Chapter 316: Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure Part 7
That evening, Sir Topham Hatt exited his office, ready to head home. A representative from the museum followed him out, the treasure chest clutched under his arms.
"Thank you for coming this late, Samuel. I didn't think you'd be able to come out here until tomorrow."
"Of course, Sir Topham. Once we heard that you had Captain Calles's treasure, we just had to come see for ourselves. Tell me, who was it that discovered it?"
"Well, technically speaking it was Jim, one of the construction workers on the extension. But Diesel was the one to find the ship."
"Excellent! We'll make sure both get the credit for the find. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to the museum before it closes."
"Take Duck's evening train. You should get to Arlesburgh before it closes."
"Thank you. Have a good evening, Sir. Say hello to the misses for me."
"I will, you as well."
With that, the two men went their separate ways.
Later, in the dead of night, Skiff and Sailor John snuck into the quiet station.
"Alright, I'll go in, and you keep look out. Got it, Skiff?"
"Aye aye, uncle!"
"And if anyone sees you and starts asking questions?"
"That I'm lost and waiting for my uncle!"
"And if they don't buy that?"
"Knock them out with my flashlight!"
"Good. Once I find that treasure, I'll be rich!"
"Um, don't you mean we'll be rich?"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever.."
With that, Sailor John picked the lock and broke in, scanning the room methodically.
"Now, let's see. If I was a safe, where would I be?"
Carefully, he began picking apart the room, looking under every little thing to cover his bases.
Skiff fiddled nervously, darting his eyes back and forth across the platform. Not a soul was to be seen, but that did little for his nerves.
"Come on, uncle…"
"Hey there, little guy! What're you doing here so late?"
Skiff nearly jumped out of his skin. Daisy and Ryan approached, surprised to see someone on the platform.
"Are you lost? You shouldn't be here so late by yourself."
"I'm…I'm not lost! I'm just waiting for my uncle! He told me to meet him here."
"Really? Well, you won't find him here. The station's closed to the public until morning."
"Where is your uncle? He shouldn't leave you by yourself!"
"Um, well, he's…"
Just then, a small explosion rocked the station.
"What was that?"
"Oh, it was nothing!"
"It sounded like it came from Sir Topham Hatt's office! Come on!"
Before Skiff could stop them, the forced their way past him and threw open the door. There stood Sailor John, angrily stomping on the ground. The safe was open, the door blown off with some dynamite, but the treasure was nowhere to be found.
"Where is it? He must have moved it! Oh, that dirty…"
"Excuse me, what are you doing here?"
"Skiff, you had one job!"
"Leave him out of this, you thief!"
Sailor John growled.
"If you want something done right, you do it yourself!"
And with one quick motion,he hit Ryan over the head with his flashlight, knocking him out.
"Ryan! You'll pay for that, you…"
Acting quickly, knocking Daisy to the ground with a quick whack to the leg from behind, with Sailor John knocking her out. After that, he glared at Skiff.
"You had one job, mutt. Can't you do anything right?"
"You're the one who blew the safe open with dynamite!"
Sailor John groaned, and tossed the two over his shoulders.
"Never mind, this works out perfectly. Get some rope…"
The next morning, everyone was at the construction site, bright and early ready for work. Everyone, that is, except for two.
"Where are Ryan and Daisy?" Miss Jenny asked. "They should've been here by now."
"Little Miss Perfect is probably slacking off again," Max sniggered. Monty joined him, but a sharp glare from Miss Jenny silenced them.
"Maybe they just overslept?" Toad offered, hopefully.
Before anyone could say anything else, Sir Topham Hatt's car roared onto the scene, the controller leaping out in a panic.
"Daisy and Ryan have been kidnapped!"
"What?!"
Sir Topham Hatt showed them all a note, which read "We have your friends, and if you want to see them alive again, bring me the treasure to Harwick beach at sunset tonight. And don't think of calling the police, or they swim with the fishes."
"That's awful!"
"Have you called the police?"
"Yes, but there's no leads to go off of. I'm on my way to the museum now, but please be on the lookout for anyone suspicious."
With that, Sir Topham Hatt sped off, leaving everyone to contemplate the news. After a few minutes everyone got back to work. Everyone, that is, except for Diesel.
"Diesel!" Duck snapped. "What's wrong with you?"
"Those two inspectors! I knew something was up with them!"
"What're you going on about?"
"A few days after that sinkhole opened, I found these two strangers looking around it. It was one old guy, and a kid. Said they were inspecting the area to make sure it was safe."
"And you never told anyone?"
"I didn't think anything of it! It was late, I was tired!"
"And you think they're the ones who kidnapped them?"
"Maybe not, but they're our best lead."
"Diesel, we need to call the police!"
"And do what? Even if I'm right, we have no proof!"
"Well, what do you suggest?"
Diesel sighed.
"We need to rescue them ourselves."
"What? Me, work with you?"
"You think this is my idea of a fun time? Look, like it or not, we're Ryan and Daisy's best chance of making it out of this alive. I don't like you, and you don't like me. But…I'm willing to put that aside to save our friends. Partners?"
Duck glared for a moment, before shaking his hand.
"Partners."