Treasure Protectors

Chapter 8

"There is not a treasure map on the back of the Declaration of Independence." Abigail yelled after the Gates' siblings retold their long history with the Templar Treasure. Alex shrugged, happy she wasn't taking the brunt of Abigail's anger.

" And there's no chance anyone can steal this either." Ben shook the declaration in his hands. Both Alex and Abigail gave him an unamused look. "I levelled with you 100 per cent. Everything I told you was the truth."

"I want that document, Mr Brown." There was a pause.

"Ok, my name's not Brown." He looked at Alex who just provided a shrug. "It's Gates. I levelled with you 98 per cent."

"Wait a minute, did you just say "Gates"? Gates? You're that family with the conspiracy theory about the Founding Fathers?" She looked at both Ben and Alex, that latter gave a noncommittal shrug.

"It's not a conspiracy theory."

"Per se." Alex raised her eyes at Riley who just as quickly looked away.

"You know what? I take it back. You're not liars. You're insane."

"I guess that's fair." Alex commented. "But, If you're trying to plead insanity that was was something we've been taught since we were kids. So, we're really just victims of our education."

Abigail gave a heavy sigh. Ben looked at her sternly. "Your grade school teachers didn't correct you?"

"Maybe they should have." Alex replied sarcastically. Ben scratched the back of his head.

"My sister. Alex Gates." He introduced. "Not Alex Brown."

"And not Bill." Riley responded, pointing at himself. Alex gave him a quick smile.

"That's Riley." She announced.

"Great." Abigail responded. "Nice to meet you Ben, Alex and Riley. Now tell me, what exactly is your plan for one of the most definitive items in our country's history?"

"Light and citrus." Alex responded. Ben quickly responded with "she's being sarcastic" and began to explain what they hoped to find, and how.

"You can't seriously intend to run chemical tests on the Declaration of Independence in the back of a moving van."

"We have a clean-room environment all set up. EDS suits, a particulate air filtration system, the whole shebang." Riley interjected.

"Really?"

"We can't go back there."

"What? Why not?"

Ben then explained what had happened after the comms went down. He had managed to secure the declaration but as he was leaving a cashier believed him to be stealing. He didn't have enough cash and was subjected to using his card.

"Couldn't charm your way out of that one." Alex commented as Ben gave her a glare.

"A credit-card slip? Dude, we're on the grid. They'll have your records from forever. They'll have my records from forever." Riley paused. "Alex's records from forever."

"Do you know what that means?" Alex quietly questioned Riley, he quickly mumbled, "it was from a movie."

"I know. I know. It's only a matter of minutes before the FBI shows up at my front door."

"Our door."

"What do we do?"

"We need those letters." Alex nodded in agreement.

"What letters?"

"You know, get off the road, take a right." Ben directed, leaning over Alex .

"What letters?"