t a pry mark anywhere on the wood.