Page 11 of Breaking Rules

Jo knelt, examining the board closely. “This one looks loose,” she said. Carefully, she worked her fingers around the edges, wiggling it. With a soft pop, the board came free.

Beneath was a shallow compartment, a space between the hardwood floor and the subfloor. Sam shined his flashlight inside. “Well, I’ll be,” he muttered. “There’s a compartment in here. Let’s get these other boards up.”

The boards on either side came up easily. Reaching in, he grasped the handle of a small suitcase tucked inside. He hauled it out, resting it on the floor as they gathered around. It was vintage looking, made of worn brown leather with brass clasps. It was heavy, as if containing something substantial.

He tried the clasps, but they held fast. Locked tight.

Kevin peered at the locks. “Looks like it takes a small key like the one you found in Alex’s pocket, Jo.”

“Or we could just break into it,” Jo suggested.

“We can’t damage it. It could be evidence,” Sam said. “Let’s get this back to the station and get the key out of evidence. Then we’ll see what’s inside.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“What’s the deal with the suitcase?” Reese asked as they rushed into the station.

“It was tucked away under Alex Sheridan’s apartment floorboards,” Sam said, his mind already sifting through the possibilities of what the case could hold. “Lucy alerted us to it.”

“Good girl.” Reese petted Lucy, who wagged her tail in excitement.

“We think the key we found in his pocket might open it,” Jo said as they all hurried into the squad room.

“I’ll go grab it from the evidence room.” Reese headed toward the closet in which they kept evidence for active cases. Once the cases were closed or inactive, they transferred evidence to a bigger facility in another town.

Kevin placed the suitcase on the nearest desk with a thud, and they all gathered around.

“Did I hear you say you found it under the floor?” Wyatt got up from his desk and joined them.

“Yep.” Jo turned to him. “We also got his computer for you to sift through. It’s still out in the Tahoe.”

Major hopped onto the deck, sniffing around the suitcase as if doing his own investigation. His sleek black fur looked silky, like he’d just been brushed. Probably Reese, Sam thought.

“Looks like Major knows enough not to touch the suitcase,” Kevin said. “Wouldn’t want him to mess up any prints.”

Lucy came over to the side of the desk and sniffed the lock, too, her nose only a few centimeters from Major’s. Sam braced for a fight, but the two animals simply sniffed and then exchanged some sort of look. Were they communicating? Sam had no idea, but at least they weren’t battling each other.

“Got it!” Reese came running into the room, and her gloved hand pressed the key into Sam’s gloved hand.

Sam put the key in the lock.

Click!

Sam opened the suitcase, and everyone peered inside.

“What the…” Jo gasped.

“Holy smokes,” Wyatt said.

Reese let out a low whistle.

“Well, maybe that explains how Alex could afford the expensive assisted living for his grandfather,” Kevin said.

“And possibly why someone would want to kill him,” Sam said.

Nestled in the worn blue lining of the suitcase were huge stacks of hundred-dollar bills.

“That’s a lot of cash,” Reese said.

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