A Wire in the Wicker

The groove identified on that wax flake required a matching fastener. Following the trail toward the front entryway, I directed my scrutiny to the base of the brass umbrella stand. Nestled in the shadowed gap between the metal rim and the skirting board lay a coiled length of tarnished brass wire, roughly two inches long. I used the curved tip of my free hand to hook and draw it into the afternoon light. Under my glass, one end retains faint crimp indentations that correspond precisely to the groove in the wax flake. It appears our mysterious container was secured and unpacked right here.