The Safe

The house wasn’t the same to her anymore. The hardwood floors still creaked under her feet, the walls were still eggshell, all the furniture still sat stoically in place, nothing was different. It was difficult to believe that this house was her safe space, her refuge. Now it seemed sinister with shadows shifting in the corners.

She heard footsteps right behind her. It was her sister, Margo, coming to her side. Thank God for Margo, who had given her a place to sleep last night and a ride here today. “Sandy, are you okay?” Margo asked. Sandy leaned on Margo’s shoulder.

“No,” she answered, “Let’s make this quick. I just need some clothes and things. I have a duffel in the closet.”

“I can do it, if you’d like. You could just sit in here.”

“No, no, that won’t work. Just stay with me.”

Margo took Sandy’s arm and they walked to her bedroom. Sandy gasped when she saw the blood was still there, the room a wreck. It looked the same except the body of her husband, Roger, was gone. She started crying and shaking. “I can’t do this. I can’t.” They walked back outside the room and Sandy sank down to the ground. Margo crouched beside her

“I’ll get what you need. Just sit here.” Sandy nodded. Margo went to the walk-in closet and found a large duffel bag. She began putting Sandy’s clothes inside when she saw a something in the back. “Sandy, there’s a safe in here. Do you know what’s in it?”

“No, and I don’t know the combination.”

“Don’t you want to know what’s inside? It could be important, since only Roger had access.”

“I said, I don’t know the combination, Margo,” she said, agitated. “When the police were here we tried everything, birthdays, special dates, names, but nothing worked. They’re supposed to come back today with a locksmith.”

“Okay, you don’t have to worry about this now.” Margo moved on to the dresser, swiftly pulling items out to put in the bag.

“I thought of something last night, though. Something he has used in the past.” Margo stopped and came outside. “It’s the number of our first apartment, 10632.”

Margo went to the safe and punched in the numbers. They both heard the door unlock. “Sandy, it’s open.”

Sandy came into the closet and kneeled before the safe. She began pulling the contents out. There was money, and a great deal of it. She also found a large manilla envelope and a jump drive. She opened the envelope and pulled out photos of a man and woman in various stages of undressing and having sex.

“Who is that man?” Margo asked.

Sandy shook her head. “I have no idea. But he must have something to do with Roger’s murder.” She looked at her sister. “What should I do?”

Margo stuffed the cash into the bag. She hesitated, then put the pictures and the jump drive inside, too. She pushed the safe’s door closed. “Do you want the police to know your husband was a blackmailer? Because that’s what it looks like to me.”

“N no, I don’t think so. But I want them to catch the killer. Isn’t this evidence?”

“Come on, Sis, let’s get out of here before the police arrive. You can always give this to them later. Don’t you want to know what’s on that jump drive? Do you want the police to seize your assets because your husband was a blackmailer? What are you going to live on? We have got to keep this to ourselves.” Margo pulled Sandy up and grabbed a T-shirt, wiping prints off the safe.

Sandy walked to Margo’s car and Margo helped her in, putting the duffel in the trunk. The detectives and a locksmith pulled up.

The detectives went to Sandy. “Do you want to be present when we open the safe?” one asked.

“We can’t stay any longer,” Margo said, “she has an appointment at the funeral home and we’re going to be late “

“It’s okay,” Sandy said, “you will make an inventory, right? I trust you.”

“We won’t be long,” the other detective said, and they went into the house. Margo pulled away.

“I’m going to find out what happened to Roger. I have to know,” Sandy said.

“I’m going to help you,” Margo said and grabbed Sandy’s hand, squeezing it gently. Together they sped down the street.

©Lisa Paul 2025 ®All Rights Reserved

Fandango’s Story Starter #207