“We have very little time,” Thomas said.

I pulled my hand out of my pocket and looked down at the small brass key resting in my palm.

The metal caught the dim light of the desk lamp.

“I need to go to the bank first thing in the morning,” I said.

“The bank?” Thomas asked.

“My mother gave me this,” I said, showing him the key. “She told me to go to the vault if anything ever happened to her.”

Thomas looked at the key, his eyes widening slightly.

“The county bank on Main Street?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“Do you know what is in there?” Thomas asked.

“No,” I said. “But my mother was terrified of Patricia. I think she discovered what they were doing.”

“What do you mean?” Thomas asked.

“The medical letters,” I said, my voice shaking. “The specialists who were supposed to visit her. They never showed up, Thomas. Patricia told us they had cancelled.”

Thomas stared at me, his expression hardening.

“If they intercepted her mail,” Thomas said, “that is federal fraud.”

“I’m going to find out tomorrow,” I said.