At least until the sunset. Then, I was a new woman.
Or a new something.
I kept tapping the tip of the pen against the pad of paper until the question finally came to me. Finally, it did. "Why would the thieves know to look behind the furnace? Seems a highly unlikely place for any thief to ever look."
He shrugged.
I said, "Shrugging doesn't help me, Mr. Anderson."
"Well, I don't know why they would look there."
"Fair enough. Did you ever tell anyone about the safe?"
"No."
"Did anyone ever see you, ah, looking at the safe?"
"I live alone. It's just me."
"Any family members know about the safe?"
"Maybe a few do, but I don't keep in touch with them."
"Do you have any children?"
"Yes."
Bingo. "Where do your kids live?"
"The Philippines, presently. I'm a retired Navy vet. My ex-wife is from the Philippines. The kids stay with her most of the time."
"But some of the time they stay with you?"
"Yes?"
"How long ago has it been since they were last with you?"
"A month ago."
More notes, more thinking. I put the pen aside. I had asked just about everything my dull brain could think of. Besides, I had to start wrapping this up.
"I can help you," I said. "But under one condition."
"What's that?"
"I get half of whatever's in the safe."
"What about the retainer fee?"
"I'll waive the fee."
"And if you don't find the safe?"
"You owe me nothing," I said.
He looked at me for a good twenty seconds before he started nodding. "I've always wondered what the hell was in that thing."
"So, do we have a deal then, Mr. Anderson?"