And inside it was something stranger than everything else.

A map.

At the bottom, he had written:

Carol and Rebecca—before you sell the mountain, go to the red X. Dig six feet east of the split pine. Trust me one last time.

—

PART 7 — MY FATHER’S LAST SECRET WASN’T MONEY

Two weeks later, Rebecca and I climbed the mountain together.

Daniel came too.

The split pine stood above the old quarry.

We found the red X from Dad’s map near a collapsed stone wall.

Daniel dug first.

Then Rebecca.

Then me.

At four feet, the shovel hit metal.

We uncovered a steel container about the size of a suitcase.

My heart pounded.

“More money?” Daniel asked.

Rebecca laughed.

“Knowing Dad? Probably tax records.”

Inside were dozens of letters.

Photographs.

One deed.

And a small velvet box.