Emma colored the dress more firmly.
“Did Mom know my school?”
The question startled me.
“Why do you ask?”
“She came there once.”
My heartbeat slowed.
“How do you know?”
Emma reached into the pocket of her cardigan, the same one she had worn the previous day, and removed a folded square of paper.
“I found this in the storage room.”
She handed it to me.
It was a torn piece of sheet music, yellowed at the edges. Several notes had been circled in pencil.
At the bottom, in Claire’s unmistakable handwriting, were four words:
For Emma, when she’s ready.
“Where exactly did you find this?” I asked.
“Under the shelf. I saw it when I was sitting on the floor.”
“Did you show anyone?”
She shook her head.
“I thought Mrs. Gable would take it.”
I sat beside her, holding the paper carefully.
The melody consisted of only eight measures. Claire used to write short compositions for her students, often hiding messages in the note names.
I read the circled sequence.
B. A. D. G. E.
Badge.
The final three circled notes were C, A, and B.
“Badge cabinet,” I whispered.
Emma’s eyes widened.
“At school?”
“I don’t know.”
Before I could examine it further, the doorbell rang.
Through the window, I saw Sergeant Mercer standing on the porch with Mr. Lewis, the custodian.
Lewis clutched a large brown envelope.
