Treasure Hunters: Book of Secrets

Nine: The Next Clue

After a very squishy ride in the small elevator, the three emerged into a long hall.

"Okay now go left," instructed Riley.

"It's a dead end."

"I mean right, go right."

"With your sense of direction we'll be lucky if we ever find it," Alex chuckled.

"Love you too, Al."

Following Riley's directions, the trio made their way down the hall until they reached it, the Queen's study. And there at the far end of the room stood the desk.

"There it is," said Ben. "The Resolute Desk. We're looking for writing, patterns in the carvings - could be anything." He lay on the carpet beneath the desk. "Hey look at this: Malcolm Gilvary, 1880."

"Here, hold on a second... Malcolm Gilvary - well he didn't make furniture. He made Chinese puzzle boxes," Riley informed.

Ben pulled open one of the drawers. "Ah..."

"What?" Abigail crawled under the desk and lay next to him.

"I think these drawers work like tumblers in a safe." Ben peeked out from beneath the desk. "Al, you keep watch."

"Seriously? You two get to have all the fun searching for clues on the Queen's desk, and I have to keep watch." Alex sighed, but posted herself by the door. "Well at least I have someone to talk to. Ri, we're in the Queen's study! The Queen's! It's really nice..."

"Okay so four drawers, a four digit combination..."

"Queen Victoria was born in 1819," Alex called from her post.

Ben and Abigail tried it. Nothing. "1876 was on the Statue in Paris, let's try that," suggested Ben. They tried it - there was a pop. They got to their feet, crawling out from under the desk to inspect it.

"What is it?" Alex came over to find a dark, old wooden plank bearing intricate markings.

"Uh oh," said Ben. "New rules. These markings look like Incan or Aztec."

"I've never seen symbols like this," gushed Abigail, running her fingers over the markings. "I mean this looks centuries older than Civil War."

"I can't read Aztec or Incan or whatever symbols they are, but I doubt they have anything to do with a plot to assassinate Lincoln," said Alex.

"Uh oh," came Riley's voice over the radio suddenly, breaking up their thinking circle. "Get out of there guys - now."

Ben tucked the plank into his suit jacket and they fled from the study.

"Okay, let's make some noise..."

About a minute later, as the three were hurriedly making their way through the hall, the fire alarm started blaring. Ben and Alex exchanged a knowing smile.

"Good one Ri."

"God Save the Queen."

Setting off the fire alarm had caused quite a scene as they soon discovered. Fire trucks with their alarms blaring pulled up in front of the palace while the security guards tried to calmly and quickly escort all the visitors out into the streets. "Thank you ladies and gentlemen, keep moving please."

"Can I see the thing?" Riley asked once they had all met up and made it off the palace grounds. Ben produced the plank and handed it to him. "Wow, I went to Buckingham Palace and all I got was this old piece of wood?"

"Don't judge a book by its cover," Alex reminded him.

"Oh no," said Ben suddenly.

"What?"

"I know who else is after the treasure."

"Who?" asked Alex.

"Wilkinson!"

(Oh my goodness guys I know it's been forever and I'm sorry! Other stories have been taking priority lately (my 'Jumani', 'Jurassic World', and new 'Black Panther' stories) but I promise you I will finish this story sooner or later! (hopefully sooner ;)) thanks so much for sticking with me, and I hope you enjoyed!)