Teacher made sure my passport was up-to-date before heading out and my materials were set with my international contacts once I gave a list of the things I requested to have at my disposal. I rested on the plane, traveling to the room with the moving paintings. Alex greeted me and we talked about the next course of action for a while. Once we landed, Ben, Riley, and I stopped in our hotel room. It was the middle of the night so we explored Paris for some time before hitting the sack.

The next day we went to the Île aux Cygnes, where Laboulaye's Lady awaited. I prepared myself with basic things such as duct tape, rope, and cash. Riley took out his helicopter and flew it to the scale model Statue of Liberty.

"This is like, impossible, what you're doing."

"I'm glad you're enjoying it."

"Laboulaye had to leave a clue somewhere on here. Move in on the torch."

"Let me get there. It's not as easy as it looks."

"No. Believe me, I understand."

I overheard some sort of police scanner going off. I turned my head and tapped at Ben's shoulder once the policemen were talking to us. In French.

"Excuse me, officer. May I help you?"

"Ah, American, eh? Of course you see no problem in disturbing everyone's pleasant morning with your buzzing there."

"Hey! You know how much our constitution was influenced by your man, Montesquieu?"

"You know Montesquieu?"

I do! Again! No one calls on me!

"Montesquieu, yeah. 'A government should be set up so that...'

'...no man need be afraid of another.'"

"That's very good."

Well, I also know about Montesquieu because I was there when the Constitution was drafted.

"Thank you."

"I'm astonished."

"It's one of the many things we learn in American History," I added.

Riley came our way with the controller in one hand and the helicopter in the other.

"I got it, I got it. I hope you read French," he said, handing the controller with the clue to Ben.

"May l?"

Ben handed the controller to the policeman in front of us.

"He's a cop."

"Get over it, Riley," I retorted.

"Um... 'Across the sea these twins stand determined...' Resolute. '...to preserve what we are looking for. Uh... Laboulaye, 1876.'"

"It's a clue."

Uh, yeah, Riley. It's not like we didn't know that!

"'These twins stand resolute.' Let's see. Resolute twins. Resolute. Resolute. And then twins."

Yeah. I am trying to think here as well.

"You'll need to go into British history to get the answer, Essie."

Thanks for the tip, Alex. AT LAST MINUTE!

"Siamese twins? Siam? Trade routes between France and Thailand? That's ridiculous."

Wait, there's something called Resolute but I can't…

"HMS Resolute! A British ship that got lost in the Arctic in the 1800s. It was salvaged by American whalers, and then Congress sent it back to England. When the ship was finally retired, Queen Victoria had two desks made from its timbers. Voilà. Resolute twins."

Amazed, the French cop asked, "And where are those desks now?"

"The closest one is in London. Riley. How fast can we get to Buckingham Palace?"

"Don't know. Why don't you ask your new best friend?"

The policemen conversed in their native tongues to each other before the one that spoke fluent English returned his attention to us.

"He's going to call you a cab."

Awesome! Now we can do this before the world falls apart again!

"Nice helicopter. Is that yours?"

"Yes, actually. It is."

Oh, yeah. Sorry, Riley.

"OK, so you get the ticket."

"Great," in the most sarcastic of all tones.

I smirked. France was great and all, but we had to get going to England ASAP. The ride to England was shorter, but still just as boring and late. We bought a night at a hotel and proceeded to get some rest for the next part of our adventure. Alex and I conversed again about what the next course of action would be. Since one of the Resolute Desks was in the Queen's Office, we would have to bypass security. Now, I could do that with no trouble whatsoever, but I needed Ben's help in puzzle solving. As good as I am, I'm not that good.

He checked up on me that night we were in the hotel room. I couldn't sleep. I looked out the window to the lit city of London. Something about it seemed… I don't know, calming and mysterious. Ben came up next to me and sat at my bedside.

"You okay, Esther?"

"Yeah." I paused for some time. "Ben, I'm just confused with why I was given this gift. I mean, there are better people out there than me that can use this for something… more. And then I have this complicated relationship with a dead guy I see every day, as a walking spirit or in an image."

"I can't help you with that part." We laughed. "But I might be able to help with why you were given this gift. Did you ever tell someone about it?"

"Just Teacher and two close friends. But I can trust them with anything. I love my mom, but either she'd freak or think I was going crazy if I told her."

"And did you ever use it for personal gain?"

"Never! Well, maybe the occasional extra credit questions or studying for a really tough quiz."

"I think those are exceptions," Ben chuckled. "But you already made my point, Esther."

"Huh?"

"You are a very selfless girl, save the occasional moments of greediness however big. This gift allows you to hold a lot of power and wisdom without someone trying to bribe or convince you to use it for something wrong. Those two pieces are in you. That is the key to a successful future and that is the reason why you have this gift."

"Robert told me something like that when we were looking for the Templar treasure."

"Robert? Are you talking about Robert Livingston?"

"Yeah. I only met him twice. The first time I just told you and the second…"

"The second time?"

I waited a moment, hesitant to tell him, but he deserved to know the truth.

"Ben, I pray you will forgive me with what I'm going to tell you. I witnessed Thomas' death."

"What?" he asked in shock. "When?"

"The night before you gave that speech about him and the whole mess with his name on the page."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You think I wanted the whole history community to know that I'm a past seer and medium? Besides, people would find it difficult to believe your airtight confidence, especially when you don't have any other proof."

"That's true…"

The clock tower in the distance rang, telling what time it was. For Ben and I, it was late. We said our goodnights and rested for the next day. Morning came and I got ready with a quick shower, clean clothes, and decent breakfast. Ben and Riley were going over the layout of Buckingham Palace.

"So the queen's office is here. The elevator shaft gets you close, but the only direct access is through security."

"It has to be something that will get the attention of the security people."

"That should be exciting."

"We got to get you in that room."

Ben's phone rang and he answered it.

"Hi, Dad."

Patrick must be checking up on Ben.

"Um, Essie. That's not the only reason."

Huh?

"Call the police. I'm coming home."

"What happened?"

Alex. Did you forget to tell me something last night?

"Maybe."

I gave him a look with my arms crossed.

"Patrick's house was broken into. Someone else is after the treasure. In fact, Patrick should get a new cellphone soon."

You've got to be kidding me.

"Just don't hint it to anyone."

"OK. We're in London. We're going to Buckingham Palace. We have an appointment with the curator tomorrow afternoon."

We do? Of course we do. Then we'll make a scene and get detained by security.

"Bye." He hung up. "Someone else is after the treasure."

"Of course someone else is after the treasure. It's the axiom of treasure hunting."

"We have to hurry and see that desk."

"We don't want to miss that appointment."

I pressed my eyebrows together, also confused.

"Esther, what are you doing for this?"

"I'm going to sneak in as a maid. I can do some cleaning on the level of the Queen's Office. I'll listen in on anything that happens. But you're on your own from there."

"We'll keep that in mind. Anything else?"

A knock came at the door. I walked over and opened it.

"ESSIE!"

I was knocked down to the floor by an extremely excited Betsy. She had two bags on her: one with gear and one with her clothes. She wouldn't let me go and I was starting to suffocate when Ben and Riley pulled the two of us apart.

"Um, Esther. Who is this?"

"Ben, Riley. I'd like you to meet my best friend and quartermaster from the Society, Betsy Rossanne."

"Betsy Ross-anne?"

"Yep. Apparently, she's related to the first Betsy Ross and over the years, they added an 'anne' to the end. Don't know why and I don't care to know why."

"I got here as quickly as I could so that I could make sure your covert suit would fit."

"Covert suit?" Riley asked.

"My costume, accessories, and normal mission clothes. This way, Bets."

I led her to my room and she handed me the black cami and knee high leggings.

"I made sure the dress would conceal the leggings. But I need to see for myself."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. You still have that dress from a year ago?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Just in case."

I went behind a changing screen and put on the "undergarments" of my costume. I came out and Betsy set to work. She slipped on the maid costume and buttoned me up. Ben and Riley poked their heads in to see what Betsy was doing.

"So, I was wondering if you heard from him recently," she started

"Which 'him' are you talking about?"

Betsy gave me a look: an "are you kidding me" look.

"Oh! That him!" I realized as it dawned on me. "No, I haven't heard anything from him."

"He's been on missions left and right in South America. Last I heard, he was in Peru undercover in a drug cartel."

"Well that's fun."

"He's been asking about you recently," she added.

"Bets, you know that it was a long time ago. And I don't have the same feelings for him as he does for me. Remember?"

"Yeah, but can't you just give him a chance? This is supposed to be his last and he's planning to come home within a month. Please Esther? Please, please, please, please, please, please, please-"

"OKAY! Fine! I'll give him a chance. Just stop begging me!"

"Yay! Thank you, thank you, thank you-"

"BETS!"

She giggled and continued working on the costume. She stood back to admire her work.

"It's absolutely perfect!" she squealed in a British accent.

"I figured. The shoes and gear?"

"Shoes have suction cups when you remove the soles. Apron contains extra tranquilizer darts and hidden pockets. Small backpack is in the maids' closet with all of the basic gear you will ever need plus a change of street clothes fit for any condition in London."

"Anything else I should know?"

"Not really. I'll be accompanying you back to the states once you get back into the hotel."

"Sounds good."

Betsy stayed in my room as I went through an equipment-lacking circuit to keep my body in shape. She flew in from the states without rest. She deserved to have some, especially on a very comfy British bed. Nightfall came and I looked at the London skyline once more, wondering why I was looking out.