He returned to Vale’s backyard under the cover of night, scanning the fire-scarred ground. Near the ashes of the shed, soil looked freshly disturbed, darker than the surrounding dirt. Kneeling, he brushed aside dead leaves. His pulse quickened. Someone had buried something recently—something Vale had probably not had the time to destroy.
Manny dug with his bare hands, mud freezing against his skin. Minutes passed before his fingers struck something solid. It was metallic, cold and rusted. Heart pounding, he cleared away the earth until a small box emerged, half-charred. He lifted it carefully, knowing whatever lay inside could finally expose Vale’s hidden crimes.