Finished listening?

Yes! That’s the code to the door!

They spun the 3-letter combination lock so that it read TBD. Can you believe that was the code?! I could not. I think Ells and Ernie would have been judging the great-great grandparent who set this lock combination, or maybe it would be more apt to say, didn’t set this lock combination, a bit more, but they were too excited to see what was behind the door.

The detectives heard the sound of metal clicking into place and pushed lightly on the door which swung open. In front of them they saw a large wooden treasure chest. You heard that right. They found a real life treasure chest!

There was no lock on the chest, so Ernie peeked inside and found a large scrap of paper. He gingerly took it out of the chest and read it aloud to Ells. It said:

Note to self: After finishing tunnel construction, place artifacts here.

Ells stood there for a moment, mouth agape, processing what Ernie had just read. After a minute, the detectives put the note back, closed the lid of the chest, went back through the metal door, and closed it with a click.

They were going to need to make a call to one Fern Middleton, the actual Fern Middleton, to tell her three things. One, that there may just be some artifacts for the finding somewhere in this old manor. Two, that they were aware of one place the artifacts were not located. And three, that they know of two interested parties if she was looking for some assistance with the case. Oh, yes, right, and four, that her old business partner was currently stuck to the couch in the library of her inn.