directions to bury’d keg. For purposes of secrecy the other half of cipher is deposit’d in my Most Trust’d Craft Brother’s Most Trust’d Trade Tool.
“What the—”
That was the last of Boyd’s entries. He would die the very next day. Jake looked up and exhaled. His heart raced with excitement as to the importance of the find. Buried treasure, sunken cannons, secret ciphers, silver broaches, caves, and a map? He didn’t know where to begin or how it all fit together. But he certainly recognized a once in a lifetime opportunity at his fingertips. An adventure he wished, an adventure he was granted. With Director Jacobson’s expertise and Dr. Ashland’s assistance the team at MHI could piece together the puzzles and get started on a new investigation. This is what his new job was all about and he was jacked up to jump in.
Yanking his cell phone from the tote, he called Ashland but received an out of office recording. He left a message for him to check his email as soon as he got in. Jake turned to his laptop, clicked some icons and drafted the email. He attached one digital image each of the horn, buckle, Butler’s letter, and the journal page of September the twelfth. He also explained what he told Ms. Hibbard about his thoughts on the scalp. He then hit the send button.
Just over his screen, at the entrance to the castle, Jake heard the main door swing open. He glanced up as that Alex Nero fellow strode out in a determined gait, his two Indian bodyguards shadowing him. The bodyguard who had issued the warning to Jake not to touch his boss held something in his hands that he couldn’t quite see. He watched him until he came into view then caught sight of the item.
Jake blinked. His eyes grew wide.
The Boyd Box.
Another flurry of questions ran through his mind as he continued observing the men exit toward the front of the fort. He slammed his laptop shut, stowed his gadgets in his tote, and quickly walked back into the main castle. Double-stepping up to the second floor, he found Ms. Hibbard in the hallway. She smiled gleefully.
“What happened to Boyd’s Box?” questioned Jake. “Is everything okay? I saw your last guest walking out with it.”
“Oh everything is just fine,” she said, her teeth gleaming. “He has the box because, well, he owns it now. And I’m sorry, he insisted on purchasing the scalp too. He made the association an offer we couldn’t refuse. He is a man of enormous wealth. He immediately wired the funds into our account. We have all of the financial assistance we need to get us out of our hole and then more to cover us for years to come. He is a wonderful man that Alex Nero.” She clapped in delight.
“But what about the RFA? Don’t all parties get a fair chance to bid on the items? I thought that’s how it worked. Six parties view the items, assess them, and bid on the purchase? Not a first come, first serve basis.”
The smile left her face. “Mr. Nero made an offer. I acted in the best interests of keeping this fort alive. I terminated the RFA process. It is my right.”
“But…”
Hibbard cut him off. “Mr. Nero is our saving grace. Now, if you will excuse me.” She turned and proceeded down the stairs.
Jake stood dumbfounded. He felt as if he had just gotten his foot on the playing field at the Super Bowl only to have his legs cut out from underneath him. The profound sense of loss was immediate and deep. In fact, this was the second strike today, he thought. He was too late in rescuing the trapped victim and now a major historical discovery was squandered before his eyes. Murphy certainly threw his track off now! He shuffled over to a window and rested his hands on the ledge, drooping his head and letting out a sigh. He peered out across the drill yard and soon watched Hibbard walk back to South Redoubt to disappear under the gatehouse.
After a minute of stunned silence he held his head high knowing what needed to be done. Exiting the castle he quickly
“What the—”
That was the last of Boyd’s entries. He would die the very next day. Jake looked up and exhaled. His heart raced with excitement as to the importance of the find. Buried treasure, sunken cannons, secret ciphers, silver broaches, caves, and a map? He didn’t know where to begin or how it all fit together. But he certainly recognized a once in a lifetime opportunity at his fingertips. An adventure he wished, an adventure he was granted. With Director Jacobson’s expertise and Dr. Ashland’s assistance the team at MHI could piece together the puzzles and get started on a new investigation. This is what his new job was all about and he was jacked up to jump in.
Yanking his cell phone from the tote, he called Ashland but received an out of office recording. He left a message for him to check his email as soon as he got in. Jake turned to his laptop, clicked some icons and drafted the email. He attached one digital image each of the horn, buckle, Butler’s letter, and the journal page of September the twelfth. He also explained what he told Ms. Hibbard about his thoughts on the scalp. He then hit the send button.
Just over his screen, at the entrance to the castle, Jake heard the main door swing open. He glanced up as that Alex Nero fellow strode out in a determined gait, his two Indian bodyguards shadowing him. The bodyguard who had issued the warning to Jake not to touch his boss held something in his hands that he couldn’t quite see. He watched him until he came into view then caught sight of the item.
Jake blinked. His eyes grew wide.
The Boyd Box.
Another flurry of questions ran through his mind as he continued observing the men exit toward the front of the fort. He slammed his laptop shut, stowed his gadgets in his tote, and quickly walked back into the main castle. Double-stepping up to the second floor, he found Ms. Hibbard in the hallway. She smiled gleefully.
“What happened to Boyd’s Box?” questioned Jake. “Is everything okay? I saw your last guest walking out with it.”
“Oh everything is just fine,” she said, her teeth gleaming. “He has the box because, well, he owns it now. And I’m sorry, he insisted on purchasing the scalp too. He made the association an offer we couldn’t refuse. He is a man of enormous wealth. He immediately wired the funds into our account. We have all of the financial assistance we need to get us out of our hole and then more to cover us for years to come. He is a wonderful man that Alex Nero.” She clapped in delight.
“But what about the RFA? Don’t all parties get a fair chance to bid on the items? I thought that’s how it worked. Six parties view the items, assess them, and bid on the purchase? Not a first come, first serve basis.”
The smile left her face. “Mr. Nero made an offer. I acted in the best interests of keeping this fort alive. I terminated the RFA process. It is my right.”
“But…”
Hibbard cut him off. “Mr. Nero is our saving grace. Now, if you will excuse me.” She turned and proceeded down the stairs.
Jake stood dumbfounded. He felt as if he had just gotten his foot on the playing field at the Super Bowl only to have his legs cut out from underneath him. The profound sense of loss was immediate and deep. In fact, this was the second strike today, he thought. He was too late in rescuing the trapped victim and now a major historical discovery was squandered before his eyes. Murphy certainly threw his track off now! He shuffled over to a window and rested his hands on the ledge, drooping his head and letting out a sigh. He peered out across the drill yard and soon watched Hibbard walk back to South Redoubt to disappear under the gatehouse.
After a minute of stunned silence he held his head high knowing what needed to be done. Exiting the castle he quickly
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