I pulled the drawer all the way out and ran my hand along the bottom.

No key.

The week after the funeral, Charles had come by with a casserole and asked if I had a spare key so he could check the furnace while I stayed at my aunt’s.

I had taken the key off the hook and put it in his hand.

He said he would return it through the mail slot.

I hadn’t checked.

I checked the mail slot inside the front door.