Treasure for All

26. Goat Island

"I overheard the professor talking on the phone with someone," Dalia explained her story in the boardroom, "he's been following you ever since you left London. When he went to bed that night, that's when I sneaked into his desk to find out what was happening, and that's when I found all of the maps and notes in the envelope."

"I knew it!" Taeran shouted. "I knew we shouldn't have trusted him."

"What exactly is he wanting to do with us?" Hongjoong asked.

"I'm not sure," Dalia shrugged. "But I know for a fact that he wants Celestia's necklace. He believes it's the last missing piece of the diamond."

"From the way he was staring at her neck at lunch that day," San's remembered, hints of anger in his voice, "I don't doubt it."

Dinah put a hand on his shoulder to try to calm him, and he gave her a nod in acknowledgement.

"He's also been following you," Dalia continued. "He was planning on more ways to stop you, but his ship got stuck in Rome. A part of his ship was damaged from the explosion."

Everything began to make sense now. The bombs and arrows in Italy confirmed the captain's suspicions of someone following them. Hongjoong felt trust in a family friend get thrown out the window. The articles Jongho found began to tie together as well. Steinbeck had murdered his colleagues and figured out how to get away with it. How could Steinbeck do this? Status? Money? Fame? He had most of it. It didn't make sense.

"Is he still there?" he asked.

"No," Dalia shook her head. "He would call me and keep me up to date of where he was. Last I heard from him was when he got his ship fixed, so I don't know if he's following you or not."

"I checked the radar," San said, "and no other ship was detected."

"Well, I would stay alert," Dalia warned.

"We will," the captain promised. "For now, let's find a place for you to sleep while you're with us."

After some discussion, it was decided that Dalia would bunk with Yunho for the time being, and of course the mechanic couldn't stop blushing. The crew then reviewed their findings and what they needed to prepare for Niagara Falls and how to stay wary if the professor followed them there. Taeran acted as the translator for Dalia as she was now possibly taking Celestia's role as the archaeologist and historian.

"There's a park nearby called Goat Island," Hongjoong concluded. "We'll land and shield the ship in the center. There might be cars or pedestrians walking by, but it'll be early in the morning when we land."

"And there's a hospital nearby," Yeosang piped up. "Climbing the rocks will be tricky, so if we need medical attention too big for the medical wing, we can go there."

WIth one last note to be cautious, the meeting was adjourned. Yunho didn't hesitate to take Dalia by the hand and lead her to his bedchambers, but not without a "Don't get crazy" warning from Seonghwa. Hongjoong went back to try to rest some more as his illness was still going away, Dinah and Wooyoung went with Yeosang and Phoebe to the dining area for a few rounds of Poker, and everyone else headed to their rooms for the night. Mingi and San were the last two to leave as they had to set the course for Niagara Falls, New York.

"San," Dahae pulled the navigator aside. "Where was your wife? Is she okay?"

"She isn't feeling well," he replied. "So I let her stay in the room. I think she's just tired, and her pregnancy mixed with the stress of this quest hasn't been good on her."

"I see. Well, I'm next to watch her when we land next. I'll make sure she's getting plenty of rest."

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