Chapter 23: Four Keys

Lena's POV

At noon the four of them stood on the porch in a row.

Dominik held the envelope in both hands.

Nobody had slept. I could see it in their faces.

I sat in the chair by the fern with a cup of tea and let them wait.

"Give it to me," I said at last.

Dominik crossed the boards and put it in my hand.

He stepped back at once. He had not come within an arm's length of me in a week.

I opened it.

The deed was typed and stamped, and his signature sat at the bottom in black ink, firm and large.

It was real. He had given me the house.

"You didn't ask me," I said.

"No."

"You didn't ask them."

"No."

"Then I'll tell you what I do with it."

I stood up and went to the railing, where the sun came through the pines.

"First," I said. "I gave my statement to the officer on Thursday. I named all four of you."

Florian made a small sound.

"I gave them the recording. I gave them the kitchen, the pills, the door. I told them everything."

"Good," Vincent said quietly.

"Felix."

"Yes."

"Do you object?"

"No," Felix said. His voice was steady. "I should have said no to Dominik in March, and I didn't."

"Florian?"

He swallowed. "I told the whole kiosk. I'm not going to hide from a prosecutor."

"Vincent?"

"I'll stand where you tell me."

I looked at Dominik.

"You already walked in," I said. "I'm only catching up."

He bowed his head.

"It will take months," I said. "It may cost you your jobs. I don't know what the court will do."

"I'm not asking for mercy," Dominik said.

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