Chapter 18 - THE CABIN IN ASPEN
The private Sterling jet touched down at Aspen Airport amidst a heavy mountain snowfall.
A black four-wheel-drive SUV carried Julian and Sarah up the winding mountain roads toward the family's old ski cabin.
The cabin had stood abandoned for over fifteen years, its wooden logs covered in thick snow and ice.
Julian pushed open the heavy wooden door, his flashlight beam cutting through the dark, cold interior.
They walked out toward the back yard, where a massive pine tree stood near the edge of a steep cliff.
Julian pulled a folding shovel from his pack, digging through two feet of frozen snow near the roots.
His shovel struck something hard and metallic with a sharp clack.
Sarah knelt down, clearing the dirt away to reveal a small steel box locked with a heavy padlock.
"Use the pendant key," Sarah suggested, pointing to the dark oval stone.
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Julian pressed the stone into the lock, and the steel lid popped open with a quiet mechanical click.
Inside lay three yellowed land deeds and a small leather-bound diary dated 1975.
