Part 6
"You have the original Silence Dogood letters?" Abigail asked as Ben paced in front of the van.
"They're digital scans, now be quiet."
"Where did you get the scans?"
"Because I know the man who has the originals, now shush."
"Why do you need them?"
"She really can't shut her mouth, can she?"
"Apparently not." Anne said.
"Look, I will let you hold this if you promise to shut up, please!"
"Ben, you know what you have to do." Riley said.
"I know what to do. I'm just trying to think anything else we could do." Ben replied.
"Other plans, other plans are good." Anne agreed.
"Not to be a nudge, but do know how many people we have after us? We probably have our satellite by now. It took all of 2 seconds for you to decide to steal the Declaration of Independence." Riley pointed out.
"Yeah, but I didn't think I'd have to personally have to tell my dad about it!" Ben shouted. Abigail took the opportunity to start running. "Hey, not cool. Not cool!" Ben caught her.
"Let me go!" Abigail cried. Ben took the Declaration.
"You're let go. Now shoo."
"I'm not going. Not without the Declaration."
"Well, you're not going with the Declaration."
"Look, if you wanted to leave me behind, you shouldn't have told me where you were going." Abigail said.
"Just take her. She'll leave when she's had enough." Anne smirked at Abigail.
They pulled up at the eldest Gates' house.
"Park a couple blocks away." Ben ordered.
"How long do think we got?" Riley asked.
"Give them a couple hours, at least. I hope."
"Ugh. I haven't seen Dad in like two years. Now I show up at the door a bleeding felon."
"How's your arm?" Ben asked.
"Fine. Can you grab my change of clothes?" she turned to Riley. "Told you it was smart to bring them."
"What do we do about her? I got some duct tape in the back…" Riley said.. Anne smacked him in the arm.
"Ow."
"No, that won't be necessary. She won't be any trouble. Promise you won't be any trouble?"
"I promise."
"See? She's curious." Ben smiled.
"Ring the doorbell." Anne said.
"You."
"You pulled me into this mess!"
"You haven't seen him!"
"You got me shot!"
"Fine." Ben rang the doorbell. Their dad answered looking tired and older that Anne remembered. "Dad." Ben said awkwardly.
"Where's the party?"
"Well…I'm in a little trouble."
"Is she pregnant?" he asked, looking at Abigail. Anne was hiding her arm behind Riley.
"If she is would you leave the mother of your grandchild standing out in the cold?"
"I look pregnant?" Abigail asked. Riley shook his head.
"Come in." he said. As they filed in, Mr. Gate caught sight of her. "Anne! What happened?"
"I'm fine Dad."
"Weren't you watching her?" he asked Ben.
"Dad! It wasn't Ben's fault! I ran into a car door."
"The first aid's in the bathroom."
Anne changed into a black tank top and came back to the living room with gauze and antibiotic, to see Riley eating pizza on the couch and Ben arguing with their father.
"Of course, I know. I'm the family kook. I have a house, a job, health insurance. At least I had your mother, for however brief a time. What do you have? Him?" He pointed at Riley.
"He's got me, Dad." Anne said.
"Look, if you just give us the letters we're gone." Ben interrupted, not wanting Anne to get in trouble.
"You disappoint me Ben."
"Well, maybe that's the real Gates family legacy. Sons who disappoint their fathers."
"Get out. Take your troubles with you." Their dad snapped.
"Dad!" Anne said, incredulously.
"I found the Charlotte."
"The Charlotte? You mean she was a ship?" their father asked, eyes lighting up.
"Yeah. She was beautiful. It was amazing dad."
"And the treasure?"
"No, no, but we found another clue, which lead us here…" Ben began.
"And that will lead to another clue, and that's all you'll ever find is another clue. Don't you get it Ben? I finally figured it out. The legend said the treasure was buried to keep it from the British. But what really happened was, the legend was invented to keep the British occupied searching for buried treasure. The treasure is a myth."
"I refuse to believe that." Ben said.
"Me too." Anne said.
"You can believe what you want. You're a grown people. What am I doing? Do what you want, kids. Do what you want."
"He can't be right." Anne murmured.
"Well, I can think of a way we can find out. And we can find out right now."