Page 316 of Rangers Unexpected Return

“Found something,” Collins called.

We moved toward the desk.

He had opened a ledger from eighteen years earlier.

His finger rested beside a handwritten entry.

Ross, Emily.

Box number 219.

Sheriff Tate looked toward the wall.

“Second row.”

“Box nineteen.”

Collins crossed the vault.

He counted carefully.

When he reached the box, he stopped.

The small lock had scratches around it.

Fresh scratches.

My pulse jumped.

“Someone tried to force it.”

Mace moved in front of me.

Wolf drew his weapon.

Trigger checked the vault entrance.

Sheriff Tate looked at Collins.

“Can the vault door be secured from the outside?”

“Yes.”

“Keep it open.”

Collins wedged an old metal chair beneath the door.

I examined the scratches.

“They didn’t get inside.”

“How do you know?” Nora asked.

“The lock isn’t broken.”

I held up the brass key.

“But they’ll come back.”