Chapter 12

Proper Treasure Hunt

While the others had discussed whether Emily and Patrick were going to come along, Jacob left his sister in Riley's care and went back into the cavern. Roscoe was beginning to stir, so the younger man punched him again. Pulling the rope and duct tape out of his backpack, Jacob tied Roscoe up so he couldn't easily free himself. Leaving some food and water so the man wouldn't starve, Jacob hurried back out of the cave to rejoin the others, falling in step with his sister. "So, did they decide?"

"They're coming," Jacqui replied, squeezing his hand. "I knew Dr. Appleton was a formidable teacher, but I had no idea it extended to her personality, too."

Riley, walking on Jacqui's other side, contributed his two cents, "The Gates men seem fated to fall for women who are tough spitfires."

"The Poole men, too, apparently," Jacob commented with a fond glance for his sister.

Jacqui blushed and looked down, embarrassed. "You're saying that because you're my brother."

"If what happened to Roscoe is any sign of what happens when someone tries to hurt you, he's right." Riley glanced briefly at Jacob, who nodded encouragingly. "Which makes me wonder why you were captured in the first place."

She sighed, shaking her head. "Well, I kind of figured the guy was working with Dr. Major, so I let him capture me."

"Jacqui!" Riley exclaimed, drawing the others' attention.

Patrick glanced amongst the three young people. "Is something wrong?"

"No, we're fine, Patrick," Jacob assured the older man, shooting a glance at Riley that kept him from contradicting the redhead. "Nothing to worry about."

Looking like he didn't believe Jacob, Patrick turned and slipped his arm around Emily once more, the expedition in sight now.

"I understand your concern, Riley," Jacqui retorted in a whisper, "but it was a calculated risk! I knew Jacob was helping Dr. Major, so I'd be more useful to him undamaged. Once Jacob escaped with Dr. Appleton, I knew there was a risk that I would be hurt, so that's why I left the first chance I got."

Neither man had a chance to reply, because they'd joined the others by the car. Jacob addressed Abigail instead, "Do you think you could contact the agent in charge of investigating the theft of the document from the National Archives?"

***

Agent Sadusky met them at the Shasta State Historic Park. "You really should leave the investigating to the authorities. We exist for a reason."

"We're sorry, sir, but time was of the essence," Ben explained, gesturing to Jacob. "Mr. Bonner, here, has something he'd like to say."

The FBI agent turned to the redhead, raising an eyebrow at how young he was. "Yes, Mr. Bonner?"

"I helped break into the National Archives and steal the Native American animal skin document," Jacob told the agent without preamble, his voice shaking only a little. "I was helping Dr. Odysseus Major and his cousin, Mr. Roscoe Major."

Sadusky glanced at Ben with a raised eyebrow. "Does no one know how to make a deal anymore?"

"In exchange for my help in capturing them, I would like a mitigated sentence." Jacob ignored the comment, though he quirked an eyebrow. "I'm not stupid enough to think I won't go to jail at all."

Rubbing his forehead with a sigh, Sadusky asked, "Exactly how can you help us?"

"Roscoe Major is currently tied up in a cave in Mount Shasta," Jacob replied. "Riley Poole planted a tracker on Dr. Major's current assistant, Arnold Wilf. You should be able to follow them using that."

"You people seem to have thought of everything." Though the words were sarcastic, there was amusement and respect in Sadusky's eyes. "Okay, I'll see what I can do to get you a lighter sentence, Mr. Bonner."

Jacob sighed in audible relief. "Thank you, Agent Sadusky."

"Don't mention it."

***

"What do I tell Nadya?" Jacqui asked her twin when they were given a chance to say their good-byes in private. "She was already worried sick when I left South Dakota."

There was pain and guilt in Jacob's eyes. "The truth. That I was stupid and got involved in something I shouldn't have because I didn't want to wait to get married."

"You know she's never cared about money." Jacqui shook her head in fond exasperation.

"I know, but I do." Jacob sighed, looking out the window. "Too much so, I guess."

Blinking back tears at the longing she could see in her brother's gaze, Jacqui hugged him. "It won't be for long. You turned yourself in and you're helping to catch the others. That'll count for something in the end."

"That's my hope, too." Jacob rested his cheek against Jacqui's hair. His voice turned rough when he added, "Also, tell Nadya I'll understand if she decides not to wait for me."

Jacqui pulled back enough to cuff his shoulder. "She will wait for you. She loves you too much to find someone else."

"I hope you're right." He sighed deeply.

"I know I am."

***

The ride to the airport to catch the plane to Spain passed quietly. Emily pressed as close to Patrick as the seatbelts would allow, fast asleep while he stroked her hair soothingly. They'd visited the hospital while Ben and Jacob had been busy with Sadusky and the doctor had prescribed strong painkillers and sleeping pills. Ben drove, his expression quiet and thoughtful, and Abigail sat in the passenger seat, occasionally speaking up to provide directions.

In the middle seat, Jacqui, who'd retrieved her things from the Shasta State Historic Park security, had uploaded all the information they'd compiled about the Indian language to make a proper study of it, trying to understand how the older woman had deduced the meanings of the symbols, muttering under her breath occasionally. Riley watched with bewilderment as her fingers fairly flew over the keyboard, ignoring his own laptop. "Are you as much of a computer geek as your brother?"

"No, there's stuff Jacob can do with a computer that leaves me completely lost," Jacqui glanced at Riley with a shy smile. "Whatever small computer skills I have I learned from Jacob."

"I couldn't help wondering," Riley leaned towards her, smiling shyly. "I think he accepts me."

Jacqui smiled back, leaning over to kiss Riley's cheek. "I'm glad. I wanted him to like you."

"Well, he told me that he wants you to be happy," Riley told her softly, reaching up to stroke her cheek. "And, if I can give you that happiness, that's enough for him."

Her smile turned soft fond. "That's almost exactly what I said to Nadya."

"Nadya?" Riley repeated, puzzled. "Who's she?"

"Jacob's fiancée, Nadya Abney." Jacqui pulled out her cell phone and showed Riley a picture of a tall, slender woman with pale blonde hair and warm brown eyes. "We met her in high school."

Riley examined the picture almost clinically, handing the phone back to Jacqui. "She's pretty enough. Bet all the boys wanted to date her."

"Pretty much." Jacqui tucked the phone into her pocket. "She picked Jacob, though, and makes him happy, which is all I really want for him."

He reached up to cup her cheek, blue eyes intent as they met her green ones. "What about you? Who makes you happy?"

"If you haven't figured it out by now, you're not as smart as I thought you were." Jacqui smirked and sat up, ostensibly turning her attention back to the laptop.

Riley stared at her in shock for several moments. That hadn't gone according to plan! Right at that moment, they pulled up in front of their destination.

***

They ended up spending the night in a hotel, since their flight wouldn't leave until the following morning. Ben managed to book three rooms close together. Patrick and Emily's was connected to Ben and Abigail's while Riley and Jacqui's was across the hall. Soon after receiving her key, Emily disappeared into the bathroom, the shower starting shortly after the door closed behind her. Patrick changed into a set of the pajamas he'd brought and turned on the TV, choosing something mindless to watch.

He glanced at the clock when the water turned off, pleased that she'd only taken half an hour instead of full hour like he'd expected. She emerged wrapped in one of the hotel robes, clutching it tight around her, moving slowly over to the suitcases. Abigail had gone to Emily's house while they'd tried to figure out where Major had taken her and packed the case for her so she'd have more than the clothes she'd been wearing at the time of her kidnapping.

Out of the corner of his eye, Patrick noticed that Emily glanced at him over her shoulder before she slowly removed the robe and changed into her pajamas. He noticed the bruises that Roscoe had left behind, but he didn't comment, letting her have the dignity and privacy she needed. When she finished changing, she climbed into bed beside him, curling up against his side. "Thank you, Pat."

"You're welcome, Em." He turned off the TV and shifted to pull her more fully into his arms, kissing her tenderly.

She returned the kiss just as tenderly, but soon fell asleep. He held her for a long time in silence before falling asleep as well.

***

Ben and Abigail shared their shower; grateful they were both still alive. Afterwards, they lay together in bed, discussing their plans. "Should we try to get permission from the Spanish government to look for that treasure?"

"They're probably going to laugh at us for suggesting it," Ben replied, staring up at the ceiling as he slowly stroked Abigail's hair. "Besides, we don't know where, exactly the treasure is. How can we ask for permission to look for it when we don't know where it is?"

"There are clues in the text Emily and Jacqui translated," Abigail told him, resting her hand over his heart, reassured by the steady beat. "Together, the six of us should be able to figure it out. If we do, we can ask for permission and not worry about getting caught breaking and entering."

He sighed, kissing the top of her head. "Let's see what the clues say, all right?"

"Okay."

***

Jacqui and Riley took turns in the shower, climbing under the covers on opposite sides of the bed. Rolling onto his side to face her, he asked, "Do I make you happy?"

"Yes, Riley, you do." She lay on her side, smiling at him.

Smiling in relief, he closed the distance between them and kissed her. She returned it with a sigh of pleasure, sliding her arms around him. This was a better ending to their earlier conversation!

End