The basement was darker than I expected, and it was also cold. A single bulb hung from the ceiling, and when Kiran flipped the switch, a dim orange glow bathed the room. Dust floated in the air like fireflies, and boxes lined the walls, some labeled with scribbled marker, others blank.
And then there was the wardrobe.
It stood against the far wall. It was tall, wooden, and out of place, as if it had been dragged down from a bedroom and shoved there just to hide something. Kiran walked straight to it and looked back at me.
“It’s behind this.”
I took a deep breath. “Let’s move it.”
It was heavier than it looked, and it scraped loudly against the concrete as we shifted it aside. Behind it was a small recessed space in the wall. At first, I thought it was just a storage nook, but then I saw it — a safe.
It was old, with a keyhole that matched the one Kiran had given me.
“You’re sure?” I asked him.
He nodded.
With a shaking hand, I inserted it into the lock. It clicked and then gave way. I opened the safe.
And gasped.
Inside the safe was a small black pouch, sealed with a string. I pulled it out and placed it on top of an old crate. My hands hesitated as I loosened the tie.
“What do you think it is?” Kiran asked, stepping closer.
“I have no idea,” I whispered.
The pouch opened with a soft rustle. Inside, there were several items, each more puzzling than the last. First was a thick, yellowed envelope. I reached for it, but underneath it was something heavier.
Bundles of cash!
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