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"Do you know what's in Harry's shed?" I asked while we waited for our food.
"The answer to one of your problems," he said. "I'm sorry I didn't think to tell you about the shed. I just assumed you'd explore the property. Now that I know you better, I should have thought to ask."
"Have you seen inside it? I'm worried it'll be filled with more stuff I need to sort through. I was feeling so good about getting the apartment all cleaned up."
"I was only inside once that I can remember. I brought some papers for Harry to sign, and he was working on something in the shed."
"What's in there that will solve one of my problems?"
"You've waited this long. You can wait until we're through with lunch."
Over lunch I told Jim I was going to the conference with Chance. He didn't seem surprised or happy about it which I guess makes sense. When I finished eating, I looked at my phone. "I guess I put this off as long as I can. Let's do this," I said, holding out my hand.
He took it with a grin. "You have the key?"
I dangled the key in front of him. "Am I going to regret this?"
"Probably, but I suspect it won't be the first or last thing you do that you regret since moving to Wilkins’ Gap."
I gave him a stern look. "Anything particular you're referring to?"
"Let's see what's in here," he said, avoiding my question. He unlocked the door and pushed it open. "If you're going to use this, I'll need to oil this for you."
The door creaked open and Jim found a light switch inside. Even with the light, it was still dark inside what Jim called the Quonset. "Wait. That's an SUV?"
There was a large older SUV parked in the shed. "You all have been telling me that I couldn't drive Snickety in the winter here, and none of you thought to mention that I had an SUV in the shed? Does it run?"
"I think so. It was the only vehicle I ever saw Harry drive."
I found the keys in the ignition and the vehicle started right up. It was huge and needed a good cleaning, but it certainly looked like it would be right at home in an Idaho winter. "This is great. Car problem solved."
Jim reminded me that I'd have to get the registration changed into my name and should have the car checked out by a mechanic. We spent a little time checking out the rest of the shed. There were some shelves with things like old cans of paint and tools, so this was the place to store my paint supplies. Finding the SUV was exciting, but it was the back of the Quonset hut that intrigued me. A wall had been erected to wall off the back third of the space. I tried the door, but it was locked. "Any idea where the key is?"
We looked around the shed but didn't find the keys. "Were there any key's in the apartment or on the keyring with the apartment keys?" Jim asked.
"No. When I picked up the apartment keys from Sally, it was just the one door key, and you saw the key to the shed."
"Do you have keys to the cafe?"
"Yeah, they're upstairs. There's a key to the front and back doors and the office."
"Let's go ask Rick if he knows," Jim said.
Rick said he'd never really been in the shed. Jim and I walked out of the cafe. "I can call a locksmith to come open it tomorrow."
"I guess we don't... Wait. Let me call Chance." I pulled out my phone and walked away from where Jim was standing. "Hi, Chance. How's your day going?"
"You're not calling to cancel our date, are you?"
"Of course not. Are you slaving over the stove right now?"
"Picturing me in an apron?"
"Now I am," I laughed.
"Enjoying it?"
"Actually, I am." It was true, and that fact bothered me a lot. "I need your help."
"I'm happy to uhm... help you when you get here later."
"I'm not sure what kind of help you're offering, but we can talk about that later. Did you know that Harry had a Quonset hut?"
"Sure."
"Did you know he had an SUV?"
"Yeah. We usually took it when we went on a hunt. Harry preferred being the one to drive."
"When you were telling me that I couldn't drive Snickety in the winter, you never thought to mention it."
"The fact that we're having this conversation would seem to indicate you already know the answer. What's going on?"
"Harry has a walled off room in the back of the shed. The door's locked, and I don't know where to find the key."
"You found Harry's cryptid lab."
"Do you know where the key is?"
"Yep."
"Care to share?"
"Looking forward to it."
"Chance, you're making my head hurt. Tell me where the key is."
"In my top desk drawer."
"You have the key to Harry's cryptid lab?"
"It was in the letter Jim gave me."
I turned to look at Jim. He was reading something on his phone. Chance kept talking, but I'd tuned him out.
"City Girl, you there?"
"Sorry, Chance. I tuned out there for a minute."
"Do you mind if we push our date back an hour. I'm working on something, and I'd like to finish before you get here."
"Sure. Maybe I can pick up the key tonight."
"See you at 7:00."
Jim put his phone away as I approached. "Did you know the key was in the letter from Harry you delivered to Chance?"
"I knew there was a key in the envelope. I didn't know what it was for and even if...”
“Even if you did, you couldn’t tell me. I know."