LOVE AND TREASURE | ❝I still love you, Ben after all this time apart.❞
━ IN WHICH Clara Bass is pulled back into the world of treasure hunting through her ex-boyfriend and this a new love grows between them.
| Clara Bass' Standalone Book
| Clara Bas...
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▌Chapter 24 ─ A Playfair Cipher ▌
━━━━━ CLARA WALKED BEHIND Ben but was in front of the President. She still wasn't sure how she had even talked herself into this part of the plan but she had.
"You know, I don't get you Gates. You do all this, you're willing to go to prison just to clear your ancestor's name." The president said.
"The way out is just down those stairs." Ben said Clara stood next to Ben and looked at the President. "Everything I am is because of my ancestors, sir. Thomas Gates gave his last full measure of devotion to his country to stop the KGC. When someone dies for their country, I believe they should be honored."
"Last full measure of devotion?"
"Lincoln's my favorite president, sir. No offense."
"None taken. He's my favorite, too." Clara smiled as the President proceeded to walk down the steps. The married couple then followed behind him.
"Sir, we know the book exists, and our question is, will you agree to let us see it?" Ben asked him. He stopped in his tracks to look back at Ben and Clara.
"Even if something like that really did exist, why do you think I would actually just give it to you?"
"Because it will probably lead us to the discovery of the greatest Native American treasure of all time ─ a huge piece of culture lost." Ben answered.
"You can give that history back to its descendants." Clara said, sending him a soft smile.
"And because... you're the President of the United States, sir. Whether by innate character or the oath you took to defend the Constitution or the weight of history that falls upon you, I believe you to be an honorable man, sir."
"Gates, people don't believe that stuff anymore."
"They wanna believe it." They made it to the end of the tunnel, Ben pushed through the door. He turned around and held his hand out to Clara who took it and walked through. Then the President followed behind her. "Nearest highway's that direction. You'll understand if we part ways here." The couple went to walk away from the President.
"Gates." He called out to them.
"Sir?" Ben asked as he and Clara turned to look back at him.
"The following conversation never happened. The book exists."
"Where is it?" Clara asked him.
"Well where else do you keep a book? In the Library of Congress. XY234786."
"Thank you, sir." Ben and Clara started to turn away.
