"You shouldn't be up there."
Ben turned around to see his grandfather holding his younger sister.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to know if it was real."
"You mean the treasure?" Ben nodded as he sat down on the last step. John found himself a chair. "I guess you're old enough to know about the story."
"Me too." Mackenzie said bouncing on her grandfather's lap.
"Yes you too." Ben and Mack sat breathless listening to the story of the Knights Templar Treasure. The free masons, the Charlotte, the hidden agenda of the leaders of the United States, and the missing treasure thrilled Mack. She loved the adventure. The thought of hiding something so important, excited her. Ben was more engulfed in the history. Many of the past great people had a hand in hiding this treasure. To find something that would lend to the history of the world impressed Ben. But before John could finish the entire story, Patrick came up into the attic.
"The treasure doesn't exist. I was a fool for chasing it as long as I did. And what do I have to show for it. Nothing. Ben you do best not to listen to the stories. Get a real job do not go chasing fairy tales." Patrick picked Mack up. "Now say goodbye."
"Bye Granpa." Mack hugged her grandfather, and then Patrick carried her downstairs.
"Grandpa, Are we knights?" Ben asked.
"Do you want to be?" Ben nodded. "Okay then. Take a knee." John draped his coat over the shoulders of Ben and then took an old umbrella and tapped Ben's shoulders. "Benjamin Franklin Gates do you take upon yourself the duty of the Templars, free masons, and the family Gates. Do you swear it?"
"I so swear it."
Since the night in the attic, Ben and Mack have grown up chasing the elusive treasure. Their grandfather passed away seven years after telling the children his story. Mack is now 24 and Ben is 29, both still chasing the treasure.
"Mack come on we have to meet Ian and Riley in an hour."
"I'm coming. I just need my cd player." Mack grabbed her bag and then descended the stairs. It was a warm sunny day in Pittsburgh. The siblings were going to meet their friends to discuss the information Ian had found.
Ian was their financial backer. Ben met his a few months ago, and told him of the treasure. Ian quickly signed on. Mack was thankful he joined them but something about him and his money made her uneasy. Riley was their navigator. Give him a computer, and he could find anything anywhere. Ben and Mack found him as some huge company punching numbers. He signed on just to escape the cubical he worked in. And the thought of finding the largest amount of money ever, didn't dissuade him.
The four meet at a small café on the edge town.
"Wonderful day to go treasure hunting. Don't you think?" Ian said as Ben and Mack went to greet him. Riley was already seated at their normal table.
"So what have you found out?" Ben asked, getting to the chase.
"Everything is a go. I have ordered the snow trucks. Two right?" Ben nodded. "And a plane is ready to take us tomorrow morning. We will have to make one stop in Ontario. From there we can go straight to the artic circle."
"Why stop in Ontario?" Mack questioned.
"Some of my crew is there. We'll need the extra hands."
"Now, Riley, are you sure you can locate the ship once we are up there?" Ben asked.
"Yes, my laptop has a tracking system that can locate anything. Once I used it to." But Riley was cut off by Mack.
"Yes wonderful story, Ri. Now back to your crew, I thought you had Shaw, Victor, and Phil?" Mack asked. She didn't like adding new people on at the last minute. It was sketchy.
"Its only three more guys, Mack. Don't worry."
"Look it's my job to worry. I've put money into this. I've staked my reputation on this. And I don't want some new guys to come along and screw me over." Mack was fuming. Ben placed a calm hand on her shoulder.
"Mack calm down. Ian you should have told us about this."
"I thought it wouldn't be a problem. I can vouch for these guys. And we do need them to help run the vehicles and get to the Charlotte. I'm sorry Mack."
Mack was far from accepting his apology, but like Ben said there was nothing she could do. She threw on a reassuring smile to please everyone. "It's okay. I'm gonna go get another drink. Does anybody want anything?"
"No." Ben said still sipping at his first coffee.
"I'm alright Mack." Ian said staring at her.
"Um I'll come with. I don't know what I want." Riley said walking away from the table with Mack. He knew she was still upset. So was he. Ian had no right to just hire more people.
"Hey you okay, Mack?"
"Just fine." She said sarcastically. "I am just pissed off. Why did he have to do this? He acts like the only one that's put money out for this. I mean he would have been upset to if anyone else got more people."
"Everything will be okay." Riley tried to help her calm down.
"Thanks." Mack and Riley weren't always this nice to each other. Most of the time they bickered over petty differences. They were friends but rarely had calm moments like this one. Riley was the rational thinker. Mack, on the other hand, was free spirited. Do stuff now and think about it later was her philosophy.
Mack and Riley got their drinks then headed back to the table. The discussion Ben and Ian were having, ended abruptly when the two returned. Ian reassured the group that everything was going to be just fine. Finally they all departed to pack.
"Tomorrow morning we'll meet at the airstrip. See you in the morning." Ian said as he got into his van. Mack knew Shaw was inside. Along with the rest of Ian's little crew. She had met them several times. Surprisingly, she like most of them. Victor and Phil were nice and treated her as a friend. Shaw was different. Everyone knew he liked Mack more than she was comfortable with. When Ben became aware of this, he thought about getting Shaw removed. Mack convinced him Shaw wasn't dangerous and she could handle herself.
Mack and Ben returned home and packed the things they would need. Both were about to turn into bed when there came a knock to the door.
"I'll get it." Mack said making her way to the door. She opened it to see Riley, bags in hand. "What are you doing here? Do you realize its 12 at night?"
"Chill Mack. I figured it would be easier if all of us went to the airport together tomorrow."
"Wait, do you snore, sleepwalk, talk in your sleep, drool or anything that could possible wake me up in the night?"
"I think I snore sometimes."
"Well then go sleep in your car." Mack went to close the door on him but Ben stopped her.
"Mackenzie, I told him he could stay the night."
"What is going on around here. Nobody is telling me anything."
"I'm sorry Mack. It's not a big deal. It's not like he's staying in your room."
"Fine. I'm going to bed."
"Is it her time of the month." Riley said once she was out of the room.
"I heard that." Mack yelled from her room.