"I can't figure out this clue to save my life," Jess complained another few days later, "We are never going to find the PanAmerican treasure."
Elsie was pouring herself a cup of coffee when she responded, "Maybe you should take a step back. Clear your mind for a little while and then get back to it. It could help," she added.
"That couldn't hurt," Tasha agreed.
Apparently the universe wanted Jess to take a break because Liam invited the group to his grandfather's wake.
"We have to go," Elsie stated, "He probably wants some moral support."
Tasha nodded, "I know it'll remind you of your mom's funeral but you'll be ok."
"Ok, let's go," Jess agreed as the three ladies got ready and met up with Oren at Sadusky's house.
As the group walked through the crowd at the wake, Elsie jumped behind Tasha when she saw someone she knew.
"Girl! What's up?" Tasha asked but stopped once she saw Riley Poole in the crowd. "He was Sadusky's friend. It's not super surprising he's here, I guess."
"Just don't let him see me," Elsie begged before laughing as she added, "Like he'd even remember me."
As if she spoke it into existence, Riley Poole walked up to their group, "Elsie Hart, it's nice to see you. I would have liked to see you sooner and under better circumstances."
"Riley," she replied as he took her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it, "Let me introduce you to my friends. I'm sure you know Liam. This is Jess and this is Tasha."
Tasha interrupted the greetings, "So, you've written a bunch of books about treasure. We're stumped on a clue about a pretty important treasure. We could really use your help…"
Jess rolled her eyes, "C'mon, he's retired."
"No, I'm not retired," Riley corrected, "Ben and I are still working on a project. One with forty-seven reasons to be excited," he added with a wink they couldn't comprehend, "Hit me with the clue."
Jess nodded before she spoke, "I've got a message for Miss Morning Dove White. The twin-tongued serpent's tail is revealed in fair weather by the bend in the new found land."
Riley stepped back and started thinking over the clue but was interrupted by a guest wanting his attention.
"Excuse me, Elsie I'd like to speak with you later, if you don't mind," Riley stated as he walked away once she nodded. He mouthed, "Meet me in his office."
Elsie left her friends and headed to Sadusky's office where she waited on Riley, even though she didn't want to.
After a few minutes, he joined her.
"Elsie, why didn't you call?" he asked, jumping straight in.
"No small talk?" she countered as she saw him start to fiddle with books on the shelf. "I didn't think you really wanted to see me again. You were just being nice and I, honestly, wasn't sure if that phone number was even real," she answered, genuinely.
Riley opened the secret door to the 'clue room' before he responded, "Why would you think that? I really liked you. What am I saying, I really like you. I wanted us to become something real," he explained but paused as Jess entered the room.
"What are you two doing in here?" Jess asked.
Elsie glanced at Jess, "He wanted to talk to me and he found his way in here."
"The glasses? What is this room?" Riley questioned as he moved toward them.
"Its Sadusky's 'clue room'," Jess explained, "He was looking for a treasure. The clue I told you was for it."
Before anyone could speak again, Riley had Benjamin Franklin's glasses in his hand setting off an alarm.
"Lockdown sequence initiated," a voice said.
"What did you do?" Elsie yelled as she and Jess raced toward the panel on the wall.
"Enter the passcode," the voice added.
Jess looked at the panel, "We need a code before the oxygen leaves this room."
Elsie leaned against the wall, "Go on you two. I am not a clue person."
As the minutes passed, Riley and Jess found two of the codes but they were running out of time.
"Elsie, I'm sorry that I didn't give you the impression that I was truly interested in you. In case we die in this room, " he apologized as he leaned forward and placed his lips to hers in a passionate kiss.
Once they parted, Riley glanced back to Jess as she was figuring out the last number in the sequence for their escape.
They got out just in time and found their friends frantically looking for a way to get them out.
Once Jess, Riley, and Elsie had a chance to catch their breath, literally, the group starting working on the clue again because Jess had a revelation while they were trapped.
Riley was listening but he was also holding Elsie closely against his body in Sadusky's desk chair. "I'm never losing you again," he whispered.
"How can you feel this way after we spent only one night together?" she whispered back, still shocked he'd sat her on his lap in front of all of her friends.
"I just do and I always trust my instincts," he replied as he placed a kiss on her cheek before he tuned back into the group discussion and offered some key information helping them to their next clue.
"Come with me," Riley asked as he prepared to get back on his plane and on to his next adventure.
"Or, you could stay here with me and help us hunt for treasure…" she offered as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
A/N: Which choice will they make? Go or stay? Find out next week!