Okay, my busy schedule has once again prevented me from updating. Colorguard takes up a lot of my time so bear with me! I don't know if this chapter is any good, and I've noticed my story has taken on a boring chapter - exiting chapter - boring chapter - exciting chapter format and I will try to change that! I promise! Also, a bit of personal news, I have the sabre solo in the marching show on Friday! YAY! -

Chapter 8:

Boston

Ben awoke early the next morning. His worry made him look older and also gave him a look of constant fatigue, as if he almost never got enough sleep. He immediately contacted Agent Sadusky and set up a time to meet in Boston. Sadusky also booked a flight for the group, since they were going to be the bait to catch Ian. (again) Then, Ben found his cell phone and looked at his received calls. There were only two numbers. The first, of course, was Riley's, but the second he didn't recognize.

Riley walked into the den with dark rings under his eyes. "Morning." He mumbled.

Ben didn't question Riley as he walked into the kitchen, the first place he went in the mornings. He pressed the redial button on his phone and waited. After a few rings, someone picked up.

"Hello?"

The man was not Ian and Ben realized that Ian could have used anyone's phone to call him. "Um, I'm looking for Ian Howe. Do you know him?"

There was a silence on the other end of the line, and Ben feared he had called the wrong person.

"Hold on." The man said. A second later, Ian was on the line.

"Hello, Ben. Did you figure out that clue?"

"Yeah. Is Abigail okay?" Ben asked.

"She's safe. Where do you want to meet?"

Ben paused, an idea forming in his mind. Even with the FBI ready to arrest him, Ian could still have an escape plan and could still slip away. "We'll meet at the Old South Meeting House in south Boston at 1:30." Ben said. If Ian did escape, they would at least have a fighting chance at beating him to the next clue.

"Right." Ian said. "Just don't bring your little FBI puppets with you."

Before Ben could say otherwise about the FBI, Ian hung up.

Riley returned from the kitchen. He was a comic, almost pathetic sight with his messed up hair, pajamas, and bunny slippers. He was holding an empty cereal box. "Uh, Ben, we're out of Lucky Charms."

"Are we there yet?" Riley asked sleepily.

"No." Ben said.

"You asked that five minutes ago." Patrick added from one of the seats in front of them.

Riley laid his head back against his seat.

Alexis yawned. "So, how are we supposed to get to the Old South Meeting House?" She asked Ben.

Riley closed his eyes, hoping to fall asleep. Not even his coffee could help him stay awake. Finally, he drifted off.

Ben leaned in closer to Alexis so as not to disturb the sleeping Riley on the other side of the young woman. "The FBI's loaning us a car."

Alexis felt something hit her shoulder. Riley had slid down in his sleep and come to rest on her. Ben reached across Alexis to wake his collegue up, but she stopped him. "It's okay. I don't mind. Let him sleep."

The sky was overcast and threatening rain as the American Airlines jet touched down at Boston's Logan Airport. Alexis gently shook Riley. "Riley? Riley, the plane landed. Wake up."

He groaned and said, "I didn't do it!"

Ben chuckled. "Do what?" He asked.

Without thinking of the absurdity of his answer, he said, "Steal the Constitution."

Alexis giggled and Riley blushed as he realized how ridiculous he sounded.

Agent Sadusky was waiting for them outside the terminal. "I take it your flight was enjoyable?" He asked.

"Yeah, it was great." Ben said.

"They're the FBI. Couldn't they get us first-class seats?" Riley muttered under his breath. His knees were still hurting from being pressed up against the seat in front of him while he was sleeping.

"We've got about two hours before we have to meet Ian." Ben said. "What should we do?"

"Eat!" Came Riley's instantaneous reply.

Ben smiled and rolled his eyes. "Fine. Where?"

"Chili's!" Riley exclaimed. "Wait, no, Fudruckers! Or Joe's! I can't decide…"

Patrick didn't answer, but in his mind, he was thinking, "Red Lobster."

Alexis simply said, "Any Mexican food place is fine."

Ben thought for a moment. "Well, I think Chili's will have something for everyone." He turned to Sadusky. "Would you like to join us?"

"No, I'm afraid I must decline. I have other business to attend to." Sadusky said.

Ben nodded in understanding. Sadusky handed Ben the keys to the car they were borrowing. "I expect this back in one piece." He said jokingly.

"Oh, don't worry. It will be fine as long as we don't let him drive." Patrick said, motioning to Riley.

"Hey!" Riley said indignantly.

"He's only joking." Alexis said.

"Come on. If we don't go now, we won't have time to eat." Ben said, walking toward the doors to the parking lot.

At 1:30, Ben parked the black Escalade across the street from the Old South Meeting House. "Okay, I'm going over there to see if Ian's here yet." He got out of the car and walked across the street. There weren't as many people around as he would have expected due to the fact that it was Sunday. But there was still a crowd, and Ben looked through the small crowd, watching for Ian. He saw no sign of him, or Abigail. Someone tapped him on the shoulder. He whirled around. "Ian!"

Ian's associate was restraining Abigail.

"As you can see, Abigail is safe. I've kept my part of the bargain." Ian said. "What about you? Tell me, what did you find in the Library of Congress?"

"The clue said 'Two lanterns lit to send a message and set for all to see in the window of Boston's sacred place.' It led us here, to Boston. The clue is in the window of the belfry of the Old North Church." Ben explained.

Ian gave Ben a skeptical look. "That sounds vaguely familiar. What are you trying to pull, Gates?"

"Nothing." Ben replied. "I've told you, I can't bluff."

Ian saw the sincere look in Ben's eyes and knew he wasn't lying. "So this is the truth." He turned to his associate. "Jones, release Dr. Chase."

Jones let go of Abigail and she flung herself into Ben's waiting arms. "Ben!"

At an undisclosed location, Sadusky ordered his men to move in. "The hostage is secure! Take him down!"

Ben pushed Abigail behind him to protect her.

About fifteen agents emerged from their hidden locations. But Ian was prepared. He drew out his handgun and fired it into the air.

Riley jumped at the sound, and something he couldn't quite explain caused him to reach for Alexis's hand.

She looked down in surprise. Riley quickly withdrew his hand, blushing furiously.

Alexis was moved by his protective action.

The gunshot caused a panic in the people around Ben, Ian, and Abigail. Jones had disappeared. As people pushed their way past them, Ben saw Jones drive a black sedan to the curb. Ian jumped in, and Jones floored the gas pedal.

Abigail looked at Ben. "What do we do now, Ben? Ian will get the next clue!"

Ben walked toward the Escalade, fierce determination burning in his eyes. "We beat him there."