Serpent

Yar, Har, Diddly Dee

Abran, Maribo, Adan, and Ponce parked the trucks at the Atkin house shortly after Hugo, the twins, and Layla were there. Abran was laughing hysterically as he closed the driver's door and went over to Layla and Hugo.

"You're not mad?" Layla asked, smiling faintly. Abran grinned.

"Mad? Mad? No, no!" He pulled Hugo into a tight hug, slapping his back. "Maravilloso!" He let go of Hugo and kissed Layla's forehead. "The things Hackett told me, oh, Layla, your wit as always!" He turned to the twins. "Ciro! Cisco! Stealing their motorcycles and blowing up the plumbing! Oh, come here," he hugged his two sons, who were about an inch taller than him. When they pulled away, Abran took a good look at the four of them. "De ahí en adelante, tú siempre ser viniendo con mí." Then he started grinning again and made his way inside. Hugo and Layla looked at each other surprised.

"Treasure this moment, boys and girls," said Cisco, "we will never see him happy like this ever again."

"Unless he's drunk." Ciro added. Cisco nodded, then slapped his brother's shoulder.

"Speaking of which, Maribo said that Clayton has the best whiskey. Want to test that theory?" He suggested. Ciro shrugged and headed inside, Cisco following. Layla and Hugo smiled and followed the twins.

Inside, Abran was chatting with Clayton and some other Atkin folk in the center of the main room, cigars and drinking glasses in the hands of the suited men. Some women were out talking on the couches or were offering drinks to some others. One girl that looked his age offered Hugo a glass of whiskey. He declined, but turned to check her out as she walked away. Layla scoffed and shook her head.

"Hey, Hugo!" His cousin Maribo called from the other side of the room. Hugo turned to see Maribo next to Jensen Atkin, beckoning him over. Layla shoved him.

"Well, go on. I'll be with the ladies." She walked away toward a little girl and her mother on the couch. Hugo went over to his cousin.

"Huberto, it's nice to see you all grown up. Last I saw you, you were about," Jensen lowered his hand to his knee and chuckled. "You've grown a lot like Marcos. I'm sure your uncle is proud."

"He sure is," Maribo acknowledged. "Hugo and Layla are a great team. They bring a lot to us Cains." He took a sip of his drink from the glass. Jensen smiled.

"That's good, that's good. So, tell me, Hugo, how do pirates interest you?" He asked.

"Pirates?" Hugo was a little startled by the sudden question.

"Yes, pirates. Me hoy minoy, yar matey and all that." Maribo confirmed. "Oh, Abran is calling me over. I'll leave you to explain." Maribo excused himself and went over to the crowd.

"As you've probably heard, I've been working an interesting case with my friend Richard," Jensen started. "We were working with these treasure hunters, the Andres, but they cut us off and, well," he sighed, "threatened to kill us if we showed our faces again."

"Whoa," Hugo raised his eyebrows. "What did you do?"

"We may have lied to them, almost killed them, and maybe they overheard our plan of just killing them once we find this pirate treasure." Explained Jensen.

"Wow. Good job." Hugo remarked. Jensen chuckled.

"Yeah, a real pat on the back, eh?" Jensen limped over to a chair and sat. "Sorry, but sometimes my leg gives out." He started. Hugo nodded, understanding. "So, Richard and I were wondering if we could get some younger people to help us. I can't really do any extreme climbing or anything like that, and Richard is going into the American Marine Corps in two months, so neither of us can tackle it again. I would ask your cousins or brothers, but you and her," Jensen gestured to Layla, who was sitting on the ground with the little girl, "are a brilliant team. And a treasure hunt sounds exciting, right?"

"It sure does. What are the details?" Hugo asked. Jensen finished off his drink and set it on a coaster beside the chair.

"So this old pirate named Elias Crags has got a treasure stashed somewhere that's worth about two million US dollars. But the cave where it was supposedly buried in just had a portrait of him with his face scratched out and a map with an x on it. The x marked the spot of Elias's brother's grave, and in the coffin next to the bones of Edward Crags was a note to Elias's crew that said to hide the treasure somewhere only the 'Righteous Man could find.' Now this righteous man Elias was referring to was an old saint that lived in their time. The Andres, Richard and I all knew another clue would be buried with the saint, but then the Andres cut us off. I know there is still a lot more, but I can't go after it." The girl Hugo saw earlier poured more whiskey in Jensen's drink. "Thank you, sweetheart. So, what do you say? Sound good enough for you, Huberto?" He took a sip, watching Hugo, who felt the gears whirring in his brain.

"I'm sure Layla will be as excited as I am. She's a big history buff, a big geek on old adventures and explorers. Pirates are right up her alley." Hugo started. Jensen set his glass down again, looking back at Layla.

"You like her?" He asked. Hugo snapped his head back at him.

"What?"

"Well, she's attractive. A little younger than you, still around your age. Pretty badass, but still has a heart. Smart, witty. She your kind of girl?" Jensen looked at Layla for a bit, then back at Hugo.

"W-well, honestly, at first I thought of her that way. For a long time. But, after so many years," Hugo sighed, slumping in his chair. "I don't think she likes me the same way."

"Hmm. That's too bad, Huberto. A little advice for girls like her, you gotta catch them in a weak moment and support them. Being the knight in shining armor or superman to save the day won't work for them. She may be tough and 'could really give a crap' on the outside, but if you find out what makes her cry, punch it in the face, then wrap her in your arms and she'll fall right in love. Boom." Jensen held out his glass. Hugo laughed.

"Sounds a little complicated." He stated.

"Eh, with her type it usually is. But believe me, having a girl like that love you is like having an angel on your side. And that angel will do anything for you."

"I know," Hugo said, looking back at Layla. "She's my partner."