The Third Chime

The third turn didn't just ratchet; it sent a shudder right through the clock casing. I kept both hands locked on the notched thimble until the internal gears caught and struck three flat, tinny chimes. Right on the final ding, the carved molding beneath the dial gave a sharp wooden crack and dropped forward on miniature brass hinges. A hidden drawer. I used the fork of my dowsing twig to pry the stubborn lip all the way down. Sitting inside the faded velvet recess was a flat iron key, heavy and dark with three mismatched square teeth cut down the shank. Definitely not made for an ordinary parlor door.