Over the years, Tibor had built a valuable personal collection.

He died in the late 1990s.

His wife passed away a few years later.

Their son eventually sold the land.

The original house was demolished.

Richard’s current home was built afterward.

And somewhere during all of that, nobody found the collection Tibor had buried.

The pool had eventually been built over it.

“For twenty-two years?” I asked.

Dad nodded.

“What was inside?”

“Twelve pieces. Mostly pocket watches. One small clock.”

Eleanor believed at least one of the watches was extremely valuable.

Years earlier, Tibor had told her he had hidden his best pieces because he didn’t trust banks.

She knew the collection existed.

She just never knew where.

Until Dad found it.

“Why are the police here?”

“Because I called them.”

Dad explained it as though the answer should have been obvious.

The items clearly predated Richard’s ownership.

They were connected to an identifiable former owner.