The Key to Oz

Chapter 8- Letters of the past

Larry stepped out of his old, beat-up truck and spat into the grass before he strolled over, with his long boot-cut jeans, cowboy boots, and stained button-up shirt, with his greasy baseball cap hiding his thinning hair.

"Well, well, if it ain't my least favorite tenants," he sneered.

"Well, well, if it ain't our smelly pervert landlord," Oz shot back, earning a nudge from James.

Larry wiped his mouth and let out a burp. "You got my money?"

"No," Oz replied with mock sweetness, "but I've got a breath mint with your name written all over it."

Larry's face soured. "What do you mean, no?"

James stepped forward. "We've got most of it, we just need another day or so for the rest."

Larry shook his head, his voice growing louder. "No, no, no. I told you last month when you were late, no more free passes. I've been more than generous with you brats, but I want my money, or you're out!"

"Our dad should be back any day now. He'll cover the rest!" James insisted.

"Not good enough. I want it now!"

"Oz, go check the mail," James said abruptly, hoping there dad had sent some money for them or at least a note update like he usually does when he is gone for longer than expected.

"Why? You check it every day, and there's never anything."

"Just do it."

With a roll of her eyes, Oz relented and trudged to the mailbox, listening to James try to reason with Larry behind her. She opened it, and to her surprise, found two letters. One was unmarked, without a stamp. She tore it open first, revealing a small note and a wad of cash.

The note read:
"You belong wherever you want to belong."

Those familiar words tugged at her heart. She unfolded the cash—two hundred-dollar bills. She stared at the money for a moment debating whether or not she was going to give in. Sighing, she shoved the note and the second unopened letter into her pocket and walked back to James.

"Where's the $400?" she asked him.

"In my pocket. Why?"

"Let me see it." She said holding her hand out in front of him.

Still confused, James pulled the money out of his pocket and handed it to her. Oz took the wad, added the $200 she'd just found, and shoved it toward Larry.

"Here's your money Asshat. Now leave."

Larry snatched the money, slowly counting through it. "Well damn, Y'all got lucky just in time, but the rent's going up—from now on it's $750."

"$750?!" Oz shouted in disbelief. "You can't do that! We signed a lease for $600 a month!"

"Your daddy signed the lease, and since he ain't here—and I'm guessing you don't want anyone finding that out—the rent is now $750."

"You little inbred—" Oz started, stepping forward in anger.

James quickly grabbed her arm, pulling her back. "It's fine, we'll pay it."

"The hell we will!" She snapped.

Larry chuckled darkly. "I mean, I could always go to the police and tell 'em there's a couple of kids abandoned in my house. Bet social services would love to hear about that."

"No, there's no need for that," James replied, his tone calm but tense. "We'll pay."

Oz exhaled sharply, biting back her anger and staying silent.

"Wonderful," Larry sneered. "Y'all brats have a lovely day." He spat again before climbing back into his truck.

As soon as Larry drove off, Oz turned to James, fuming. "Why did you agree to that? He's ripping us off!"

James threw his hands up. "You've been stressing all week about getting kicked out, and the second I make a deal to keep us here, you get mad! This is exactly what I mean—you're impossible to please sometimes, Lozzie."

"Yeah, well, you're not exactly easy to live with either," she said crossing her arms in front of her.

James sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "At least we bought ourselves another month to figure things out." I smile appeared on his lips, "I told you Dad would come through for us. Did he leave a note, what did he say?"

Oz stopped walking. "The money wasn't from Dad."

James blinked in confusion. "What do you mean? If it wasn't from Dad, then who—?"

"It doesn't matter," she cut him off, starting back toward the house. "It's paid, that's all that counts."

But James followed her, not letting it go. "Who was it from, Lozzie?"

"Drop it, James. It's not important."

A realization hit him, and his voice tightened. "It was from Pyke, wasn't it?"

She didn't answer, but the silence said enough.

"Youve been telling him about our problems? I thought you were done with him?"

"I haven't told him anything! I've barely even spoken to him since the breakup."

"Then how did he know to send you money? Did you ask him for it?"

"I didn't ask him for anything!"

"Then how—"

"Stop with the questions!" Oz snapped, cutting him off. "There was something else in the mail,"

"What?" James demanded.

Oz hesitated before handing him an unopened envelope. "This," she said quietly. "It's addressed to both of us—from Connecticut."

"Connecticut?" James frowned, confusion furrowing his brow as he flipped the leader over. "We don't know anyone there." Suddenly, his eyes widened in realization. "Dad!" he exclaimed, tearing open the letter. As his eyes scanned the page, his expression grew more serious.

He read it aloud, his voice trembling slightly:

"James and Lozzie,
I'm so sorry, but I fear that I have reached the end of my journey. I wish I could've explained everything sooner. I should have told you before, but I thought I could figure it out on my own without getting you involved. The truth is, our family line is wealthy. Extremely wealthy.

Your great- great grandparents had many children, and instead of leaving a will when they died, they left a quest for their fortune. No one in the family has been able to solve it. Most have given up—my parents were obsessed with the hunt, and spent their whole lives looking for it, which lead me to the same obsession. Where many failed, I finally succeeded. I solved the clue and found the first key. But it was stolen. That's why I've been gone for so long. I needed the key to complete the second clue, and now that I have gotten it back, I leave it for you to finish.

There are five keys in total, leading to the treasure. If you find it, you'll be set for life. Decipher the clue and it will lead you to the second key. Please, be careful, and trust NO ONE. Most importantly, take care of each other.

I love you both.
Love, Dad."

James lowered the letter slowly, his mind racing.

Oz reached into the envelope and pulled out a jagged, weathered key, its edges rough with age. She stared at it for a moment, her brow furrowing in confusion before lifting her gaze to James. Whatever this unlocked, it wasn't just physical—it was the beginning of something far bigger than they could ever imagine.