Okay, it's been forever since I updated. Sorry about that! Here's chapter 11, thank you to those who have taken the time to review I love getting reviews!
Ben gaped at the woman standing in front of him, "Molly?" he gasped a second time, aghast that his ex was there.
"How could you keep my daughter away from me?" Molly's voice was thick with emotion as she yelled at Ben. "I called every month for years asking for updates on my baby girl!"
"We never got the calls, did you call the house?" Ben asked, "Our home number hasn't changed."
"No, I called the lawyers; remember when we decided to have everything go through them because we couldn't agree on anything?"
"Well I called my lawyer every week for three years after the divorce was final." Ben explained. "Lydia could tell you."
"Oh please, you just probably just brainwashed her into thinking you're the good guy. So how many times have you left her with strangers while you went gallivanting off to look for treasure?"
"I always left her with her Nana or Grandfather!" Ben objected, "I never left her with strangers, just because they're strangers to you, that doesn't mean that they're strangers to Lydia or I."
"Please!" Peter interrupted the fight. "We need to get Lydia back, Mr. Gates, please tell us about the treasure."
Ben turned to Sadusky and raised an eyebrow, "Can you promise that she won't talk?" he asked, jerking his head in Molly's direction.
"Yes," Sadusky said, knowing it might be the only chance they'd have to get Lydia back.
Ben nodded and quickly began to tell Agent Sadusky what had happened. Finally though, he finished.
"That's some story," Sadusky said casually, as he sat back in his chair.
"Well, it's the same story I tried to tell you guys before the Declaration was stolen," Ben said, trying to control his temper.
"By you."
No, by Ian," Ben said, forcing himself to stay calm. Getting angry at an FBI agent wouldn't do him any good. "I stole it to stop him. I did it alone. Neither Dr Chase nor my daughter were willingly involved. And Ian still ended up with the Declaration of Independence."
"Because of you."
Ben sat back in his chair, trying not to get too frustrated, he knew that getting angry at the FBI agent would only make things worse, but the FBI agent didn't understand why Ben had stolen the declaration. Sadusky began to speak again. "So here's your options: Door number one, you go to prison for a very long time. Door number two, we are going to get back the Declaration of Independence, you help us find it, and you still go to prison for a very long time, but you feel better inside."
"Is there a door that doesn't lead to prison?" Ben's tone was derisive.
Sadusky actually laughed, "Someone's got to go to prison, Ben," he said, still smiling at Ben's joke. There was a long pause, "So what are these for?" He held up the glasses Ben had gotten at Independence Hall.
"It's a way to read the map." Ben explained.
"Right. Knights Templar. Freemasons. Invisible treasure map. So what'd it say?"
"Heere at the wall." Ben sighed. "Nothing else. It's just another clue."
"It looks like Ian Howe could be a false identity." An agent spoke from another desk.
"Follow up with ATF and INS." Sadusky told them.
Molly suddenly made a noise, as if she wanted to say something by wasn't sure what to say. Ben looked over at Molly. "How have you been doing?" He asked.
"Ummm." Molly suddenly sounded anxious. "Good, I remarried after I moved to Portland and I've got a little boy, he turns 7 in January."
"Wow, that's amazing, congratulations. Is that where he is now? With his dad?"
"No. David died while I was still pregnant with Brandon. I brought him with me but left him in DC with another agent."
"And you complain that I've left my kid with strangers?" Ben asked sarcastically.
Before Molly could answer, the phone rang drowning out whatever she may have said.
"Checking source," one agent said.
"Unknown number." Another agent responded.
Sadusky nodded at Ben who answered the phone.
"Yes." Ben spoke shortly, not wanting to waste time on pleasantries.
"Hello, Ben. How are you?" Molly could hear the British tone and a chill went up her spine.
"Um, I'm chained to a desk," Ben said, as if stating the obvious.
"Sorry to hear that."
"Funny, he doesn't sound sorry." Molly muttered. Ben gave Molly a sharp look and she glared at back.
"I want you to meet me on the flight deck of the USS Intrepid. You know where that is?"
"Yeah, New York," Ben said, wondering what Ian had up his sleeve.
"Meet me there at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. And bring those glasses you found at Independence Hall. Yeah, I know about the glasses." Ian paused for a moment before continuing to speak. "We can take a look at the Declaration, and then you can be on your way."
"And I'm supposed to believe that." By Ben's flat tone it was clear that he didn't believe what Ian was offering.
"Well you come or something happens to Lydia."
Ben sucked in a breath. If Ian even thought of hurting Lydia, he would wish he'd never been born.
"Dad?" Lydia's voice suddenly came onto the line. "Come to New York. He'll give you the Declaration. I'm holding it right now, it's safe."
"Lydia, are you all right?" Molly suddenly interrupted, Sadusky jerkily waved a hand in her direction and one of the female agents laid a hand on Molly's arm, motioning her not to talk.
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. "Dad, you have to come to New York, the USS Intrepid. He'll give you the Declaration." Lydia repeated.
"I told you from the start, I only wanted to borrow it." Ian's voice suddenly came back on the line. "You can have it. And the glasses. I'll even throw in the pipe from the Charlotte."
"I'll be there." Ben promised, "Can I talk to Lydia?"
"No." Ian's refusal was short. "And tell the FBI agents listening in on this call if they want Lydia and the Declaration back, and not just a clip of hair and a box of confetti, then you'll come alone."
Lydia went back over to Abigail and Riley, confused. Who was the woman on the other end of the line? Who had interrupted Dad? It seemed unprofessional enough that it couldn't have been an FBI agent, but who else would be listening in on the phone call?
"What's wrong?" Abigail asked, placing an arm around the teen.
"Ummmm," Lydia started, and then the story spilled out, about being on the phone with her dad and that a woman had interrupted the phone call asking if she was all right.
Abigail pursed her lips and gave Lydia a look. "I don't think an FBI agent would be that unprofessional." She said.
"I know," Lydia agreed.
"Is it possible that your mom was the one who spoke?" Abigail asked. "Ben did mention her."
"Why would the FBI bring her in though?" Lydia asked. "She gave up custody of me when they divorced."
"I don't know Lydia." Abigail said, she kept a protective arm around the teen as Ian walked over to them. "We'll see when we get the Declaration back and get you back to your dad."
Lydia nodded and looked up as Ian stood in front of them. "Let's go." He said quietly.
USS Intrepid New York
Ben looked around the ship as hundreds of people walked around him, he didn't know where the agents were, but faintly, he could hear them through his ear piece.
"Take positions. Perimeter looks normal."
"Can I get a status report?"
"Crow's nest in position. Port side is quiet." The answer came from Ben's left.
"Copy that."
"Gates is on the flight deck."
"Eyes on Gates."
"Do not lose sight of primary mark."
"Brian, you're clear with NYPD."
Ben looked around the flight deck as the agents prepared themselves.
"I have a visual."
"Gates."
"Yeah?" Ben asked quietly, not wanting to attract attention.
"Stay with the program."
"I hope your agents are all under four feet tall and wearing little scarves. Otherwise Ian's gonna know they're here." Ben said dryly as about 15 boy scouts passed him.
"As soon as he shows you the Declaration, we'll move in. Don't try anything. Just let us handle it. We'll get Lydia in safe too."
"You know, Agent Sadusky, something I've noticed about fishing: it never works out so well for the bait," Ben said.
Before Sadusky could respond to that, another agent interrupted. "Sir, we've got some traffic incoming. Looks like a sightseeing helicopter."
"Unit two, get an eyeball on that chopper. Agent Michaels, get FAA flight plans and authorization records on that craft. If that's not Mr. Howe, I want to know who it is."
"I got him. He's coming from the north," one agent said. Ben craned his neck to look at where the helicopter was coming from.
"Gates. Are you with me?"
"Well, I'm sure not against you, if that's what you're asking. Ian's got my kid, that means she's in danger, you clearly don't believe me about the treasure, but do you honestly think I'd do something stupid enough to get my little girl killed?"
Ben couldn't hear Sadusky's response as the helicopter seemed to be trying to land on the flight deck and in the commotion Ben couldn't hear any of the agents.
"Hello, Ben." McGregor was suddenly beside him, with a video camera, playing the part of the tourist. Ben shot him a wary glance. "Thomas Edison needed only one way to make a light bulb."
Ben's eyes widened considerably as Victor kept talking.
"Sound familiar?"
Ben nodded.
"Go to the starboard observation point behind the F-16, and here's what you do."
When Victor finished giving Ben the instructions, Ben could hear the Agents, through his ear piece again.
"Gates? Gates? All agents, report in."
"I can't see anything."
"Did Gates speak to anybody?"
"Target is moving," one agent said as they saw Ben heading towards the F-16.
"He's heading towards the stern."
"I've got him. He's coming this way."
"Anyone got a view of our friend Ian Howe?"
"Ian Howe is not at the stern, sir."
"Then why is he heading there?"
"He's at the observation deck."
"Sadusky. Ben reached the observation point and leaned up against the railing. "I'm still not against you. But I found door number three. And I'm taking it. Molly, I promise to get Lydia back here in one piece." And with that, he jumped into the Hudson.
Ben fell into the water and almost instantly started looking through the murky water, McGregor had promised….. THERE! The diver was there and giving Ben an oxygen mask. The propel was started and they were soon going through the water. They crossed the Hudson and Ben climbed out of the water to find Shaw waiting for him.
"Hello, Ben. Welcome to New Jersey."
"What'd you do with Lydia, Abigail and Riley?"
"Hope these fit. We had to guess your sizes." Victor said, shoving a stack of clothes into Ben's arms.
"I said, what'd you do with Lydia, Abigail and Riley?" Ben asked, getting angrier. "Lydia or Riley are the only people who could have told you that line about Edison."
"Did you bring the glasses?"
"I don't know." Ben lied stubbornly. "They could have fallen out in the water. Tell me what's happening here."
"Ask your girlfriend. She's the one calling all the shots now." Shaw looked disgusted. "She won't shut up."
Ben smiled as he got into the car, he should have known that Lydia and Abigail would do their best to get the upper hand, now he just had to hope that luck was with them and they all kept the upper hand.
Abigail dialed the number to Shaw's phone; it rang a couple of times and then was picked up. Abigail motioned to Lydia as she answered.
"Hello?" Even though Lydia wasn't the one with the phone, she could clearly hear her father.
"Hi, sweetie. How's your day going?" Abigail said, hoping that Shaw and Victor had mentioned Abigail's lie about being Ben's girlfriend.
"Uh, interesting, dear." Ben said, confused. "So, what, you working with Ian now?"
"It turns out helping someone escape from FBI custody is a criminal act. And he's the only criminal we knew. So we called him and made a deal," Abigail said.
Well, you're...You're... you're... you're all right, yeah? I mean you're safe?
"Yes." Abigail said, "we all are, Ian hasn't gotten a hold of Lydia, she's safe." Abigail promised "but, it turns out that his little threat of hurting her was false, he hasn't touched her." There was a pause before Abigail changed the subject. "Riley's right here, doing something clever with a computer."
"I'm tracking him through the... Hey!" Riley started talking to Ben as Abigail gave him the phone. "I'm tracking you through the GPS in Shaw's phone. They take a turn anywhere we don't want, we'll know it. So don't worry."
"If Ian tries to double-cross us, we can call the FBI and tell them right where you are. And where to find Ian." Abigail took the phone from Riley and started talking to Ben again.
"And where is that?" Ben asked, almost as if her were talking to Lydia, and trying to coax her into finding the answer. Lydia rolled her eyes, she found it a bit on the patronizing side.
"Right across the street from where we're hiding," Abigail said, somewhat proudly, "At the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway."
"Well, you figured out the clue." Ben said, proudly.
"Simple. 'Heere at the wall.' Wall Street and Broadway." Abigail said, but then paused before she began to tell Ben the catch. "Ben, there is a catch." She took a deep breath. "We made Ian believe he could have the treasure. It was the only way we could get this far."
"He's here." Riley announced.
Lydia went to the window of the internet café they were at, a car was just pulling up and Ben climbed out with Shaw and Victor.
Lydia could see Ian and her dad talking and they exchanged some small talk. They talked for a good ten minutes before Ben pulled out his cell phone and called Lydia's phone, the three of them left the café as a couple of Ian's minions came with them, however, they were guiding Patrick along with them, and Lydia's jaw dropped open.
"Grandpa?" she asked, "What are you doing here?"
"They kidnapped me." Patrick said, "You're all right, right Lydia?"
"Yeah, none of Ian's minions touched me." Lydia promised, "And neither did Ian."
"Good." Patrick said, they all entered the church together, to find the Ben and Ian were already inside, they were at the front of the church, and Shaw pushed Lydia and Abigail into a pew, Riley quickly followed them, glaring at the man.
Lydia fidgeted in her seat, while she'd gone to church with her grandmother on several occasions these pews were more uncomfortable then the ones she was used to sitting in. She wanted to go see her dad, and to talk to him, but because McGregor was standing there, she couldn't exactly just get up and go to him.
Soon though, Ian was motioning to the group and they all got up and walked to the front.
"Dad." Lydia hugged her dad but their reunion was cut short as they were pushed towards a set of stairs. After seeing that Lydia was with Riley, Ben turned to help Abigail, who was being pushed by McGregor. Ben grabbed Abigail's arm to steady her and Abigail spoke.
"I'm so sorry, Ben…." She started.
"None of this is your fault." Ben's tone was comforting.
"I co..." Abigail began but then Shaw grabbed her arm.
"Come on," he said.
"Look. Cooperation only lasts as long as the status quo is unchanged. As soon as this guy gets to wherever this thing ends, he won't need you any more. Or... or any of us." Patrick said to Ben. The older man had walked slowly and father and son walked side by side. Lydia slipped back to walk by the two of them and Ben quickly put a protective arm around the teenager.
"So we find a way to make sure the status quo changes in our favor," Ben said quietly, keeping his arm around Lydia.
"How?"
"I'm still working on it." Ben admitted.
"Well, I guess we better work on it too, then," Patrick said.
"Hey! Par... Hey, I found it! Him! Ben!" Riley announced from the other side of the small room. The entire group went to where Riley was standing to find a tombstone with the name Parkington Lane carved into it.
"It's a name. Parkington Lane." Ian said, leaning in close to the headstone.
"He was a third-degree master mason of the Blue Lo..." Ben got cut of as Shaw and Victor stepped forward. "Hey! Stop!"
Lydia gasped as Shaw and Victor suddenly used crowbars to break open the tomb. They reached and pulled out the casket, but as they were lowering it to the ground the bottom fell off and the body fell out. Lydia tried to keep from throwing up as a musty smell reached her nostrils.
"Careful no one steps in him." Lydia shuddered at Victor's creepy laugh, she hated him.
"All right, put it down."
"OK. Who wants to go down the creepy tunnel inside the tomb first?" Riley asked.
Lydia couldn't help but giggle at that, Riley always seemed to know when humor was needed.
"Right. McGregor, Viktor, you stay here." Ian began. He grabbed Lydia's arm, dragging her with him as he started to enter the creepy tunnel.
"Hey!" Riley objected, just as Ben and Patrick objected as well.
"Let go of her!" They both spoke at the same time.
Just then Ian was shoved against the crypt wall and Lydia was pulled out of the tunnel. Abigail had pulled Lydia out and had positioned herself between Lydia and Ian. "Don't you touch her." Abigail's voice was a threatening growl.
Ian looked surprised and, if Lydia understood his facial expression correctly, a little scared of Abigail. Finally he turned to McGregor and Victor again. "If anyone should come out without me, well... use your imagination."
He motioned to Lydia and Riley. "Shall we?" he asked, clearly wanting them to go first.
They went into the tunnel and soon it opened up to a larger tunnel and Lydia waited for her father to come in before she kept walking. He stopped though, examining something on the wall. He picked up an old torch and examined it for a moment before turning to Ian. "You got a light?" he asked.
"Here." Ian lit the torch and then Ben used his torch to light another couple of them. Light filled the cavern and Lydia suddenly wished that they hadn't lit the torches, there were spider webs everywhere and Lydia could see clearly every time they brushed against them.
"Stay with Abigail." Ben muttered. "The farther you are from me, the safer you'll be," Lydia nodded, she didn't fully understand what her father meant by that but she knew better then to disobey him.
"Careful." A voice called and the group moved to the side to keep away from the hole in the boards beneath them, Lydia tried not to look down but she glanced down and had to grab onto Abigail's hand to keep from getting too scared. The older woman laid a hand on her arm. "You're safe, Lydia," she said.
"Watch your step." Ben was helping Patrick over some sort of stairs. Lydia was next and Ben helped her over. "I love you Lydia." He breathed, his hand tight on hers.
"I love you too Dad." Lydia said, confused, what was going on? Ben was quite affectionate, and the words "I love you" weren't strange to her; his desperate tone was. It was almost as if he thought he wouldn't see Lydia again.
Abigail was next and Lydia turned as Ben helped her over and then pulled her to him to kiss him. Lydia smiled to herself now. The kiss was short and Lydia quickly turned so that neither her Dad nor Abigail could see that she'd been staring.
"Why does that never happen to me?" Shaw's voice was morose as he followed them.
"Because you're like, an unsub." Lydia muttered to herself, but secretly she smiled. She hadn't liked Abigail at first, but she suddenly found herself hoping that Dr. Chase and her father would get together after this was all over.
Ian stepped our of the tunnel, "What's this?"
