The Hidden Treasure (on hold)

Chapter-3-The Interview and Solving

The afternoon was cool and breezy and the children enjoyed themselves. They soon reached the Reirce mansion. They knocked on the door. Mr. Reirce himself opened the door. The children were taken back as he was a really tall, well-built and burly man. He was dressed quite formally. “Good afternoon Mr. Reirce” said the 4 children. Julian, the oldest started off. “We actually wanted to ask you some questions. You see, we have planned to make a neighborhood map book and we wanted to mention your property in it. Is that okay?” “Yes, it is absolutely okay. In fact, I would appreciate it.” Answered Mr. Reirce. “Thank you, we would like to ask you some questions.” Said Paul, taking out his note book. “Does your land extent to the woods nearby?” “No” came the reply. “It extends till the fencing you see in the side.” “All right. Who were the previous owners?” “Mr. Smith and Mrs. Smith. They moved out of town for a better place, I think.” “Okay, this place looks grand. I have to say Mr. Reirce this house is like my dream house. Anyway, next question is there any myths woven around here like err… somethin’ like treasure?”

“Excuse me, sorry to interrupt but I umm have a meeting to attend. Maybe I’ll see you some time later. Yeah!” And with that, Mr. Reirce hurried to his expensive luxurious Porsche Carrera. “Can we talk to your wife then?” said Clara finally breaking her gaze of the tall and well-built man. “Yes, you certainly can.” Said Mr. Reirce climbing to his car. The children looked at each other in a look of awe of that man. Mr. Reirce rolled down his window and shouted in a quite calm tone, “Mackenzie, please come here.”

At once a beautiful woman appeared in a housekeeper uniform. She looked like she was in her early 20’s; she had a kind face with deep hazelnut eyes.  She smiled and said, “Yes sir!” “Mackenzie please takes these small curious kids to Candice.” Mr. Reirce said this with a wide grin and then the engine roared and he left. Mackenzie guided the kids to a huge or in short humongous dining room. The dining room had a gorgeous chandelier made up of Swarovski Crystals. Mackenzie got them some Oreos and warm milk, just what they needed! “Ms. Candice will be here in I think 4 minutes as she is busy with some work.” “Oh! There she is. Please excuse me.” Mrs. Reirce was a beautiful woman with lovely fire red hair and deep blue eyes which got Paul hypnotized.

 She sat down and said, “Good afternoon, what do you need?” “Actually Mrs. Reirce my cousins and I wanted to make a neighborhood map book and we wanted mention your mansion. We just talked Mr. Reirce. And we were hoping if you could answer some of our questions?” said Eve finally. “Absolutely. It would be my pleasure!” replied Mrs. Reirce. “So, are there and myths woven around here?” asked Paul nervously. Ms. Candice gave an unexpected answer, “Oh! I’m not really sure to be honest. But when we purchased this house, Mrs. Smith told me there was some kind of treasure hidden here.” “Oh! Thank you so much Mrs. Reirce! You have helped us make the book just perfect!” “We shall, I think take your pardon. Thank you for your time.” Said Julian.

As the children walked back Clara started grumbling, “Ahhhh! Like a nincompoop I didn’t even speak to Ms. Candice!”  Back at the John’s villa, Eve was on the role she said, “The place shown in the map is public ground.” “That’s AWESOME!” Chorused the rest. “Not so fast!” said Eve. “The land is no walk in the garden; the trees are so thick you can barely even see the sun and we can easily get lost and if we get lost we will starve and die and then poor mom will have to sing an epicide on our funeral!”

“Eve, chillax!” said Julian. “I have an almost mind-blowing idea!” Clara almost half screamed half shrilled. “Our grannykin’s pet dog, remember the cutest little Shih Tzu, Laila, is always longing a nice walk. Why don’t we take her for a walk? Grannykin will love that like literally love that.” “Clara you are now I think at level with Einstein” said Paul grinning. All the children burst out laughing. Paul suddenly screamed “Shit! I have an errand to run. Sorry guys gotta go!” “OMG! Paul you scared me right out my skin!” said Clara, laughing. “And as for Julian and I we have to get back home before it gets dark.” Julian and Clara waved goodbye and left.

The next day, Clara and Julian came at 8 o’clock in the morning to the John’s villa. Clara had already phoned Grannykin and told her that they would like to take Laila for a walk. Grannykin was overjoyed. After a quick breakfast of blueberry pancakes and each a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream, they took off to Grannykin’s which was sadly at the other end of the town. After an hour they reached Granny’s house. “Let’s leave our bicycles in Granny’s old shed.” said Clara. “Oh please in Granny’s old shed in smells like a dozen of cows died there.” said Eve who immensely disliked unpleasant smelling places. “Jeez Eve, we are not going for a party in there. Just leave your bike and come!” “Hey! Who has the map? I hope Julian, you have it.” Asked Paul. “Of course I have it.” Said Julian with dignity. They kept their bikes and went towards Grannykin’s house. It was gigantic and at least 15 years old. It had a beautiful garden with weeds and beautiful hibiscuses. Sheila, the young housekeeper, loved gardening. She was also a talent cook which made all your taste buds go “WHEEEEEEEEEE!”

Granny was waiting for them at the doorway. She looked very carefree and jovial as usual. “It’s very rare that Laila gets to go out as, as you see I am not fit anymore. Before you go, how about a little snack and Sheila has also prepared a scrumptious lunch for you. It’s in the basket in the hallway. After a hearty laugh and a satisfying snack, they were off and granny told them that she wanted Laila back by 4 o’clock. They walked towards the direction of the woods. Eve was right. The trees were so thick that no sunlight could pass through and not even the hint of a shadow could be seen. Julian looked at the map. According to it, the ‘treasure’ was in the very heart of the woods. They went on. Clara tripped on a root of a tree. Eve helped her up as Clara started to grumble on and on about they were walking on and on and getting nowhere. They went on again. Finally frustrated, Paul said, “I SAY, ARE WE EVER GONNA GET THERE?”  “We should be somewhere there.” Replied Julian staring furiously at the map.

 Laila walked on happily and enjoying the breeze. They reached their destination. “According to the map, I am currently standing on hidden treasure.” Said Julian with such a huge grin which almost reached his eyes. He and Paul had brought shovels with them and they started digging vigorously. In the mean time, Clara and Eve took rest. After 30 minutes Julian and Paul were drained and Clara and Eve took over.

They were on the verge of giving up and screaming in frustration and that’s when Clara hit something metal. They all gathered around it once in sheer excitement. Paul took a small beautiful yet covered in mud box. He safely placed it under the tree. “We finish what we started.” Said Paul nodding at the pit they had created. The 4 of them together covered the pit with the mud they had dug out. Soon they were done, all dirty and sweaty, but as time was increasing the excitement was increasing minute by minute. They dropped Laila off at Grannykin’s house. Laila was sad to say goodbye as she hated goodbyes. They had eaten their lunch on their way back. “OMG! How are we going to get inside the house like this? We all will get into an awful row with Mum and Dad!” said Eve. “Don’t worry!” grinned Paul. “Mum and Dad are out until 5 o’clock.” “Perfect! Or should I say ‘Parfait’” said Clara. Paul and Eve dashed to their house and unlocked it. Julian and Clara went to their house. Julian waited outside while Clara brought fresh clothes. The children bathed and locked the John’s villa and left. “Fish! I was almost caught by Mum.” Said Clara.

The children ran to the nearby park and when they got there Clara, the normally serious one took out her MP3. ‘I think I’d have a heart attack’ she started humming. “Ahem! Clara, we have to do something.” Said Paul. “God! Lovatics always listen to Demi’s songs in times like these when you are nervous!” exclaimed Clara. While muttering explosive things under her breath she kept her MP3 inside her messenger bag. Paul had brought the tool box in case of need, but in the first attempt the lid just fell off.  The bottom of the box was covered in mud and on the side laid another a map and a key which also unlocked the children’s crazy questions and excitements about it.