Once their eyes refocused they headed down the musty stairs to Glen.
"Oh, my God." Ashley said. "Smells like Aiden's gym socks down here."
"Shut up."
"I think James killed Walter."
"Why are you saying shit like that man?"
"Look at these journals." He passed over a journal to Ashley. A small spider ran across her finger tips, she screamed, dropped the book, the contents went flying.
"Nice job, Slick Hands McGee."
Scoffing Ashley said, "And that's why Spencer wants me and not you Aiden."
"Dude, shut up that's my sister"
"Sorry, Glen, but its true."
"Ugh," He said, "I think i just threw up in my mouth a little."
"Glen, please tell us you brought us down here for something more than old books."
"They're James's personal journals. They might help."
"I thought we were looking for keys?"
"We are, but you have to see these."
"What? What is it?"
"Its his 1853 journals."
Aiden scrambled to take the book from Glen.
"Does he talk about where he hid the rest of the gold?"
"If he does I haven't found it yet. But he does talk about his partner Silas Green."
"Silas?" Aiden asked confused. "He didn't have a partner. He was alone when he struck."
"Uh, no." Glen said. "He was alone when everyone heard about the strike."
"Glen, you didn't even know this story until today, now you're trying to tell it?"
"Just read Aiden."
" October 28 1852
Four long years. I been wondering around this poor State with my life on my back. And nothing. Not one shiny thing, not one hunk of gold. I wanna go home to my mama. I miss her fried chicken and Sunday afternoons shooting horseshoes with Daddy. If it weren't for the company of Silas, I'd have left by now. We wake up every morning and he says, 'todays the day Jimmy. We'll find gold today" He's so sure that we're doing the right thing. His attitude keeps me going. I dig another day. But I cant help feeling like I'm waisting time.
October 29, 1852
Silas woke up a bit sluggish today. I told him to lay off that ale. It's bad enough being way out here. We ain't got time for him to be sick. He's startin to get on my nerves. His happy go lucky grin. He's only been out her for a few months. He just doesn't know.
October 30, 1852
If Silas sings that damn song one more time. I'm gonna Kill him. And if we haven't struck by Thursday I'm going home. I can be back east in time for Thanksgiving, making up for lost time.
October 31, 1852
It happened. Big and I mean HUGE. There must be 500 pounds of it down there. It's going to be difficult to carry it alone, but I'll manage."
"See," Glen shouted as Aiden's voice trailed off."
"It doesn't say he killed him."
"But it implies it."
"Yeah and your jump shot implies that you belong on 2nd string"
"Yeah and your dribble implies that you belong in 4th grade. I'm telling you, James is a shady character."
"He's dead Glen."
"Aiden, he's got Spencer and Clay."
"He's dead he can't kill them."
"Aiden, he may be dead, but he still took them."
"Glen man, you've gotta calm down."
"Don't tell me to calm down, Aiden, Somewhere in this crappy old house a crappy old ghost has my family-"
"Gus," Ashley said barely audible.
"Glen, we'll find 'em if we have to search the place from top to bottom. We're not leaving with out them."
"You're damn straight we wont."
"Guys." She said a little louder. "Look at these pictures."
She passed around pictures of the Belvedere family.
"So, she's the one we heard on the old piano," Aiden said gazing at a picture of Sophia gaily playing and singing a song to a young man whose face he could not see.
"Look at these two," Ashley said. "I think Glen is right."
"How can a picture tell you that Sherlock?"
"Elementary my dear Watson," She pointed out her reasoning. "In this picture James has a pick, and in this one he doesn't."
"Need i remind you of your morning routine?"
"My getting dressed daily doesn't kill people."
"No, not directly."
"What does that mean?"
"Thelma and Louise, shut up and look at this," Glen taunted.
"Awe, its the whole family." Ashley said.
"Yeah look at the face James is giving Walter."
"Glen he's not even looking at him."
"No, but Walter has his hand on his shoulder. Have you ever made a face like that when someone put their hand on your shoulder?"
"Only when you do it."
"Man, shut up." Glen said walking of to plunder through the rest of the room.
"Aiden, who does that look like?" Ashley asked pointing out a slender young man standing to the left of Emma. The young man had fair curly hair and a pale complexion, sporting a dimple in his chin when he smiled. The pair looked back at their friend. He grinned at them shaking a ring of four keys in his hand.
"What the hell is going on?" Aiden asked.
"I have no idea," Ashley answered in a whisper. "But I think we bit off more than we can chew this time. Glen!" She cried after the fluffy haired boy bounding up the stairs, "Glen where are you going?" Ashley and Aiden shrugged at each other and started after Glen.
The cellar door slammed with a whooshing thud, followed by a scream from Glen.
"Glen, are you alright?" Aiden asked reaching out a hand to help the boy up.
"Yeah, but I think I"m going to have swell bow in the morning." He said rubbing his arm where he fell.
"Oh, Shit!" Ashley said looking back at the door. Aiden and Glen followed the light beam to a crusty blood stained pick, hammered into the door, holding up another piece of parchment.
