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Chapter 3

Riley slowly drifted back to reality. He went to touch his head to stop the pounding headache, but found he couldn't move his arms. He opened his eyes slowly. He found himself in an old warehouse tied to a chair in the coroner. The room he was in had a big table and few chairs. There was a big window that over looked a run down town. From what Riley could tell, he was near Washington D.C. because he could barely see the top of the Washington Memorial in the distance. The last thing he remembered was taking the ocular device to Ben so they could see if there was a hidden message in the First American Flag.

'Oh crap!' thought Riley.

Just then the door to the room opened and in walked... Ian Howe!!

"Well look who's back in the land of the living," he said sarcastically.

"What do you want Ian?" Riley demanded.

"I want the Free Mason treasure," said Ian, "oh yeah I know all about it. I also know you know where the first clue is. Care to share?"

"Never would I tell you!" yelled Riley.

"Oh Riley. You should know better than to yell at me. It could get you hurt!" said Ian punctuating the sentence by hitting Riley hard in the stomach. Riley gasped for air.

"Now you gonna tell me?" asked Ian.

"No," Riley gasped.

"Pity Pity Riley," said Ian punching him in the stomach again.

For an hour Ian tried to get Riley to talk. And every time Riley earned a punch from Ian. Riley was now barley conscious, gasping for air, and bleeding.

"How about now?" asked Ian getting close to Riley's face.

"Go to Hell," gasped Riley.

"You first," said Ian.

Ian punched Riley in the face one final time. Riley went unconscious again.

"Fine I'll just call and threaten Ben," said Ian.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

"Where is he?" asked Ben wondering where the heck Riley was.

"Mr. Gates, these just came for you," said a security guard.

It was the glasses and a note. Ben got a real bad feeling. He read the note.

Ben,

I have Riley. Find out the clue and wait for my call. Don't tell the police of the FBI. If you do then you can pick up Riley for his funeral.

Ian Howe.

As if on cue, Ben's cell phone rang.

"Hello," said Ben.

"Hello Ben," came the voice from the other line, "have you found out the clue?"

"What did you do with Riley Ian?" demanded Ben completely ignoring Ian's question.

"Tell me the clue," said Ian.

"Let me talk to Riley first," said Ben.

"Can't really do that. He's getting a little rest after our first conversation. He ain't looking so good," teased Ian.

"Ian I swear if you did hurt him I'll,..." Ben started.

"You'll what? Tell the FBI? You know what will happen if you do. Now tell me the clue," said Ian.

"The first clue led us to the first American flag. I haven't found the second clue yet," said Ben.

"Well as soon as you do call me back," said Ian.

There was a click and the dial tone. Ben hung up. He was mentally kicking himself for what had happened to Riley. Riley was his best friend. He should have gone with him to make sure he wouldn't get hurt. Ben stopped and knew if he kept kicking himself he wouldn't be able to help Riley. He put the glasses on and looked at the flag. There was something written on the stripes.

A ring that shines.

A ring that chimes on time.

A ring that is cracked.

A ring that is never rung.

Ben thought for a minute.

"Liberty Bell," whispered Ben.

Ben put the glasses back in the case and walked back in the case and walked back to the car. He hit the redial button on his cell phone. After a few rings, Ian's voice came back on the line.

"Hello Ben," he said, "Did you find the next clue?"

"Yes. Where do you want me to meet you?" asked Ben.

"Across the street from the Franklin Institute," said Ian, "Be there at noon."

Ian hung up. Ben started the car and started driving towards the Franklin Institute. He called Abigail and told her about the clue but not about Riley. She had enough to worry about. At noon, Ben saw an SUV pull up in front of the park across from the Franklin Institute. Ian walked over to him.

"So Ben what's the clue?" asked Ian.

"It said a ring that shines, a ring that chimes on time, a ring that is cracked, a ring that is never rung," said Ben.

"Do you know where it leads to?" asked Ian.

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't. Let me see Riley first," demanded Ben.

"Fine," said Ian.

Ian lead Ben over to the SUV. He opened the back door to reveal Riley laying in the backseat unconscious. When Ben saw how hurt Riley was, it took every ounce of his energy not to tackle Ian.

"Riley," Ben whispered.

"Now tell me what clue leads to," said Ian.

"The Liberty Bell," said Ben.

"Good. Take your car and follow me," said Ian.

Ben got in his car, and started to follow Ian to Independence Hall. He just prayed that this would be over soon so he could help Riley.