Chase

Disclaimer: I don't own National Treasure. The Compass series is mine.

A/N: Set right after Clue

Chapter One

Riley tapped his foot against the air rapidly, humming a tune to himself which really had nothing to do with anything, until a nicely dressed brown-haired woman stepped through the doorway to the Oval Office and said, "The President may see you now."

"Thanks," Riley said. She disappeared down a hall, and he took a deep breath. He stepped into the Oval Office, where the President gestured for him to take a seat, so he did, rather carefully.

"So, Mr. Poole, have you had any luck over the past few days?" the Presidnet asked. "I've heard they've been eventful."

"Well, yeah, guess that happens when your hobby of choice is treasure hunting."

"Well, your 'hobby of choice' has made very rich people out of you and a few of your friends."

"Yeah, and did I tell you about all the times I almost died? Did Ben tell you about how risky all the situations we ended up in actually are?"

"He did not, but I'm sure it'll be in a book or a newspaper or a blog essay somewhere."

"Most likely by me."

The two men chucked for a moment before the President said, "Now, let's get down to business. How much do you know about Page Forty-seven?"

"Not a whole lot. There's a riddle on it, written in what seems like it was supposed to be invisible ink, but someone tried to read it some time ago and it remains visible to this day."

"Very good, and did you find anything in the treasure room?"

"How'd you know about that?"

"I have my sources. So, what did you find."

"Just an inscription that said something like: 'The wisdom always refers to the beginning'."

"Whoever wrote that was a very wise man. You do need to start at the beginning to find what you seek."

"Which poses the question: Which beginning?"

"Check the official history on the Freemasons. It's most likely to be right."

"So, what are we talking about, the first lodge, the first grand lodge, the first grand lodge in the U.S.?"

"Well, this is the Howe family's secret, so my best guess is the answer's somewhere in England."

"Eliminating my third guess."

"Correct." The President leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. "You will find the beginning you're looking for. I'm sure of it."

"And if we don't?"

"I must remind you that this is a matter of some importance to the security of this nation."

"Everybody keeps saying that."

"Because they're right."

Riley fidgeted a little, but he refused to pull his gaze from the very powerful man sitting across the desk from him. "So," he said, "what's supposed to be at the end of this?"

"You'll find out. Just follow it to the end, which, in this case, happens to be the beginning. Just remember, the compass points the way."

NTNT

Tanya furrowed her brow and was tempted to ask, "That's it?" Instead, she kept her mouth shut, watching the scene unfold as Riley excused himself and allowed himself to be escorted out of the Oval Office.

"That was boring," Viktor said. "So where do we start? I don't get it. I thought this was supposed to help us."

"So did I," Tanya replied. "Bugging him was useless."

"Well, now we know," Phil said, "and we'll never try that again."

"At least not as a first resort." Tanya fished out her phone and dialled Ian's number. It took a few rings, but he finally answered. "It's completely useless, bugging Riley's pen. We learned nothing," she hissed.

"Then he arranges another meeting and see what we can learn from this one."

"You do realize the President's going to say the exact same thing with different words, don't you?"

"Yes."

"So what's the point of having us decode Page Forty-seven if he refuses to assist?"

"Tanya, perhaps we should take a break. It sounds to me an awful lot like you need it."

"You keep saying that, and lo and behold, something happens to screw everything up."

"Regardless, a little rest never killed anyone."

"And regardless of what you say, I refuse to let my guard down, even though Nathaniel's dead. This could still be a set-up by the most powerful man in this nation."

"You still have this reservation?"

"Why shouldn't I? We've barely learned anything, and I'm beginning to suspect that we simply can't."

"Which is why we should take a break."

Tanya sighed and rubbed her eyes. "You're extremely stubborn, you know."

"Thank you."

She snapped her phone shut without another word, pocketed it, and returned her attention to the living room. "Anyone have any better ideas?"