Treasure Protectors

Chapter 9

"That's an awful idea." Alex said as she followed her brother around.

"Duct tape and rope." He continuously muttered as he looked through drawers, eventually making his walk to the garage where he gave a quiet acknowledgment of pride at finding the materials.

He turned back to see his sister with crossed arms and a glare.

"Listen,"

"I've listened. I've understood. I don't see how this is the only option."

"Let's assume the FBI is down the street."

Alex nodded in understanding.

"They're going to go knocking on dad's door. Would it be better for them to find him in a way that didn't implicate him in a conspiracy or,"

"I get it Ben." She confirmed. "But there has to be another option. We can take dad with us." She suggested.

"And risk his constant verbal attacks against what we're looking for. It's non-negotiable." Ben replied, laughing slightly in disbelief.

"So you don't have any moral qualms against tying our father up." Alex continued as she followed Ben back to the living room.

Ben ran his hand on his face before turning to their father. "Dad, are you okay with us tying you up to avoid being arrested and put in prison?"

Alex gave Ben an unamused look. "Do I have a choice?" Their father responded sardonically.

"No." Ben replied quickly before motioning to a chair and immediately grabbing the rope once their father sat down.

"I'm sorry." Alex whispered to her father before they left. He just gave her a small attempt at a shrug before she handed him his left over soda. Riley had his hand on her back as he ushered her into the garage.

"Your dad's got a sweet ride." Riley announced 20 minutes later. Him and Alex were holed up in the back seat of her fathers Cadillac, him trying to sleep with crossed arms, her, sitting straight up and staring out the window.

"I think we should change clothes. We look kind of conspicuous, don't you think?" Ben relayed to Abigail.

"I'd love to go shopping, too, but we have no money." Riley answered, causing Alex to light-heartedly roll her eyes.

"He meant for him and Abigail." She told him. "Here," she said as she reached forward, handing Abigail a small book. " I remembered he kept some money in there."

"Common Sense. How appropriate." She responded, opening the book to find some hundred dollar bills falling out.

"Nice thinking Al." Ben complimented.

"Yeah well, not like we can use your credit card."

"I guess I deserve that." Ben whispered, giving Alex a small smile she noticed from the mirror. She smiled shortly and nodded her head.

"When are we gonna get there? I'm hungry. This car smells weird."

They had made it to a motel around 12 PM, paying, of course, with a hundred dollar bill that the greeter had spent minutes analyzing. Riley was so exhausted he almost toppled over when Alex gave him a small push, resulting in her fits of laughter. It seemed she had gained a second wind and she felt wide awake.

"Here." Ben handed a key to Abigail, which Alex had failed to grab despite reaching for it. "We reconvene at 8."

Alex rolled her eyes but nodded. Abigail smiled and responded in kind.

Riley gave Alex a small wave bye as they both headed into their rooms. 'Have fun." She said. In truth neither of them knew what Ben would do in a hotel room in the middle of a treasure hunt. She had gladly left his bunk,ate to be Ian while her and Riley usually shared, watching movies or rather, she watched movies while he did his thing on the computer. She'd much rather be spending the night sharing with Riley than with some woman nine of them really knew. At least then maybe Ben wouldn't be so uptight.