Into the Garden (Wildflowers 5)

"Go look for yourself," Jade said, and she did, returning with her head shaking.

"No way without dynamite," she said. "Do you have any idea what's in it?" she asked me.

"I didn't even know it was there," I said, "much less have any idea of what's in it."

"The way to find out what's in it' Jade said, "is to open it."

"Really? Why didn't I think of that?" Star asked Misty. She widened her eyes and looked from one to the other. "If we drop it from the window on a big rock, maybe it will break open."

"I doubt it," Jade said.

"Well, we can't spend all day looking for numbers," Star declared. "We should be getting some of this painting done. Don't forget," she told me, "you're coming to my house for dinner and staying over."

I smiled and nodded.

Jade groaned her frustration and stood staring down at the nightstand for a moment. She sifted through the cough drops and medicines, studying the labels.

"Where would she keep numbers?" she muttered.

"Mix the paint, Misty," Star ordered. "We got you your own roller, Miss Jade," she said.

Jade didn't turn. She kept her concentration on the nightstand. Then she picked up the flashlight and turned it in her hands.

"Any time Miss Beverly Hills is ready to help do what she wanted all of us to do is fine," Star sang.

Jade looked at her and pointed the flashlight at her.

"I'll beam you out of here if you don't shut up," she warned, and flicked the flashlight on, only it didn't go on. She shook it and then threw it on the bed. "You're lucky it doesn't work."

"Geraldine was fastidious about keeping everything working. Remember her obsession with our inventory," I reminded them.

Jade stared at me a moment, and then she smiled and picked up the flashlight. She unscrewed it quickly and looked at the cap. Then she broke into a very wide grin and held up a tiny slip of paper.

"That's why it doesn't work," she said. She unfolded it. No one spoke for a moment, waiting. "It's the combination," she declared. "Clever."

She nodded at me and we followed her back into the closet where she knelt before the safe and began to work the numbers from the little slip of paper. There was a click. She looked up. I drew closer, and she opened the safe door.

The first thing she held up was a very thick stack of money wrapped with a rubber band.

"All fifties," she announced, flipping through it. "There's a lot of money here... thousands, probably."

"Good," Star said. "I was afraid we were going to have to raise the club's dues."

Misty laughed and Jade reached into the safe to pro- duce a velvet sack. She emptied it on the floor. It was filled with rings, bracelets, earrings and two expensive looking women's wristwatches, all of it sparkling with diamonds and rubies.

"I bet all that belonged to your mother," Misty told me.

"Yes, I suppose it did. Geraldine never wore any rings and even hated wearing a watch. She never wore earrings either," I said.

"It all belongs to you now," Star said.

"There are documents, to

o," Jade said, continuing her search. She opened them as she pulled them out and de- scribed them. "Deed to the house, their wedding certificate, some savings bonds, sizeable too," she added.

"So Cat's rich," Star said. "Now let's get back to work. Cat and I have to leave in about three hours or so:'

"Wait," Jade said. "There's something way in the back." She extended her hand and came out with an official looking envelope. She gazed at me and then she turned it and opened it, pulling out some documents.