Here's ANOTHER update from me! Yay!

And if you look REAL close, you might see a hint or two about events to happen later… I wonder… -grins-

-OoOoOoO-

Kathleen

Not even an hour later, we were sitting in Patrick's dining room, trying to crack the cipher. I thought I was going to lose my mind, sitting there, watching and waiting, when I knew the answer. I sighed, my head hitting the table.

"You OK?"

I looked up at Riley, who looked a bit exhausted himself. "How are you not falling asleep?"

He held up a mug. "Coffee. It's a magical drink!" He took a long sip and set the mug back down.

"Bacon…" He pondered out loud as Ben looked on. "No, that's stupid. How's he doing?" Riley asked, referring to Patrick.

"Keep working." Ben told him. He patted Riley's shoulder and left the room.

"Nicole asleep?" He asked, typing in the word 'baron'.

I nodded. "Sleeping like a log."

He nodded. I could hear bits and pieces of the conversation in the den.

"They have no understanding."

"You know the truth, that's all that matters."

"I feel kind of sorry for them." I said thoughtfully. "I mean, they finally got some respect for their family and then some guy has to come and take that away."

"I know." Riley nodded in agreement. He bit his lip. "So…"

"What?"

"Nothing. I'm just trying to start a conversation. I'm really bored." He moaned, continuing to type in different words.

"Me too." I paused, not sure what else to say. "Did you have any girlfriends while I was gone?"

Riley's face went pink. "Well, I did have the occasional…fling, I suppose. There just wasn't any… spark, y'know? Like with you, there was some sort of connection, but with every other girl I met…" He trailed off.

"Hmm…" I thought about what he'd said for a moment.

"Try death!" Ben suddenly cried from the next room.

"What?" Riley sounded tired and confused.

"It's the key-code! The debt that all men pay is death." Ben said.

Riley typed in the word. "L-A-B-O-U-L… Laboo…Labow…La… It's gibberish."

Ben thought for a moment. "Laboulaye!" He suddenly cried.

"Laboulaye!" Riley exclaimed, hitting the table in excitement. "What is that?"

I giggled, unable to help myself. There was just something too adorable about his confusion.

"It's a who." Ben corrected. "Edouard Laboulaye. Where's the phone?" He asked, a spark of excitement lighting up in his eyes.

"And who's Edouard Laboulaye?" Riley asked, obviously confused.

"He was a French guy." I explained. Riley shrugged, still looking confused.

As Ben searched for the phone, Nicole came down the stairs, rubbing her eyes. "I heard shouting. What's going on? Is the house on fire?"

"No, we cracked the cipher." I said with a smile. "L-A-B-O-U-L….dash, dash… E-L-A-D." I read the letters off the computer.

"Ben looks happy." She observed, watching as Ben was talking on the phone. I could've sworn I saw a smile flicker across her face, but it was gone in a split second.

"Or maybe there was a treasure map like Thomas GATES said there was, and Laboulaye had it." Ben said into the phone. "We've only got a partial on the next word. L-A-D…Lad, ladder…"

"Aladdin…Aladdin?" Riley suggested.

"Thank you, Abigail." Ben breathed. "Laboulaye Lady." He walked off, beginning a rant. "Do you know what Laboulaye was planning around the time Lincoln was assassinated?" He was clearly excited about this find. "There's a map, or a clue to map on the Statue…" He trailed off, lifting the phone away from his ear in disbelief. "She hung up!"

"She took your call, that was good." Patrick pointed out.

"Wait a minute." Nicole said suddenly. "I think I heard about this in History class! Edouard Laboulaye was the guy who designed the Statue of Liberty, right?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, he was." Ben looked rather impressed, and a smile formed on his lips. Nicole smiled back.

"So, you're saying that there's a treasure map on the Statue of Liberty?" Riley said excitedly, walking towards Ben.

"Laboulaye was a Mason." Patrick said. "They built clues into everything."

"Did you learn that from my book?" Riley asked. Patrick pursed his lips, looking rather sheepish. Riley's shoulders drooped a little bit, and he looked a little disappointed. I walked up behind him, patting his shoulder.

"So the only question is, which Statue of Liberty?" Patrick asked. I nodded.

"Exactly! Wait, is there more than one?" Riley looked confused again.

"There are three, actually, Riley." Patrick began. "One is in New York. One is in the Luxembourg Gardens…"

"But he only referred to one as his lady."

Nicole and I looked at each other. "Looks like we're off to Paris!" I cried happily. "The City of Lights!"

"The most romantic city on Earth!" Nicole cried dramatically. I rolled my eyes. Riley looked at me with a grin, and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Don't get any ideas, Mister. This trip is strictly business."

"Aw man!" He cried. I slapped him playfully.

"We gotta pack." I reminded him. Ben walked over to Riley, handing him his car keys.

"You can go to your apartment, get some sleep, pack up, whatever. Meet us at the airport at 7:00 sharp. And be careful with that car." He warned.

"Yes sir." Riley straightened his face, saluting Ben. He suddenly broke into a grin, walking off towards the door.

"How're you gonna get there?" I asked.

"Dad can take me."

"Alright, let's go." Riley said, heading towards the door. I followed him.

"Nicole, you staying here?"

I received no reply, as Nicole had fallen asleep again on the table. I rolled my eyes, and shut the door behind me.

Riley got into Ben's car, which was rather neat and tidy compared to the house. "I want my car back!" He cried, his forehead resting on the steering wheel. I slid into the front seat, kissing his cheek. "I loved that car. So, so much!"

"More than me?" I gasped. "Alright, I see how it is." I folded my arms, looking out the window in mock hurt.

"No, never! You're much prettier than a car. Unless that car was REALLY shiny… Then I might reconsider…OW!"

I smacked him on the arm. He rubbed it as he pulled away from me with a yelp. "That hurt!"

"I know." I said with a smirk. "Now let's go. We've got stuff to do. We're going to Paris tomorrow!"

-OoOoOoO-

Ah, I don't know if I like this chapter…. Ah, well, what'd you think? Review!

Press the magical button! The magical button of hope and wonder! (Sorry, had too much sugar…:P)