Treasure Hunters: Book of Secrets

Chapter One: Of Breakups and Assassination Plots

"I just don't understand him sometimes. He can be so frustrating-" Abigail cut herself off, pausing in her rant, and looked across the table to Alex. "I'm ranting again, aren't I?"

Alex gave a little shrug while sipping her coffee. After much persuasion, she had finally managed to get Abigail out of the house, where she had cooped herself up following her break up with Ben. They now sat in a noisy coffee shop which, in Alex's opinion, was better than being alone in that big mansion.

"And you probably don't like to hear me talk negative about your brother. You probably think I'm a bitch now for breaking his heart."

Alex shrugged. "Hey, he's my brother, I know how he can be. But he's my brother and you're my friend, so I'm not taking sides. But I do think you guys should talk." Okay, she was a little upset with Abigail for kicking Ben out of their shared mansion, but she also wanted them to be together and happy like they had been before.

"Yeah," sighed Abigail, but sounded distant. Then she shook her head. "But enough about me and Ben. How are you - oh!" Now she smirked. "How are things with you and Riley?"

At this, Alex tried - and failed - to hide a huge smile. Abigail definitely caught this.

"Alex!" she cried, reaching out and lightly hitting Alex's wrist. "Tell me! Did he ask you out?! He did, didn't he?!"

"Yes," said Alex, grinning widely. "But we're not making a huge deal about it right now."

Abigail gasped. "Finally!" she exclaimed. "Took long enough!"

"You sound like my brother," Alex chuckled. "We were both really busy after finding the treasure, and Riley was finishing up his book and went on tour with it."

"Well I'm happy for you both."

"Thanks." Alex looked at her watch. "Yikes, I should get going - don't want to be late for the lecture." She downed the rest of her coffee and stood. "You going to be alright?"

Abigail nodded. "What lecture is this again?"

Alex smiled. "Thomas Gates and President Lincoln."

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"The Knights of the Golden Circle was a Southern extremist group operating in the north to subvert Union forces," Ben explained to the lecture hall. "Had Thomas not destroyed those legendary missing pages from the Booth diary, the killers may have found a vast treasure of gold, and the Union may have lost the Civil War, leaving the past we know to be very different. Thank you."

Alex applauded along with the rest of the audience from her front row seat, adding a few cheers as well.

Doctor Nichols took the stage. "I'd like to thank Ben, Patrick, and Alex Gates-" He gestured to her and her father who stood and joined him and Ben on stage by the podium. "-And say what a wonderful addition Thomas Gates will be to our civilian heroes exhibition."

"Thank you Doctor Nichols," said Patrick. "I only wish my grandfather could be here to witness this wonderful day."

"Excuse me," called a man from the back. "I have a question I'd like to ask." The three Gateses turned to look into the back row. "What do you think ever happened to that Booth diary page that was pulled from the fire?"

"We may never know," Ben answered.

"Perhaps," said the man. "Perhaps not." His face was shrouded in shadow. "You see, I have one of those great-great-granddaddies myself, just like you, way up in my family tree, by the name of Silas Wilkinson. He used to tell a story about the night Lincoln was shot and as he tells it, Booth didn't seek out Thomas Gates regarding a treasure map that night, it was Thomas who called the meeting. A meeting to plan the assassination of Abraham Lincoln."

There was a moment of stunned silence. Ben broke it. "How absurd."

"That's a lie!" cried Patrick. Alex scoffed.

The man rose to his feet and reached into his pocket, withdrawing a small piece of parchment. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you one of the missing pages from the diary of John Wilkes Booth, with the name Thomas Gates written on a list along with all the other killers."

(Welcome back everyone to another 'Treasure Hunters'! Hope you enjoyed this first chapter, thanks so much for reading! :))