Part 12
"Sure seems you get to a hospital a lot faster with an FBI escort." Erica said as they sat nervously in the waiting room. Etta let out a snort but it couldn't cover the depressing mood in the room. Agent Sadusky sat down next to Ben and stared at the floor.
"I sure hope your friend is ok." He said. Ben didn't respond but thrust the Declaration in his direction. "Just like that?" the agent asked.
"Just like that."
"You don't get the concept of a bargaining chip do you?"
"The Declaration of Independence is not a bargaining chip. Not to us. Besides, now's not the time to bargain."
"So, what's your offer?" Sadusky asked.
"How about a bribe? Say, about 10 billion dollars?"
"I take it you found the treasure?"
"It's back at the church. Five stories below the floor."
"You know the Templars and Free Masons believed that the treasure was too great for any one man to have, not even a king. That's why they went to such lengths to keep it hidden." The agent said, polishing his ring. His ring, Ben noticed, that held a Templar Symbol.
'Another knight.' Ben thought.
"That's right." Ben said, "Okay, here's what I want. Dr. Chase gets off completely clean, not even a little post-it on her service record."
"Go on."
"I want the credit for the find to go to the entire Gates family with the assistance of Riley, Katie, Etta, Erica, and Abby."
"And what about you?" Sadusky asked.
"I really would love not to go to prison. I can't even begin to describe how much I would love to not go to prison."
"Someone's got to go to prison, Ben." Sadusky said smiling.
"Well, if you've got a helicopter, I think I help with that."
The girls waited anxiously, waiting for any news of their friend. A waiting room had never seemed so cold and uninviting to the girls. But then again, a best friend's life had never hung in the balance. Ben had returned from Boston an hour ago and he and Abigail were trying to comfort Riley.
"Ha. Remember when we went to Charleston in the 8th grade?" Katie said.
"Yeah, we made up that song about the boat." Etta laughed.
"We had so much fun that day." Erica sighed.
"Abby took all those pictures." Etta giggled.
"Remember the thug picture?" Erica chuckled.
"Remember? It's my desktop!" Katie exclaimed.
"You think," Etta dropped her voice to a whisper, "You think if she… you know… when we leave the movie, she'll be ok?"
"Well I don't have a lot of experience in this field." Erica snarked.
They dropped the subject as their fellow treasure hunters came over. Abigail sat next to Katie and took her hand comfortingly.
"Do you guys think she'll be ok?" Riley asked.
"I-I honestly don't know, Riley. I really don't." Katie choked out. Tears welled up in her eyes as Riley collapsed onto his knees in front of her, burying his face in his arms, his head in her lap. Etta put an arm around Erica and buried her face in her shoulder, both girls fighting the urge to cry. Abigail placed a hand on Ben's back and the other around Katie's shoulder. Ben put a comforting hand on Riley's shoulder, gently rubbing his back. For that one moment, they weren't a ragtag team thrown together few days ago.
They were just friends.