Chapter 173: The Vault

Chapter 173: The Vault
Nina’s POV
When I paid a hundred thousand dollars for the only bar in Willowbend, the owner—a man in his sixties—told me, "Believe me, you got yourself a great deal! If it weren't for my heart surgery last year, I'd never sell this cheap!"
I knew the bar owner was trying to convince me of something that wasn't quite true. Although this bar was the only one in town, business wasn't actually very good. Some of the younger people had left for the big cities and never came back. Most who stayed in Willowbend were middle-aged or older. The town felt quieter every year, more tired. But that was exactly what I needed right now. A place where people minded their own business.
I renamed the bar June and posted job listings for a bartender and waitstaff.
Among the applicants, I recognized Marcus, the man who had once worked on the gambling boat and helped me. His face was a little more weathered now, but it was definitely him. Clearly, he didn't recognize me. I'd changed my appearance enough since then.
I asked Marcus why he wasn't still working on the boat.
Marcus told me the gambling ship had gone out of business. Now Willowbend's economy was even worse than before, and jobs were hard to find. He seemed discouraged as he spoke, his shoulders slightly slumped.
I asked him why he didn't leave this place. There were bigger towns nearby, cities with more opportunities. Marcus said he needed to stay and take care of his mother. Her legs were paralyzed, and at her age, she needed someone to look after her. He was all she had.
I hired him on the spot.
The bar operated normally. Business wasn't good or bad, at least I wasn't losing money, which was a relief. At the same time, running the bar gave me the opportunity to hear about everything happening in town each day. Customers talked freely after a few drinks, sharing gossip and news. I listened carefully to every conversation, always alert for any mention of the river.
A week passed, and I heard nothing about any body in the river.
My anxious heart gradually settled. A week had gone by. Even if the body was discovered later, it would be hard to trace any clues back to me.
Besides, I understood the Willowbend police too well. They were incredibly lazy and wouldn't seriously investigate. They just wanted to clock out early and get home to their families. They were nothing like the NYPD. If they really found a body, they'd probably just say it was an accidental drowning. Someone who'd had too much to drink and stumbled into the water. Case closed.
After feeling somewhat more at ease, I started thinking about how to open that safe. After all, I still owed Kevin the remaining eight hundred thousand. I worried that if I didn't pay him, he might track me down all the way to Willowbend. Raymond was dead. Those photos I had were no threat to Kevin anymore. The leverage I'd once held had died with Raymond.
I figured this safe must contain something extremely valuable if Raymond had hidden it privately in his bedroom. He'd kept it locked away, separate from everything else. That had to mean something.
But how exactly was I supposed to open it?
I tried over and over again, testing different combinations, listening for clicks that never came. My fingers ached from spinning the dial. Finally, I had to ask Marcus for help. From what I'd observed during this time, Marcus seemed like a man with a sense of morals. He was kind to customers, patient with difficult drunks, honest with the cash register. And he'd worked on the gambling boat. He must have seen all kinds of safes there.
Even so, I couldn't completely trust anyone. When Marcus came to my house to help with the safe, I kept a gun in my pocket the entire time. My hand rested near it, ready.
Marcus studied it for a while, running his fingers along the edges, examining the lock mechanism. Then he asked me, "This is a high-end safe. Where did you get it?"
I told him I'd inherited it from an uncle. The safe and the money to buy the bar all came from him. He'd died suddenly of a heart attack, so he hadn't had time to tell me the combination before he passed. I tried to sound casual, sad but not overly emotional.
I knew he probably didn't believe my clumsy lie, but he didn't ask any more questions. Maybe he understood that everyone in Willowbend had secrets they didn't want to share.
Marcus said, "I can't open it right now. I need some time and I'll need to consult a friend of mine."
Two weeks later, Marcus finally managed to crack the code. Just as he was about to excitedly pull open the safe door, I pressed my hand down on his. Our eyes met for a moment.
I said the contents might be rather private, my uncle's personal belongings. He probably wouldn't want anyone else to see them.
Marcus nodded understandingly and said, "Of course." He stepped back, giving me space. There was no judgment in his expression, just quiet respect.
After Marcus left, I closed and locked all the doors and windows. I checked them twice, making sure every latch was secure. Then I opened the safe. Before my eyes lay box after box of jewelry. I opened them one by one and saw pieces of exquisite craftsmanship inside. Diamonds caught the light, emeralds glowed deep green, rubies burned like frozen fire.
These were clearly not ordinary luxury items. Their true value was beyond my ability to estimate. Each piece looked like it belonged in a museum or around the neck of royalty.
These jewels were obviously enough to pay the eight hundred thousand I owed Kevin and let my mother and me live comfortably for the rest of our lives. We'd never have to worry about money again. Never have to struggle or compromise or put ourselves in danger.
Sitting with this enormous fortune, I felt deeply uneasy. The weight of it pressed down on me.
How was I supposed to sell these jewels?
Would Raymond's men know I'd taken them and come looking for revenge?
Where could I hide them that would be safe?