Chapter 4
The next morning Laura and Nikolas were still sitting at the table trying to
figure out the clue.
"Triple letters, three of a kind," said Nikolas. "That sounds
like she means three of the same letter."
"You're right. Now letters once yours, left behind."
Laura thought for a moment. Then it hit her.
"Nikolas, I know what it is. Helena has hidden the clue at
the Triple L Diner. The one we used to own in Canada."
"All right, let's go!" Nikolas yelled.
"No, I need you to stay here and take care of your Grandmother. She is
really upset that Lesley Lu is missing. She needs one of us to be here."
"Ok, but be careful."
She picked up the phone and called the airport. A few minutes later she hung up
and sank down on the sofa looking worried.
"What's wrong?" asked Nikolas.
"I'm not going to make it in time. I have to have the next clue in my hand
this evening and I can't get a flight out until 8 p.m. What am I going to
do?" Laura asked with tears forming in her eyes.
"You're going to leave it to me."
Nikolas went to the phone and spoke briefly to someone and came back with a
smile on his face.
"Its all set. I got a private plane to take you
to Chicago and then you're booked on a 3 p.m. flight to Vancouver from there."
She threw her arms around him and hugged him. "Thank you Nikolas."
"No need to thank me. I'd do anything for Lulu. Come on, I'll drive you to
the airport," he said.
At 8:30 that evening, Laura was sitting in the
bus depot waiting for the 8 o'clock bus to take her to the
town where the Triple L was located. The bus was late.
By 9:30, Laura was growing worried. She only
had a little time left. She walked up to the counter to ask the clerk when it
would arrive. The young clerk looked like he was tired of answering that
question.
"I'm sorry Ma'am. The bus is having engine problems. They are working to
repair it as fast as they can. It should be here anytime now," said the
Clerk.
"Anytime now? What does that mean?" she
yelled at him. She grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him across the
counter so that he was face to face with her. "You have been telling me
that the bus will be here 'anytime now' for the last hour."
The clerk swallowed hard. Laura could tell he had been surprised by her sudden
outburst, but she didn't care. She was mad.
"I...I'm sorry. That is all I know. That is what my boss told me to say. I
don't know when the bus will be here," he said with his voice shaking.
"Well I suggest you find out. This is a matter of life and death. You had
better hope that bus gets here SOON!"
She heard a noise outside and turned to see the bus pulling in.
"That's more like it," she said letting go of the clerk's collar.
Laura picked up her bag and boarded the bus.
An hour later, she found herself standing outside the Triple L Diner. She
looked around the outside as memories flooded her mind. She saw no sign of a
yellow paper.
"Maybe it's inside," she said to herself.
She walked in and sat down at the counter. The waitress came over and looked at
her.
"Are you Laura Spencer?" she asked.
"Yes. Do I know you?"
"No, but a man was in here earlier and left these for you. He gave me your
picture so I would know you." She handed Laura a folded sheet of yellow
paper and an envelope.
"Thank you," Laura said. "Can I have a cup of coffee?"
Laura unfolded the paper and read to herself.
That one was easy, if
the truth be told,
You're one step closer to the treasures I hold.
Does a square car exist? Yes it is real,
Its sits beside twin rows of steel.
"A square car? That doesn't make any sense,"
she thought to herself. The waitress set a cup of coffee in front of her.
"Thank you," she said without looking up.
She looked at the envelope. She was afraid to open it. All the other envelopes
held bad news. She took a deep breath and tore it open. Inside was the same
yellow paper that was becoming all too familiar. She pulled it out and read it.
Almost bare is your
family tree,
Only one left, the rest are with me.
Husband, daughter, mother and son,
Find the next clue quickly or I will have won.
Laura's face grew pale. Her legs felt weak as she rushed to the payphone. She
quickly dialed her house.
"Nikolas?" she said as he answered. "My...my
Mother?"
"She's gone Mom. She went to the kitchen to fix dinner and never
came back. I went into check on her and she was gone."
"Oh no! Nikolas do you think you can get me a private plane to get home? I
don't have time to wait for a commercial flight."
"There will be one waiting for you at the airport. Mom, be careful."
"You too," she said.
Laura decided not to wait for the next bus. She quickly paid for her coffee and
called a cab to take her to the airport in Vancouver.
