Chapter 6: Buckingham Palace

We arrived in London at around 4pm (11am our time and an hour behind Paris), and I just relaxed and watched TV while Ben and Riley figured out how to get into the Queen's study.

Suddenly, Ben got a phone call from his dad, "Hi, Dad."

"Ben," Mr. Patrick replied rather concernedly, "The house was broken into last night. I was attacked."

"Call the police," Ben said. "I'm coming home."

"What happened?" Riley asked. I sat up, trying to listen to what was going on.

"What good would that do?" Mr. Patrick asked. "They didn't take anything. And besides, I'm fine."

"Ok," Ben said. "We're in London. We're going to Buckingham Palace. We have an appointment with the curator tomorrow afternoon."

"Son, just be careful," Mr. Patrick warned. "Bye."

"Bye," Ben hung up and turned to Riley and me, "Someone else is after the treasure."

"Of course someone else is after the treasure," Riley said. "It's the axiom of treasure hunting."

"We have to hurry and see that desk," Ben stated.

"We wouldn't want to miss that appointment," Riley said. With that said, we finished getting our preparations ready for the next day. As usual, Riley set up technical equipment for this assignment. I just did whatever they needed me to do, which included going getting a rental car. We left for Buckingham Palace at 11am, our appointment being at 1. We arrived, and Ben and I both had ear pieces so that we could hear Riley, and Riley could hear us. Riley, on the other hand, set up a little station in one of the stalls in the men's bathroom, and kept an eye on everything that was happening. Ben got ready for some plan to get into the Queen's study, while I walked around, keeping an eye on everything that way. Suddenly, I saw a blonde haired woman that looked very familiar.

"Hey, I think I see-" I felt someone tap my shoulder, and I turned around, "Hannah!"

"Abigail!" I heard Ben say through my ear piece.

"What are they doing here?" Riley asked into the ear pieces.

"What are you doing here?" Ben and I said at the same time from our places in the palace.

"Mr. Patrick called Abigail and me," Hannah said. "He said your next clue was here. Abigail went to find Ben."

"She found him," I said trying to drown out Ben and Abigail's conversation.

"How do you know?" Hannah asked. I pointed to my ear and she nodded.

"They're really there?" Riley said into my ear piece. I could faintly hear Abigail talking into Ben's ear piece as Riley said, "Drop them. Loose them."

"Look, Avi," Hannah began, "Abigail and I both really want to help." I heard Riley say something to Ben as she said that.

Suddenly, we heard a booming, "Well fine!" coming from Ben. "If that's what you want, then let's have it out right now!"

Hannah and I both hung our heads in embarrassment as Riley said, "So subtle." I giggled; only having to point to my ear again as Hannah gave me a confused look. We continued to watch this argument unfold.

Abigail gave Ben a confused look, to which he replied, "Well let me guess? It's the wrong time! It's the wrong place! I'm wrong again!" He began to march down the stairs as he continued, "Wrong about us! Wrong about Thomas Gates! Wrong that you would like the Queen Anne Chair!" He finished pointing to Abigail.

Abigail finally chimed into the argument by saying, "You're wrong to assume I'd like the chair!"

Ben went down the last set of stairs, while exclaiming, "You see? Everybody, listen to this. This is more interesting than that." He grabbed a man around the shoulders, pointed at Abigail and continued, "She thinks that even when I'm right, I'm wrong! Isn't that right?" Abigail looked angrily flustered as Ben let go of the man and went on to say, "Abigail, just because I answer a question quickly, doesn't make it wrong!"

Abigail countered, "Not when the right answer is something we need to figure out as a couple! That's what couples do, Ben!"

A guard came and put a hand on Ben's shoulder and said, "Sir, you and your missis need to take it outside."

"Oh, now look what you've done!" Ben exclaimed. "You've brought the little bobbies down on us!" He looked at the guard and said, "You take the missis outside. I'm staying right here." Abigail yelled at Ben as he jumped on the banister and slid down railing.

A guard stopped Ben and said, "Good afternoon, sir."

"Hello," Ben said while imitating a British accent.

The guard leaned in closer to Ben, then asked, "Been drinking, have we?"

"Just a nip," Ben replied. "Popped down to the pub for a pint! Bit of all right! Going to arrest a man for that? Going to detain a blighter for enjoying his whiskey?"

"Sir, that's enough," the guard said.

Ben interrupted by exclaiming, "Bangers and mash. Bubbles and squeak. Smoked eel pie."

"Sir!"

"Haggis!"

"That's it, dismount the banister!" the guard exclaimed while dragging Ben off the banister, and another guard grabbing Abigail. I was actually worried about Ben and Abigail being led away, until Riley assured me that this was all part of the plan. We continued watching.

"I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts!" Ben yelled. "Here they are standing in a row! Small ones! Big ones! Some as big as your HEAD!"

"That was brilliant," Riley said into my ear.

After they had been lead away, Hannah and I proceeded to explore the palace, waiting for Ben and Abigail to get out. After about fifteen minutes, Riley told us to meet the three of them outside the palace. As he gave us those instructions, the fire alarm went off, and we were basically pushed outside. We met up with Ben, Abigail, and Riley, and after the proper hellos, we were heading back to the rental car.