Alright, I told you that I had a National Treasure piece in the works. This is the prologue--apparantly. I should have the first couple of chapters up soon.

Oh, and I don't own this. How can you be sure? There was no quirky girl for our favorite quirky side-kick. Darn those movie writers...

Prologue

April 1, 1924

Bert stood alone, by his prized possession, a superb 1924 Peirce-Arrow, cold and wet. The calming sounds of waves lapping against a shore did little but annoy him. He could not believe Al would do this. His brother had just died, today in fact, and he had called Bert up babbling something about business. Bert flipped his trench coat collar up to shield himself from the freezing wind and jammed his Fedora further onto his head, just incase the cops rolled by.

Suddenly, Bert heard footsteps, and heavy ones at that.

"That you, Bert?"

Thank God. "Yeah, Al it's me."

Al stepped forward and pulled Bert into a ferocious bear hug. Pulling away, Al spoke, "I just can't believe he's gone."

"I know." Bert murmured. Pushing his luck, he hesitantly continued. "Y'think, maybe, you'll quit what you been up to?"

"Hell no, Bert. I'm in too deep by now. 'Sides, it's fun." Al scoffed apologetically

"You got a wife and kid to worry about bro!" Bert pleaded fervently.

Al nodded. "That's what I come to talk to you about. Frank dyin' really shook me up; made me think. I realized some things. I gotta provide for my kid. Y'know, for when I'm gone. I'm stashin' my loot."

"In the vault?"

"No, I'll just give someone that crap and word'll get around somehow. It'll be a dead end." Al stopped for a moment, staring into the black beyond. He was jarred back to reality by a violent crack of thunder. "Anyway, those two hours I closed down, I made a decision. My loot is safe. I can't let the feds find it, so I made up some clues." Here he paused, smiling. "Actually, Ray made 'em up. Then I shot 'im."

Bert rolled his eyes as Al handed him an envelope. "You gotta give this to Sonny when the time is right. It'll help him get his dues."

"When will I-"

"Trust me, Bert, you'll know."

With that, Al disappeared into the night while Bert crumpled the envelope in his fist.

Only when it started to rain did he get back in his car. After sitting there staring through the sheet of rain of water cascading over his window shield for a while, he stuffed the letter in the back seat.

Out of sight, Out of mind.

Well, there it is. Out for all of fanfic-dom to see. I hope I haven't thoroughly bored you already. Also, I know it's short. The chapters are longer I promise.

Hey! Bonus points if you actually get who the two guys were and who they were talking about...unless I was painfully obvious. But I'll never know if I was if you don't let me know in review form...teehee, don't I feel silly.