I turned to the metal box on the shelf.

Arthur had labeled it in pencil: APEX DUES RESERVE.

Beneath that he had written ASK DAD, then crossed it out and written ASK SLOANE.

I opened the box.

It held twelve thousand dollars in banded twenties, exactly the yearly dues.

I shut the lid.

“I’m not touching that.”

“Then we have to get the freeze lifted by Friday.”