Chapter Two
"Actually, Ben, I think I have it. He called me once," Riley said, pacing across his bedroom. "Unless that wasn't his private number. I'll have to check." Ben recited the number he had for the President, Riley wrote it down and added, "Okay, I'll check it out later and get back to you."
"Great," Ben replied. "So, how was your date?"
"Actually, it went pretty well. The movie they made out of my book sucked, but that was really the only bad thing."
"They made a movie out of your book? Must be a bestseller."
"Probably because everyone thought it was fiction it was so astounding."
"Well, that happens with great stories a lot of times."
"Ben, a lot of great stories are fiction."
"Even so, some are true."
"Yes, we proved that. Twice."
"So, how's Ian?"
"Seemed okay last time I checked."
"Oh, good, 'cause I think he got pissed at me last time I called."
"Well, you did land him in jail, right after Shaw died. It's not like he's going to forgive you or anything just yet."
"Well, we probably deserve that."
"Probably?"
"Okay, we definitely deserve that. I'm just glad everything's going well so far."
"So far? Like you expect something to go wrong?"
"Well, I've learned a lot over the past several years. You've gotta make allowances for people who will double-cross you and screw everything up."
"Well, I guess that makes sense. Sort of."
"Well, good luck, Riley."
Just as Riley responded with, "Good luck? Good luck with what?" Ben hung up. Riley tossed his phone onto the bed and sat down at the foot of it, bowing his head and leaning forward so that his elbows were on his knees.
NTNT
"So, what was that about?" Abigail asked as she walked into the living room and sat next to Ben on the couch.
"Just catchin' up with Riley."
"Everything okay?"
"For the most part."
"That's good. Anything new?"
"No, not really."
"Okay, so is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"I think it's good, but I could be wrong. This is Riley, though."
She rolled her eyes and smiled. "Riley, Riley, Riley. What are we to do?"
"Wish I knew."
NTNT
Tanya couldn't help but find Ian's study exceedingly comfortable, especially his nice chair, but she couldn't think about this stuff at the present. She was currently scouring books for any reference to the Viscount's Compass and/or the Soldier's Guidebook. When she found nothing, she turned to the computer. The most powerful tool in anyone's arsenel anymore, she mused. The Internet.
It took only a few minutes to figure out Ian's password, and beyond that, the rest was gravy, except that she couldn't find anything credible. Sure, there was a ton of stuff on blogs everywhere, especially those belonging to conspiracy theorists, but even a small sampling of these blogs revealed that they all told the same story. The Viscount's Compass was something no one knew existed. It was a myth to these people, and some even claimed it had extraordinary powers, and claims on these powers varied as widely as the people making these claims.
She shut off the computer and slumped back in the chair, studying the compass around her neck. She examined every inch of it, hoping for some form of clue, but there was none. The outside of the case was blank, and the only thing on the inside of the lid was the inscription, 'The Viscount's Compass'. The compass proper was in every way ordinary, pointing north like any other compass in the world, if perhaps a little inaccurately, and showing how far away from north she was turned, just like any other compass in the world.
The problem was, was this just like any other compass in the world?
Figuring that out required a definitive look at the contents of Page Forty-seven, and that could be the hardest thing in the world. Riley and Ben were the only two besides the President to actually see the book, and Ben the only one besides the President to see the contents of Page Forty-seven. Now the project of figuring it out was Riley's, and Tanya found herself somewhere in the middle of this long, increasingly confusing puzzle.
Tanya sighed, realizing exactly how challenging this was. If Ben had been the only one allowed to see the page when he worked with the President, then Riley was the only one allowed to see it now. That meant, in order for her to get a look at it, Riley had to be bugged when he met with the President, if he met with the President at all. If not, she had to arrange another method by which to obtain a look at that page. That meant she had to involve her brother and his men.
The problem was, they couldn't afford to be involved, not when everyone from the New York Times to the FBI was watching their every move for anything which could be used against them.
She chewed her lip and sighed again. Oh, what a problem, she thought, rubbing her eyes.
Someone tapped on the door, prompting her to ask, "Who's there?"
"It's just me," Ian replied.
"Oh, come in. It's your study."
"Which makes me wonder why you're in here." Ian slipped through the door as he spoke.
"Well, I haven't found anything of use, if that's what you want to know."
"Are you alright? You look tired."
"That's what extensive searching does to you, I guess. You must've felt tired after you got arrested and had time to watch your life slow down after the previous few days."
"Yes, I did, but all you're doing is staring at text in books and text on a computer screen."
"How'd you know I used a computer?"
"Don't think a male Howe is devoid of some psychic gift, no matter how abstract its answers or how irrelevant to the matter at hand." Ian studied some of the odds and ends around his study for a moment before returning his attention to his sister. "Now, is there something you're trying to accomplish by taking on this task?"
"I'm just looking for something which can get us to a point where you may find yourself useful, if you chose to join us, that is. Now, I realize that officially, figuring out Page Forty-seven is Riley's task now, at his request."
"And you seek a way to sneak a peek while he meets with the President, if he meets with the President?"
"Wow, you're good."
"Thank you."
"Yes, Ian, but I'd prefer to know one way or the other before any arrangements are made."
"Ah, yes. I understand completely."
"So if Riley were meeting with the President, could you make arrangements for me to see what was going on?"
"Absolutely. I'll handle everything."
She gestured for him to come closer and held her arms out. "Come here, let me hug you." He chuckled and pulled her into a gentle embrace at around the same time as she threw her arms around his neck and squeezed. "You're awesome."
"Thank you." He pulled away and added, "Now, maybe you should get some rest."