Chapter 2
Two days later Delia walked into her apartment after her six hour shift at her part time job at a gift shop. She had a new routine now, for the past two days she would come home drop her purse and keys on the kitchen table and then practically sprint to her answering machine to see if anybody called. Hoping it would be a certain Ben Gates telling her that she got the job. A thirty-two year old woman that graduated from an Ivy League College with high honors and a degree in history should not be working at the local gift shop.
Looking towards her answering machine, she noticed that the number still was on the number one. One missed call...she looked away.
Hold the phone.
She almost tripped on her way to the answering machine and pressed the play button. Delia held her breath as the tape went on to play the message.
"Hey honey!" ...'Hi mom,' Delia thought slightly disappointed.
"Just wanted to ask how you where feeling today, and how that interview went," her mother's voice continued telling her about the mischief her 4 year old nephew has got into, and how her brother and sister were doing. They lived all the way in Montana so keeping in touch with was a little complicating.
Turning off the machine, she sighed and walked into her bed room and laid down on her back. She stared at the ceiling for a few minutes before her cat, Zebulon pounced on her.
"Hey Zebbie," she scratched the calico behind the ear and smiled as he began to purr.
Delia rose from her spot on the bed and went into the bathroom and turned on her tub. She breathed in the steam from the hot water and began to watch the tub fill. It was one of those days where the assholes at the gift shop would decide to give her the task of taking out all the new boxes of merchandise and put them on the shelves. And of course the boxes were heavy.
Turning off the water once it was filled to where she wanted it, she stripped off her clothes and climbed in, her muscles relaxing once they were in the steamy water. Laying her head back she let the hot water erase her stress away. She felt herself drift away into dreamland where nothing can bother her.
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Ring.
Ring.
Delia frowned in her sleep. "What is that?"
Ring.
Slowly she gained consciousness, realizing that she must have fallen asleep in the tub. She looked at the clock. '5:36 pm'
Ring.
'It's just the phone, I'll let the machine get it.' She let her head fall back leaning against the tub closing her eyes again. She heard the unmistakable click of the answering machine as it recorded the message.
"Ms. Bailey," Delia's eyes shot open. She knew that voice. "It's Ben Gates from the History/Archeology Center."
Hopping out of the tub as quickly she can she ran out of the bathroom struggling to get a towel wrapped around her body. Rounding the corner running as fast as she can to get the phone she stumbled over Zebulon.
"Damn it Zebulon!"
She almost crashed into the wall where the phone was hanging, she picked it up quickly.
"Mr. Gates? I'm sorry I was in the bathroom." she was out of breath from the rush.
"That's alright, I just called to let you know that I have made my decision," She started to get nervous. Did she get the job?
'I didn't get the job I know it. Oh god, what am I going to do?' Now her nervousness was replaced with depression.
She heard Ben shift the phone on his shoulder and held her breathe.
"I'll see you tomorrow at eight o'clock." he said.
"Huh" She was confused, she didn't get the job right?
"I'll see you tomorrow morning, you got the job." Delia's eyes widened, looking at the phone with disbelief. She got the job!
"Thank you so much sir." She said as she held back her glee. They both said their goodbyes and promised that she would not let Ben down. Once she hung the phone up she started to dance around, a big grin on her face, throwing her hands up in the air. She felt her towel begin to slip and quickly secured it and continued her dance of triumph.
Zebulon walked in his tail pointed ups as if he was curious as to what was happening. Then instantly regretted it, Delia walked up to him and picked him up with her grin still plastered on her face.
"Zebbie! Mommy got her job!" She kissed his furry little head. "Aren't you proud of her?" He pushed his little calico paw onto her face as if saying 'yes, now put me down else I'll claw you.'
She put the 7 year old cat down and ran into her bedroom, still doing the happy dance. Delia pulled on her oversized flannel pajama bottoms and an old white tank top and went back out to the main part of her apartment, then walked into the kitchen to grab something to eat.
Throwing a hot pocket into the microwave all the while singing 'The Rhythm of Life' from the musical Sweet Charity; She set the timer for two minutes and took out her meal and sat on her couch. With the cordless phone that was on the coffee table in front of her, she began to call all her close friends and her relatives and tell them of the good news.
Maybe now her life will start taking a new turn. But fate had other plans for her.
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"Good morning Ms. Bailey," was the first thing that Delia heard once she stepped into her new work place. She looked to the right of the lobby and saw her new employer; he must've been waiting for her. Delia woke up at seven thirty that morning to make sure that she looked her best to impress her co-workers and her boss. She took out her best suit and styled her shoulder length hair so that she looked purely business like.
"Good morning," she replied back.
"I hope you like it here, everyone is friendly and helpful. So don't be afraid to ask anything or for help. There is plenty of work that comes in every day, so expect to be busy." Delia took in everything Ben was telling her, she nodded here and there to reassure him that she was listening intently. Eventually after he introduced her to everyone that was in their path he showed her to her new desk, which was just outside of his own office, which lay behind large wooden doors.
Ben wished her luck and left her at her desk telling her that her first assignment, which he was also currently working on, was on her desk. Delia tested her new chair, she sighed with content. She opened her draws to notice that she did not need to stock up on anything, she had everything she needed. Looking onto her desk she noticed an old looking book with a post it on it, the note read:
'Here is a copy of the Masonic Bible; there is a myth that the masons had hid a clue to a treasure within its pages. Have fun.
Ben Gates'
Delia smiled; she's going to love this job.
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Hours away from Philadelphia, a man with shoulder length blonde hair sat in a jail cell, leaning his back against the wall, reminiscing about his past. Sorrow gripped him and with a last look he placed the picture in his pocket vowing that if he ever did see them again. He would change; yes he would change for the better. For her.
Keys rattled nearby and he looked up towards the entrance to his cell. One of the guards that usually patrol his hallway stopped in front of his cell and opened the door.
"You're a free man, Howe."
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I made minor edits to this chapter and I'm trying to figure out if I want Delia to be a major part of the treasure hunt. I'm leaning towards having her sort of in the background of the main treasure hunt I don't know for sure yet. Haha REVIEW! =D
