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“What? Let me see!” She grabbed the album from my hand, looked, and gasped. “Oh my God. I’d forgotten about this album.” Her cheeks flushed the prettiest pink.

“I want to see all the pictures.”

“No.” Laughing, she shifted so her back faced me as she continued flipping through her life.

“Gimme!” I clasped her shoulders. “I’ll fight you for it.”

Vivian gave me an amused look. “Every time we fight, we end up . . .” She trailed off as she glanced over at Kaylee, who wore a contemplative expression, probably missing Aimee.

After a silent moment, we sat reviewing all her baby pictures, Vivian providing context whenever she was able. I got to see the woman I love from the very beginning.

“When will I get to see yours?”

“I don’t have this many pictures of me, but you’re welcome to look through my one album.”

When she closed the album, I held it in my hand, focusing on the design that had gotten my attention.

“Do you know what this is?” I ran a finger over the floral metal design.

She lifted a shoulder. “No. It’s just a medallion design.”

I shared what Ghost’s accomplice had told me during the interrogation.

“So it’s not a regular key?” She yanked on the medallion, and it popped up. At the back of the metal emblem was an address and a set of numbers.

“It’s . . . a code.”

Nodding, her hands shook. “What was my mom protecting?”

I wrapped an arm around her. “Let’s see where it leads.” I punched the address into my phone, and it showed a storage place in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, which wasn’t far from Providence. “We can make a trip there.”

Vivian sighed. “What did my mom die for?”

CHAPTERSIXTY-EIGHT

VIVIAN

“You okay?”I asked Kaylee, who just finished her bowl of cereal. She seemed different after returning from California. Quieter. Something was on her mind, and she didn’t want to talk about it. But I wouldn’t give up. Teenagers needed their space and time.

I finished my coffee and washed my cup. I’d head to the office after dropping Kaylee off at school. Arrow had already left for work. His task tonight was to pick up a chocolate mousse cake and some Chinese food. I’d already bought her a T-shirt that read “My sister is AWESOME!” earlier this week.

It was Kaylee’s special day, but she didn’t know it yet.

“I’m okay.” She shrugged and grabbed her backpack.

“You miss Aimee?” The two girls had gotten even closer after the incident.

Kaylee nodded. “She had nightmares for a couple of nights. She slept in her parents’ room for one night. Then she asked if she could sleep with me the other night.”

“It’s going to take her time to heal and adjust to being home and feeling safe again. Life’s gonna feel odd until she can find her rhythm. She has people she loves around her, so she’ll be okay.” I pulled Kaylee into a hug. “Aimee can visit us anytime. You can visit her too. How about this summer?”

“Really?” Joy splashed on her face. “I know she’ll be okay. She has loving parents.”

“Of course.” Wanting to cheer her up, I said, “What do you say about Chinese with your favorite chocolate mousse cake for dessert?”

“Yes!” She punched a fist into the air. “What are we celebrating?”

“You. We’re celebrating you, my little genius. My little sister.”