It was in the barn. She was sure of it. Maybe one of those pesky animals had switched it to a new place. Maybe more than one of those pesky good for nothing animals had switched it to new places every time they saw her in here looking for it. The pigeons could have stashed it up on the roof for all she knew. She'd go up on the roof today to look.
Over the years, she'd checked everywhere else. She had the hay removed from the hay loft, making the poor boy who did that job for her look through the hay with a fine toothed comb looking for it. Of course she didn't tell him what he was looking for, and she kept a very close eye on him as she helped him sift through all that hay. She sold all the farm equipment and valuable animals so they wouldn't be in the way. The only animals left were pigeons, rats, and a resident snake.
It had to have been the snake. Had to have been him. Who else would know what the little metal tube sealed at both ends even was?
Her crypto keys were missing.
This is my entry to 