Three Weeks After Lucas Was Gone, Charles Claimed the House on Maple Street

Samantha took the certificates and laid them flat on the table.

Then she reached for the blue envelope.

“Stop,” Franklin said.

“That’s sealed.

Bank policy requires the named recipient to open any sealed envelope in the presence of an officer.”

“I am the named recipient,” I said.

“You are.” Franklin slid the envelope toward me.

“Do you want to open it now?”