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for at least three years.
It appears they all owed William money, that
is if this is William’s ledger. Laura, did you hear
that?”
“It sounds like somebody walking around
upstairs.”
Penny pocketed the ledger and both women
climbed the stairs faster than they thought
possible, yelling “Help” as they went. They
pounded on the door. “Get us out of here.”
The door flew open and to their surprise Terry
small packet wrapped in yellowed tissue paper stood there, eyes as big as saucers and mouth wide
and unwrapped it as Laura looked on. Penny held open. “What are you two doing down there?”
up a beautiful diamond ring. The light danced Laura pushed past her and headed to the
off the stone. dining room calling out a thank you as she
“He really did love Terry’s mother. He was went. Penny used her Table Topics skills and
going to propose.” improvised a cover story, “Laura thought she left
“Somebody didn’t want him to have the her notebook downstairs after our last meeting.
chance. Let’s check the rest of the trunk.” Penny She needs it for tomorrow night. She’s our speaker
put the ring in her jeans pocket and turned back you know.” Penny followed Laura into the dining
to the trunk. Only black pants remained, and the room, Terry on her heels. Both women were
pockets were empty. “Penny, in a mystery I read relieved to see their discoveries from upstairs
there was a secret compartment in the bottom of were safely secured under their coats.
a trunk, let’s see if we can find one.” Both Laura “Terry, thank you for rescuing us. How foolish
and Penny knocked on the bottom and the sides that we forgot to unlock the door.” Penny gave
of the trunk. Laura a quizzical look but kept her mouth shut.
“Laura, look.” Penny inserted her fingernail in “What brings you here outside of a meeting?”
the gap between two bottom boards and lifted one “I was driving by and saw the gate open, so I
of them. Inside was a small notebook. She opened decided to see who was here.”
it to the first page. It appeared to be a ledger. “We are certainly glad you did. I’m sure
Each page contained five columns in tight neat you need to get to work. Penny and I have an
penmanship; Date, name, owed, paid, balance. appointment. We will see you at the meeting.”
“Laura, I think we stumbled onto something big.” Laura walked to the door and held it open for
She thumbed through the ledger, “this goes back Terry.
VOICES! | JUNE 2023 31
