A young widow picked up a backpack discarded from a sleek SUV at the dump…

Emily’s throat went dry, but she nodded. “Whose is it? Can we take just a little?” The boy, eyes shining, reached for a stack. “Don’t touch it!” Emily snapped, grabbing his hand.

Catching herself, she gently patted the startled boy’s head. “Sorry, it’s just… it’s someone else’s. Taking it feels dangerous.”

He stayed quiet, staring in awe at the carpet of cash. Emily was scared. But deciding what to do next was even scarier.

Go to the police? They’d surely confiscate everything, leaving her with nothing, and might even suspect her. Keep it? The owners would likely come looking. She recalled the expensive SUV.

What if those men returned? Or maybe someone was watching them, and they ditched the bag? Her thoughts spun, offering no peace. Emily paced the tiny kitchen, twisting the ends of her scarf.

Tommy sat by the money, excitedly watching the lamp’s light dance on the neat stacks. “Mom, let’s hide it!” he finally suggested, serious. “What if no one comes for it? Then we can buy a house and a bike.”

“Sweetie, it’s complicated,” she said softly, kneeling beside him. “Money like this can get people killed. If they find out we have it, it’d be better if we never found it.” She rubbed his back, trying to figure out what to do.

Night had fallen. Outside, the wind howled, and the chimney hummed faintly. A creak came from the next room.

The old window didn’t close fully, and gusts made the frame rattle. Emily flinched. Her nerves were frayed.

She needed to hide the cash and go to the police in the morning. Quietly asking Tommy to help, she began stashing the money wherever she could—some under the couch, some in the dish cabinet, even in the toilet tank.

Soon, no trace of the mysterious haul remained. Before bed, Tommy asked if they could keep just a little. Emily shook her head.

“We can’t take what’s not ours.” Deciding to go to the police in the morning, she drifted off without realizing it. A strange noise woke her in the night, like the gate outside slamming shut.

Emily’s eyes snapped open. The small bedroom was dark, with only faint moonlight spilling through the window. Her heart thudded.

Had they come? She turned her head. Tommy slept soundly beside her under the blanket. Careful not to make noise, she slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the kitchen…