Page 65 of Watch Your Back (Ariana Jones)

“Wouldn’t the police have taken the safe in as evidence if they couldn’t get into it?”

“In a murder investigation, maybe. In a case like this, I doubt it.”

“You don’t know?” Lia asked.

“My dad’s the cop, not me. I only took one quarter of pre-law, and this definitely wasn’t covered.”

Lia pursed her lips. “I sure hope we find something useful.”

Ariana stared at the safe. It reminded her of the one she and Damon had at home — fireproof and thick walls. Nearly impossible to break into. The salesman had told them a story about someone trying to use dynamite to get into an older model, and not being able to crack it.

She’d never been sure the story was real, but if there was even a little truth to it, her only chance of opening it was figuring out Rita’s code. It wouldn’t be anything as obvious as her birthday.

Or would it?

No. It couldn’t be anything Boone would ever guess. He’d be the last person she’d want getting in there.

“I’ll go through the books,” Lia said. “Maybe one of these is fake, and she’s hiding something there.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me. I’m going to see if I can get into the safe. Any ideas for the code?”

“Hmm… It has to be something Boone would never think of.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Ariana knelt and twisted the dial. It spun easily and quickly, only clicking on the numbers when she applied a little pressure. Again, like her model at home.

She tried Rita’s birthday, even though it seemed unlikely. But maybe Boone was the type to always forget the date. Rita never said anything either way, whether he remembered it or not. She usually booked a spa and made it into a girls’ day, like an extended version of their weekly time.

Didn’t work.

Ariana tried the opening day of the restaurant.

Nope.

That wasn’t a surprise either. Rita held a huge celebration every year in honor of the anniversary.

She needed to figure out something less obvious. One of her parents’ birthdays?

Dates were probably out. Too easy to look up that information. Thanks to social media, everyone connected knew each other’s birthdays.

What then?

“How’s it going?” Lia asked.

“I have nothing. You?”

“Zilch.”

Ariana turned her attention to Rita’s desk. Aside from one drawer, they all had locks.

This could be more useful. And she’d known how to pick locks since she was a kid.

She dug into her purse and pulled out the necessary items — they were something she always suggested her readers and listeners carry. It could save a woman’s life.

In this case, Rita’s.

Ariana started working on the top middle drawer, the one the chair slid under when not in use. It was trickier than the average lock, but she wouldn’t give up. She’d yet to meet a lock she couldn’t open.

Click!

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