i think rather than caught up in what AH may or may not be thinking (cuz god knows, right?) take a step back and think the situation through. it's time for each person who lives in the home to have their own key, which they carry with them. hiding a key nearby IS asking for bad guys to waltz on in and waltz on out with armloads of stuff. safety first.
how the father chooses to handle THAT door on THAT home is his business. you have no control over what he thinks or what he says or to whom he says it.