A/N: This update didn't take as long as usual! We had a Snow Day today, so I didn't have any homework to do tonight. I hope you enjoy this somewhat-filler chapter. At least it's got Riley, right?

I am overwhelmed by all the reviews!! This story holds my record at only nine chapters! With this addition of a tenth, I'm hoping to reach 100. This story is on a lot of favorites and alerts...I know who isn't reviewing! Please do! When I reach a hundred, all my reviewers get Riley plushies, autographed copies of Riley's book, and cookies! Any kind you want.

Plans to Meet

Ian waited calmly for Ben's call. He knew it would come, because he knew that one way or another, Ben would have gotten the Book. He would rather die a slow, painful death than leave his friend in enemy's hands any longer than necessary. The Brit's lip curled into a sneer just thinking about how stupidly loyal people could be.

He glanced over at the unconscious figure on the floor. Riley's wrists were tied, and a spectacular purple bruise was forming on his cheek. To stop him from bleeding to death, Phil, the only somewhat-medic in the group, had treated the wound and bandaged the techie's shot ankle in several layers. The first bandage was blood-soaked; another had been added over it. Riley had been asleep for two hours now. Ian enjoyed the blessed silence. Riley had always annoyed him almost to the point of insanity.

The phone in Ian's hand rang. He glanced at it; Ben. Of course. He flipped the phone open.

"Ia-"

"He has guts, I'll give you that."

Ben's greeting cut off abruptly. "What do you mean?" he asked suspiciously.

"He tried to escape," Ian said casually, again glancing over at the unconscious Riley. "But we got him back."

"Ian…what did you do to him?"

"Nothing permanent. But he's probably in pain right now. If you can be in pain when you're knocked out."

Ben hissed something under his breath. "You said if we cooperated you wouldn't hurt him."

"I don't recall ever saying that, Ben. Besides, if you weren't cooperating, he'd be far worse off than he is now. As it is, I've only taken necessary action."

"Which would be?"

"Besides a few bruised ribs from our first encounter, he has a magnificent bruise on his check and a gunshot wound in his ankle."

There was a hard thud, as if Ben had punched the wall. "Ian! We've got the Book, okay? Let's set up a meeting time, and then Riley will be out of your hair."

"That's what I wanted to hear." Ian heard a shuffling sound, and, turning, saw that Riley was slowly waking up. He shifted and opened his eyes, blinking blearily down at his tied wrists.

"Whuzz goin' on?" he asked fuzzily.

"You're in luck, Ben. Riley decided to wake up now."

"He-what? He's up? Let me talk to him!" Ben pleaded.

"Riley, Ben wants to talk to you," Ian shoved the phone into the techie's hand. Riley's eyes found Ian, and his jaw tightened. He tried to cross his legs, but yelped when he brushed his injured ankle against the floor.

"You might want to be careful," Ian warned, a little late. Riley glared at him and spoke into the phone.

"Ben?"

"Are you okay?" were Ben's first words. Riley laughed shakily.

"No."

"Look, Riley, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

"I shouldn't have tried to run," Riley observed, examining his ankle carefully.

Ian snorted. Riley ignored him.

"We got the Book," Ben said, "And we're going to meet Ian wherever he wants us to. And then we'll get you looked after. You'll be safe in just a few hours, Ri."

"I don't think it's going to be that easy, Ben. You know it won't."

Ben was silent. He and Riley both knew what Riley couldn't say aloud. That Ben couldn't really give Ian the Book and walk away.

"We'll get you out," Ben said finally. "If I have to stay behind and get you away with Abigail, that's what we'll do. Just try to do what Ian tells you to until then, okay?"

"I'll do my best. See you." Riley held the phone out to Ian, who took it.

"Where do you want to do this?" Ben asked.

Ian smiled. "Heere at the wall, Ben. Be there by six this evening – without the police."

-

Ben hung up the phone and sighed, turning to his parents and fianceé.

"Well? Well where does he want to meet?" Abigail asked impatiently.

"He said 'heere at the wall.'"

"Trinity Church."

Ben nodded. "At six o'clock tonight." He glanced at his watch. "It's eleven-thirty now. It's about a four-and-a-half hour drive to New York, more with traffic, so we need to leave in the next fifteen minutes. We can't be late, and I'd prefer to be early."

Abigail nodded. "We'd better take some supplies…just in case." She scooped her purse off the table. "Emily, could you help me pack?"

When the women had left the room, Patrick turned to Ben.

"I don't like this, Ben."

"No one does," Ben said. "But we can't do it any other way."

"It isn't that. I wish you would let me come with you."

Ben groaned inwardly. "Dad, I know how you feel about us going off without you, but I made a promise that I wouldn't put you or Mom in danger again. Besides, we need you here, in case something goes wrong and we need help. We aren't keeping you out of it - I promise I'll call. I just think it's easier this way. Ian doesn't need more people to threaten, or he'll feel threatened himself."

"Which wouldn't be a bad thing," Patrick muttered, but in the tone of one who knows they've been defeated. He glanced around to make sure he and his son were still the only people in the room, then stepped forward and spoke conspiratorially. "And the riddle? The treasure?"

"Riley comes first," Ben said firmly. "And then, if I can, the treasure."

"Ian will go after it." Patrick said matter-of-factly.

"Ian won't get the map if I can help it."

Abigail reentered the room, a black backpack slung over one shoulder. "I packed some water bottles, a couple flashlights, and some snacks." She announced.

"What do you two think you will be doing?" Emily wondered aloud, her brow creased. "I thought you were going to a church?"

Ben and Abigail exchanged glances.

"We are," Ben assured his mother. "This is…just in case." He turned to his fiancée. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah." She hugged her future mother-in-law. "Don't worry. We'll be fine."

"Good luck. And be careful!" Emily hugged her son as Abigail hugged Patrick.

"We may spend the night in New York, but we'll definitely call. By tomorrow afternoon, everything will be back to normal." Ben said, speaking with much more confidence than he felt.

He and Abigail trooped to the front door and out to Ben's car. The Gates parents didn't follow as they climbed in.

Abigail sighed as the car started. "Will we ever get any downtime?"

Ben smiled sadly. "Not while I'm around."

The blonde bit her lip. "Do you think this is going to go smoothly?"

"I hope so," Ben replied. But he had a feeling it wasn't going to be that easy.

A/N: Do you think Ben's right? I would guess there's a resounding "YES!" echoing at me from all sides...Review for the next chapter. They really do motivate me.