As interesting as finding a mystery lock would seem, you have duties to attend to, so you set the old skeleton key on the counter and turn instead to the very anxious Fat Cat.
"Good boy, Fat Cat. Let's try this again."
Fat Cat slowly hobbles down the stairs and does all of his business right there on the bottom step, not even bothering to do his usual walk, since you took so long cleaning up. He then looks out across the field towards the hills, appears to see something moving along the dry creek bed, and starts biting at the leash.
"What's the matter, boy?"
You squint as the sun peeks over the little valley and you just barely make out the shape of a small figure darting up the river bed towards Old Man Wintersnow's barn... It couldn't be... not this early... not in near-daylight...
"Fat Cat, NOOOOOOO!!!" But it's too late- Fat Cat breaks the leash from your hand and takes off running towards She Who Must Not Be Tamed... the infamous, foul-tempered, no-good-hater-of-all-mankind... Sweet Cheeks.

What do you want to do?
A. Clean up Fat Cat's mess and head back into the safe, Sweet Cheeks-free house. Page 9.
B. Follow Fat Cat toward Wintersnow's place. Page 10.
C. Forget about Fat Cat, go back inside, and investigate the key. Page 11.