After they left the pub, Ben drove back to his house to do some research. He seemed preoccupied as he took off his coat, and hung it up on the hook beside the door. Ben had in fact, hardly said a word to Riley on the drive back. He hadn't even complained when Riley had scanned the radio dial to search for some "good music".
Ben headed straight to his computer to start delving in as much information on the subject as he could. He barely even glanced up when Abigail came home an hour later from work. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek, before letting him get back to work on his newest obsession.
She found Riley in the kitchen, eating a sandwich at the kitchen table. He grinned up at her, before taking another bite. "What is this new project of Ben's?" Abigail asked, sitting across the table from him.
"We went to see Mrs. Harsham. She wrote him a letter a while ago, she wants us to go down into these tunnels under the city and find this rare book. It's from Belgium. "
"Riley, are you staying for dinner?"
"Ok thanks. Do you need help with cooking?"
Abigail laughed. "Last time I let you cook you burnt the meatloaf. It was completely inedible. I think I can manage on my own." Riley frowned slightly. " Y'know, Im actually a pretty good chef. That was just one time."
Abigail laughed, looking at the near-pout on Rileys face." I know you can cook, I'm just kidding. I'll let you cook next time, if you want. Go play the Wii or help Ben on his research. Supper will be done in a bit."
Riley spent the next while playing Just Dance on the Wii, before joining Ben and Abigail to spaghetti and green salad. Over supper, he listened to Abigail gossip about some coworkers' problems, then listened to Ben give an entire history of some obscure battle.
After dinner, Abigail drove Riley back to his apartment. She waited until he went into his apartment building before starting to drive off. He waved through the glass to her, then went up the stairs.
Ben called him early on Sunday morning, to let him know that Peter wanted to go into the tunnels in an hour. Riley quickly hopped in the shower, and got dressed in jeans and a grey Patriots hoody. He gulped down a bowlful of frootloops, grabbing his cell phone and wallet on the way out the door. Ben and Peter were already parked outside on the street when he got in the backseat.
As soon as Ben started to drive off, Riley flipped his hood up and leaned against the car door. He was nearly asleep when they pulled into a drivethru ten minutes later.
When Riley opened his eyes, he saw Ben watching him through the mirror.
"I know it's really early, you look exhausted. Do you want a coffee to wake you up?"
Riley nodded tiredly, then settled back against the door. He was never a morning person, so a steaming hot cup of coffee was definetly welcome. It didn't help that he'd stayed up late watching a Terminator movie marathon until two AM. He was going to need at least two more hours before he was going to be any help whatsoever.
He awoke an hour later to Ben shaking him lightly. "Riley...get up. We're here." He took his hood down, and looked bleary-eyed out the car window to their new surroundings. They were in an alley, parked between two derelict looking buildings. He took his coffee out of the cupholder, and started to gulp it down.
By the time they entered the tunnels, He was wide awake. Ben handed him a bright yellow flashlight, and they set off into the tunnels.