Page 63 of An Island Summer
“You can access the code via your mobile phone,” the man said animatedly, while showing the woman how it worked.
“But even if Hester did have something in a safe,” Toby said, “you probably won’t be allowed access to it.”
“Unless it’s her home safe and it’s hidden somewhere…”
He allowed a tiny smirk. “You’re getting as interested in Hester as Gramps.”
“It’s easy to do with Hester Quinn. She’s so fascinating, and not only is she tied to Rupert but she’s tied to my grandmother, whom I didn’t know very well, other than the stories my mother told me. So learning about Hester helps me to know more about Nanna.”
“May I help you?” the salesperson cut in.
“I hope so…” Meghan replied, taking a deep breath and explaining her story to the man.
“Hmm,” he said, going over to the computer behind the counter. “The only boxes we still have from that time period,” he said, clicking keys, “would be at a small bank that’s been open since 1949 called Wells Rycroft Savings and Loan.” He turned the screen to face her. “You could try there.”
Every nerve in her body prickled as the memory of Pappy that last day in the hospital floated into her consciousness.Go to Rycroft.Rycroft with a Y. She turned to Toby, speechless, and then back to the man, her body trembling. “What’s the address?” Meghan asked, trying to keep herself from losing it.
“It’s off of Beach Road, just before you get to Kitty Hawk.”
“Thank you,” she said, restraining herself from hugging the man.
Toby opened the door and the two of them walked out into the warm, summer air. “Where to now?” he asked, questions written on his face. “Beach Road?”
She looked at her watch and gritted her teeth. “I can’t yet. I have to go to work.”
“All right,” he said, something lurking in his eyes. “I’ll take you back to get your car.”
“Promise me you’ll let me know if Rupert wakes up or has any change?”
“Promise,” he said.
“You missed all the gossip,” Tess said, tugging on Meghan’s arm the moment she arrived at Mariner’s Inn. “I have some details on your guy that you might need to hear.”
Meghan grabbed her apron and tied it around her waist, tucking the leather server’s book into the pocket, still stunned and on autopilot, trying to keep herself together after learning about Wells Rycroft Savings and Loan. “My guy?” she asked, her mind elsewhere.
“Toby.” Tess pulled Meghan aside. “Meredith told us that the latest is that the other day, Toby tried to pay off a few of the zoning board members to get them to rezone so he can expand. He’sbribingthem. The other members found out somehow, and they’re all up in arms. They’re talking about trying to shut this place down completely.”
“What?” Meghan said, flabbergasted. She chewed on the inside of her cheek, thinking. “That just doesn’t sound like him,” she said, remembering the sincere look in his eyes whenever he looked at her. Did she have him all wrong?
“Maybe it doesn’t sound like him because he isn’t showing that side to you.” Tess grabbed a handful of menus in preparation for a few of the tables that were already filling up. “If this does get shut down, we might be looking for another job.”
Considering that not a single place had called them back after they’d dropped off their résumés, that idea was terrifying.
The rest of the day, Meghan’s thoughts were consumed with Rupert, Toby, and getting to the bank, none of it adding up.
After work, she’d filled Tess in on everything that had happened, and the two of them had stopped home quickly to grab the paper with the combination on their way to Wells Rycroft Savings and Loan.
“Are you a direct descendant of John Gray?” the woman at the bank asked in awe, confusing Meghan.
“Yes. I’m his granddaughter.” Her heart felt as if it might explode.
“May I see your driver’s license, please?”
Meghan pulled the card from her wallet and slid it through the small opening in the plexiglass separating her from the bank employee.
“We’ve all been waiting for this,” the woman said. “A few of us believed that it was just an urban legend and there was no owner that would come forward.” She slid the license back through to Meghan along with a form. “Could you just sign here, please?”
“So, you have a box that belongs to Hester Quinn?”
