Chapter 8

Treasure Lost and Found

Jacqui had flown out to California the morning after she'd spoken to Riley and the others, too eager to help to wait for news from the others. That had been her undoing. While she'd loitered in the area, doing a little exploring, a tall, broad-shouldered man had captured her. "What do you think you're doing down here, girlie?"

"Just looking around," she replied, doing her best to remain calm, trying to think of the self-defense classes her brother had insisted she take. "No harm in that, is there?"

She fought the urge to flinch when a large, rough hand fingered her hair. "No, but you weren't just looking. You were studying those pictures on the wall. As if you could read them."

"No, of course I can't." Jacqui cursed her natural curiosity. The pictures in question reminded her of the document Jacob had shown her, so she'd naturally wanted a closer look. "I just think they look interesting, that's all."

The man breathed a foul-smelling snort into her face. "Sorry, girlie, I'm not buyin' it."

With that, he'd tied her up and gagged her before carrying her further into the caves, where a crude camp had been set up. Her heart sank when he took her picture. Apparently, he wasn't alone in this venture. He was probably working for the Dr. Major that Riley had mentioned.

Though she'd remained outwardly meek while the man held her captive, inwardly she'd thought furiously about what she could do to escape and warn the others. Why did I have to be so stupid!

***

"Mom!" Ben barely took the time to put the car in park before he climbed out and hurried over to her and the man holding her.

Emily burst into tears again when her son's arms closed around her, gathering her against his chest. "Oh, Ben, I'm so happy to see you!"

"We've been so worried." He choked out, turning and carrying her to the car. Abigail opened the back door of the car and helped Ben put Emily inside. He froze when the dome light revealed dried blood on her lip. "Did he hurt you?"

An unfamiliar hand landed on Ben's shoulder and he turned to face the stranger, apparently Jacob Bonner. He was about Ben's height, but slightly broader, with strawberry blond hair and green eyes. "We can't linger, Mr. Gates. Dr. Major said he was going to bed, but he's not predictable. And Roscoe is sleeping in the suburban."

Emily flinched at the name and Ben didn't like what that suggested about her treatment. His mother was not the sort who scared easily. "Mr. Bonner..."

"Ben, we really should go." Abigail kept him from saying anything more. "I'll drive so you can sit with Emily."

"Thanks, Abigail." Ben kissed her softly and did as his fiancée suggested and climbed into the backseat with his mother. Once they were all buckled in, Abigail turned the car around and headed back the way they'd come.

***

Patrick paced the cabin Riley had rented when he'd booked their flight, too restless to sleep. He knew Ben and Abigail had gone somewhere to 'follow a lead' and not to worry, but he couldn't help it. His soon-to-be ex-ex-wife was missing and now his son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law had gallivanted off to who-knew-where without so much as a by-your-leave! Groaning, he sank into a chair at the dining room table and buried his face in his hands. "It's not supposed to be like this! We're supposed to re-marry and share the rest of our lives with each other quietly. No more adventures, no more treasure hunts!"

"Patrick?" Riley's voice brought the older man's head up. He looked so much younger in his pajama pants and T-shirt, black hair messy and sticking up at the back. "Are you okay?"

Sighing, Patrick rubbed his face. "No. Ben and Abigail went somewhere and I'm waiting for them to get back."

"Ben and Abigial?" Riley glanced over to see that the door to their room was, indeed, shut. "Where'd they go?"

He gestured helplessly. "They didn't tell me. Said they didn't want me to worry."

"Typical Ben," Riley grumbled, disappearing into the room they'd turned into an office of sorts. When he returned, he was carrying his laptop.

He'd just flipped it open when they heard a car pull up outside. "They're back!"

Together, Patrick and Riley hurried outside, hearts pounding with hope, fear, and worry. Squinting in the moonlight, he could tell that there were four people in the car, but he couldn't pick out who was who. Not until it came to a stop and Abigail climbed out from behind the wheel. "Patrick. Riley."

"Abigail." He barely acknowledged her, his eyes on his son as Ben opened the back door and carefully lifted a blanket-swathed bundle into his arms. "Ben? Is that?"

The blanket moved and relief flood through him at the sight of Emily's face. "Pat," she whispered his name, and then turned away, burying her face in Ben's chest. "No, I can't. I can't."

"Em?" Patrick frowned, coming up and touching her shoulder. "What's wrong?"

Emily flinched against her son's chest, tears audible in her voice. "Please don't touch me, Pat. Not yet."

"What?" Patrick glanced up at his son in confusion.

Ben shook his head slightly. "She'll tell you when she's ready, Dad. Let's go inside."

"I don't understand." Patrick stood, bewildered, as Ben disappeared into the cabin, Abigail following close behind.

He turned at a touch on his shoulder. A stranger stood there, green eyes sad and sympathetic. "You will, Sir. I'm sorry."

"Who are you?" Riley asked the question, glowering up at the young man. "Jacqui's brother?"

The stranger narrowed his eyes. "Yes, I'm Jacob Bonner. Who are you?"

"Riley Poole." Blue eyes narrowed as they met green. "Something's happened to Jacqui, hasn't it? She hasn't answered any of my calls for days."

Jacob's expression hardened, his hands clenching into fists. "Dr. Major has her. He's holding her hostage in California."

Riley scowled, pacing away from them. "Dammit, dammit, dammit! I knew it was a bad idea for her to help."

"Knowing Jacqui, you wouldn't have been able to stop her." Jacob's voice was wry.

"Major is going to pay for this." Riley punched his open hand with his fist, blue eyes cold and dangerous.

Jacob glanced at Patrick. "He's smitten, isn't he?"

"Very." Patrick gestured to the cabin. "Why don't you come in while Riley works off his anger?"

The young man nodded and followed Patrick inside.

***

"Where do you want me to take you, Mom?" Ben's voice was gentle as they entered the cabin.

Emily was still gathering the energy to answer when Abigail's voice came from behind them. "To the bathroom, Ben. She probably wants to wash up."

"Yes, that's right," she whispered, feeling ridiculously weak for admitting as much.

Her son didn't comment on it, though, simply carrying her into the bathroom and starting the shower without a word. Abigail came in as he left, their hands catching and squeezing before the door closed between them. "Here, Emily, I brought a towel and a change of clothes for you."

"Thank you, Abigail." She barely managed to get the words out, beginning to carefully undress.

She winced when she tried to lift her shirt over her head. Roscoe hadn't been gentle and she could feel the bruises forming. Biting the inside of her cheek, Emily gave Abigail a beseeching look. The younger woman understood the unspoken request and helped Emily to remove the clothes, leaving them crumpled on the floor. "Do you think you can stand on your own?"

"I'm not sure." Taking the hand Abigail offered, Emily carefully got to her feet. When she tried to take a step, though, her head swam and her knees buckled, forcing her to grab Abigail with her other hand. "No, I don't believe I can."

Abigail nodded and quickly stripped off her own clothes, stepping into the shower first so she could keep Emily steady while she climbed in as well. "Is the water temp all right?"

"Could you turn the hot water up?" Emily requested, bracing a hand against the wall as the water beat down on her, beginning to wash away the scent and sensation of Roscoe's filthy hands and presence.

"Certainly." Abigail made sure Emily was steady for the moment before she turned to the knobs, twisting the far right one.

After a few moments, the water grew noticeably hotter and Emily sighed with relief. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

***

"Okay, Jacob." The men gathered in the living room while the women were busy in the bathroom and it was Ben who spoke to the stranger. "How did you get mixed up in all this?"

Jacob rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I never told Jacqui that I'd dropped out of college. She'd have nagged me about getting a degree, but I had no idea what sort of degree I wanted. I worked long hours at a minimum wage job, but it wasn't enough to live on. Then I met Dr. Major and he told me about this Indian treasure hidden in California. He promised me a fair share of the treasure if I helped him to get it."

"Money motivates everyone, apparently," Riley commented dryly, slouched on the couch and glaring up at the ceiling.

Ben reached over and cuffed his friend's arm. "Riley, be nice."

"He's right, Mr. Gates." Jacob smiled wryly, running his hands through his hair. "The simple promise of treasure had me agreeing to help Dr. Major without any idea of what he was going to do. We broke into the National Archives to steal the animal skin document that would supposedly lead us to the treasure."

The other three exchanged glances. "Well, we were right about that."

"I beg your pardon?" Jacob looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Ben explained, smiling with faint amusement. "Abigail is the National Archivist. She was notified the night the document was stolen."

"Ah." Jacob shifted uncomfortably. "Well, anyway, I suggested that I have Jacqui look at it, since she's studying Native American culture and languages. She couldn't translate it, but she recommended that we contact Dr. Appleton." Riley cleared his throat, looking very guilty all of a sudden. "Dr. Major had Roscoe and I wait outside while he went in to talk to Dr. Appleton. When he came back out, she was with him, a gun held to her side." Jacob shook his head. "He treated her horribly the entire trip and what he did tonight, well, it was the last straw. I decided to get out of there and take her with me."

The men sat in silence, absorbing what Jacob had said. Finally, it was Patrick who broke the silence. "What, exactly, did Major do tonight?"

"He had my sister kidnapped and he hurt Dr. Appleton badly." Jacob hated keeping Patrick in the dark, but he knew it would be best for Emily to tell him the full truth. "I can only guess that Jacqui's being held in the caves in California."

Ben stood up and began to pace. "How well does your sister know Indian languages?"

"Pretty well. That's why I suggested we go to her first." Jacob glanced at the others, wondering if they knew what Ben was getting at.

The scion of the Gates family nodded, continuing to pace. "With Mom gone, he'll need to keep her alive to translate any other Indian symbols they find. She'll be fine for now."

"But he won't hesitate to hurt her to make her cooperate." Jacob clenched his hands into fists. "If he does, he will pay for it dearly."

End