Hey guys I'm sorry for the delay… but I've been in England (again) and so I couldn't post my next chapter.

Golden-Heart Yeah… I guess that the story finally really REALLY starts. Thanks for the review.

ShadowWolfDagger, Thanks for the review.

nawndawn, :D thanks for the review. I'm sorry.

marinawings, :D lol… The master of cliffhangers? :D: Yeah… I kinda like that… thanks :D Also thank you very very much for your review.

Allie357Thanks for reviewing. Glad you like it.

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10. Chapter (NOT a nobody.)

Ben's Perspective

Hello Poole

I was bored standing outside your apartment, waiting for you to receive my last letter. So I thought I would send it directly to your friend's house. I hope that's okay.

I guess you're on your way to New York already.

I hope you believe me and are able to see that I'm not joking.

I want the treasure map.

Call the number on the bottom of the page and I will give you instructions.

Call soon. I hate waiting.

I stopped reading, and looked at Riley. He was pale, I was scared he would faint. "Riley?" I asked anxiously. He stared at the empty envelope.

"There's… no… address," he stammered between hysterical breaths. "That means he was here." He was holding his stomach like he was going to be sick.

"Riley…" but he jumped up and stormed into his room. I balled my fists and pressed them against my closed eyes, holding in a shout that struggled to break free.

'Give him some time to think about it,' a voice in my head said. I wasn't really surprised that it sounded like my dad.

But since when did I listen to my father? I stood up and followed my best friend.

I didn't knock; he wouldn't open the door or ask me to come in anyway. Riley was not, like I thought, on his bed. He was on the wardrobe and threw all his clothes out in his suitcase, which lay on his bed.

"Riley? What exactly do you think you are doing?" I went to him and tried to turn him around. But he pushed me away with his elbow, catching me in the arm.

"Ouch." I stammered, though it hadn't hurt, but the movement was not Riley-like. "Riley" Now I had my dangerous-authority tone in my voice, it always worked.

He stopped throwing things to his suitcase, but didn't turn around. He supported himself on the shelf boards, trembling.

"What are you doing?" I asked again.

"Packing." He answered. His voice was higher than normal.

"Why?" I asked patiently.

"I'm packing, because the guy knows where I am. He killed my father, who hadn't anything to do with me. What do you think he will do with somebody I call my best friend?" His voice was unusually mature and surprisingly calm. "I don't want to risk your health, your life, so I'm going."

"You won't!" Finally I was able to turn him around. On his cheeks were several tear streams. "You're staying!" I shook him lightly, wanting him to know how serious I was. "I won't let you go." He looked so distraught, I resisted the urge to just hug him right then and there.

"Ben! Please be sensible." He wound himself out of my grip and sat down on the bed. I placed myself in front of him. "Please!" He pleaded, hiding his face in his hands.

I didn't answer, guessing he knew what I would say. I just stood beside him and rubbed his shoulder.

"Can we just call him?" I winced when I heard his voice. He had stopped trembling under my hand. I was surprised at the question.

"You really want to call him?" I asked.

"Sure." He shrugged and looked up to me. "I want it to stop."

"Okay. Let's call this guy." I offered him my hand and helped him to his feet.

………………

In the living room we sat down on our sofa. I had a hand on Riley's back, and in the other I held the letter. Riley was crossing his arm in front of his chest and stared at the telephone. "Take as much time as you need." I whispered.

"I'm ready, I guess." He took the mouthpiece in his hand and dialed. I switched on the loudspeaker and watched Riley, while we were listening to the ringing on the other end.

"Riley! I guess that's you." An evil, male voice greeted, sending shivers down my spin.

"Who are you?" Riley asked, looking at me helplessly.

I knew the voice. I've heard it before. And I didn't connect anything good with it.

"You will find out soon enough. But first I want to know where the treasure map is."

That voice!

Riley locked eyes with me. I knew that we both had the same questions on our mind. 'Who was this?' And 'Which treasure map.'

"Hello, I'm Ben Gates. Do you mind telling me which map you mean?" I asked in a sharp voice.

"I was really surprised that you're still friends with this nobody, Mr. Gates. But it's kind of to my advantage."

"He is NOT a 'nobody'." My voice grew sharper every moment.

"Never mind." The man on the other end was annoyed. "Treasure map! Forgotten?"

"Which treasure map?" Riley had the smallest voice of us. He sounded so scared and I hated it.

"Don't act stupid. You know exactly witch treasure map." The man snapped. Riley winced and a tear slipped out of one of his eyes. Oh gosh, this boy was talking to the murderer of his father.

"I'm sorry, but we've found both treasures, both the Templar Treasure and the City of Gold. We don't need anymore maps. They would be pretty useless." I jumped up angrily, pacing around.

"You… really have no clue?" The man asked. "But you mentioned the treasure in your book."

"I mentioned several treasures in my book." Riley didn't do a great job to control his voice. "But they are just conspiracy theories, we have no clues about the treasures." He tried to explain desperately.

"Fine! We will meet, today, 5pm at the Lincoln Memorial parking lot without the police." He ordered. "If you don't show up or if you bring the police, I will think about a fair punishment." Without waiting for a replay he hung up.

Punishment! I had a strong feeling I've heard the word from him already; it seemed like a déjà-vu. It seemed so long ago.

Riley hung up and pressed his nails into his palms. "I don't want to meet him. It would become reality." He didn't have to explain further. The man who was causing so much pain to him, he would have to accept all this.

"We don't have to go." I said, sitting down beside him, and uncurled his clenched fists.

"We have to.I want to know who it is, what he is talking about and why he killed my father. I think I at least owe that to my mother." He whispered, looking into my eyes, his blue eyes full of pain.

"Okay. We'll make it through." I ruffled his hair and stood up. "So let's eat something. I'm starving." I hauled him up and walked to the kitchen with him.

After I had prepared some food, Riley just poked at his meal. I watched him sadly.

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