Chapter 11 - The Deposit Box
Rachel did not need Aubrey physically at the bank.
She needed the key and written authorization Claire had left for the children.
The bank confirmed the box had special access instructions.
Rachel could enter with one beneficiary child’s key after a triggering event defined by Claire:
Death of Claire.
Custody dispute involving either Ronald or Mitchell.
Written or recorded request for help from Aubrey or Dylan.
All three conditions had now occurred.
There was only one problem.
The key remained inside Mitchell’s house.
Lena arranged another scheduled home visit.
This time Mitchell knew she was coming.
He prepared.
Dylan wore clean clothes.
The side-door lock was gone.
Aubrey’s servant dress disappeared into a closet.
Mitchell placed schoolwork on the kitchen table.
He even baked cookies.
Aubrey almost admired how quickly he could manufacture normal.
Lena arrived at four.
Mitchell stayed within sight.
“How are things?”
“Better,” he answered.
She looked at Aubrey.
“I asked her.”
Aubrey stared at the floor.
“Better.”
Lena knew it was a lie.
But she also knew Aubrey needed a safe opening.
“Would you show me your room?”
Mitchell smiled.
“I’ll come.”
Lena turned.
“I need a private conversation.”
“My attorney advised—”
“Your placement agreement requires it.”
Mitchell’s jaw tightened.
He remained downstairs.
Upstairs, Lena entered the bedroom.
Aubrey closed the door.
“You emailed Rachel.”
Aubrey’s eyes widened.
“It’s okay.”
“Did Dad see?”
“Not the message.”
Aubrey exhaled.
“Rachel knows about the key.”
Aubrey pulled it from inside the lining of a pillowcase.
Lena stared.
“You kept it.”
“Mom said Rachel knows the bank.”
“She does.”
Aubrey pressed the brass key into Lena’s hand.
“Take it.”
Lena hesitated.
“This may become evidence.”
“Good.”
“Aubrey, what do you think is in the box?”
“My mom’s notebook.”
“Anything else?”
“I don’t know.”
Aubrey grabbed her sleeve.
“Don’t tell Dad.”
“I won’t tell him you gave it to me.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
Aubrey’s eyes filled.
“Adults keep promising things.”
Lena understood the accusation even though it was not directed at her.
“I know.”
She closed her hand around the key.
“I’m going to be careful with mine.”
Downstairs, Mitchell watched Lena leave.
He immediately went upstairs.
“What did you talk about?”
“School.”
“What else?”
“Nothing.”
Mitchell searched her face.
Then the room.
Aubrey realized too late.
The pillowcase.
Mitchell pulled it apart.
Nothing.
He checked beneath the mattress.
Drawers.
Closet.
Then he looked at her.
“What did she take?”
Aubrey stayed silent.
Mitchell’s face drained of color.
“The key.”
Dylan stepped behind Aubrey.
Mitchell whispered:
“You gave her the key.”
Aubrey’s fear became certainty.
He knew what it opened.
“You know the bank.”
Mitchell grabbed his coat.
Daniel called at that moment.
Mitchell answered.
“What?”
A pause.
Then his expression changed.
“When?”
He looked at Aubrey.
“I’m on my way.”
He ended the call.
“The box access request just hit the system.”
Aubrey’s heart jumped.
Rachel.
Mitchell pointed toward the bedroom.
“Both of you stay here.”
He locked the main bedroom door from outside.
Then left.
Aubrey ran to the window.
His car disappeared through the gate.
“Can we get out?” Dylan asked.
The bedroom door was locked.
But Mitchell had forgotten the side door was no longer secured.
Aubrey opened it.
For the first time she entered the room Dylan had been kept in.
Small mattress.
Water bottle.
Blank walls.
A high window.
Dylan stood in the doorway.
“I hate this room.”
Aubrey looked around.
There was a second door on the far wall.
She had never seen it from the hallway.
A closet.
Inside were boxes.
Mitchell’s boxes.
Files.
Old court documents.
Claire’s name appeared everywhere.
Aubrey opened one folder.
BANK OF WESTERN COLORADO.
TRANSFER AUTHORIZATION.
$92,000.
Another.
$47,500.
Another.
$63,000.
All from Claire’s company.
Several had Mitchell’s signature.
Several had Daniel Keene’s.
Aubrey grabbed the papers.
“Dylan.”
“What?”
“We need pictures.”
“With what?”
Aubrey looked around.
Then saw something on the top shelf.
Mitchell’s old digital camera.
He had hidden records in the same room where he confined Dylan.
Aubrey turned it on.
Battery: 18%.
Enough.
She photographed every document she could.
At the bank across town, Rachel and Lena stood beside Samuel Price as a vault employee placed a long metal box on a private-room table.
Rachel inserted Claire’s key.
The lock opened.
Inside was a blue notebook.
Three flash drives.
A sealed letter addressed to Aubrey and Dylan.
And a photograph of Claire holding both children.
Rachel started crying.
Lena opened the notebook carefully.
The first page contained one sentence.
If you are reading this, Mitchell found a way back into control.
Then the bank manager entered urgently.
“Ms. Monroe.”
Rachel looked up.
“A man downstairs is demanding access to this box.”
“Who?”
The manager did not need to answer.
From outside the private room, Mitchell’s voice echoed through the marble corridor.
“Rachel!”
She closed the notebook.
May you like
Too late.
Mitchell knew it was open.
