After prying the study door open, the siblings slipped inside.
The room was impeccably clean. Truth be told, in all their years living in the house, this was the very first time either of them had set foot inside.
When Nick was little, he had once stumbled in by accident. Old Mrs. Whelan had caught him and beaten him so badly he couldn't sit for a week. Since then, everyone in the family knew that without the old lady's explicit permission, the study was strictly off-limits.
"Nick, look over there. Is that vase an antique?" Cathy whispered.
"It has to be!" Nick carefully lifted it from the shelf and placed it into a box. They fully intended to steal every valuable item they could carry.
"But looking around, besides a few vases, there really isn't much here. Why was Grandmother so obsessed with keeping us out?" Cathy asked, her curiosity peaking.
"There must be a secret compartment! Just like in the movies—rich people's studies always have hidden compartments. Let's keep searching!"
The two of them began knocking and tapping against the walls and furniture.
Suddenly, Cathy rapped her knuckles against a section of the wall and noticed the sound was entirely different.
"Nick, listen to this! It sounds hollow. Do you think there's a hidden safe or a secret room behind here? All the real treasure has to be inside!"
"I bet you're right! I brought a hammer. I'm going to smash it open!"
Nick raised his hammer and started bashing the wall.
"Shh! Keep it down! Don't make so much noise. What if Gavin and his family hear us and come try to steal our cut?"
Working quickly and nervously, the siblings finally managed to break a hole through the plaster.
"I knew it! There's treasure in here!"
Sitting inside the hidden alcove was a heavy wooden box. Thrilled, they pulled it out and set it on the floor.
"We hit the jackpot! We're rich! If she hid it this deep, whatever is inside must be priceless!" Cathy practically vibrated with excitement.
The box was secured with an old, rusted lock. Nick didn't waste time—he brought the hammer down and smashed it open.
Bang!
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