The Hidden Beast by Christopher Pike

1
    I t was Leah Poole, Bryce Poole’s cousin, who brought the gang the treasure map. The fact that Leah was related to Bryce made Adam Freeman and Watch suspicious. Even though Adam and Watch had shared a couple of adventures with Bryce—one on the other side of the Secret Path, the other when prehistoric dinosaurs invaded Spooksville—the guys simply did not trust Bryce. The fact that he said he wanted to share a treasure with them made them trust him less.
    Even the girls had their doubts. While fighting the invasion of dinosaurs, Bryce had made a fewbad calls that Sally Wilcox had not forgiven. But to Sally’s credit—perhaps a credit to her greed—she was the one most interested in the treasure hunt. Cindy Makey, on the other hand, didn’t understand why Leah Poole would go to complete strangers and offer them half of a supposedly fabulous treasure in return for a little help. Cindy liked Bryce, but his cousin was another matter. Yet maybe Cindy’s distrust of Leah was partly because Leah was so pretty, with her sandy brown hair and pearl white teeth. Prettier, in fact, than Cindy.
    At least that was what Sally later said.
    They were in their favorite doughnut shop when Bryce walked in and hit them with the idea of the treasure hunt. Leah was outside for the moment, out of sight. Apparently Bryce wanted to soften them up on the idea first. But he hadn’t been talking long when they were all over him with questions.
    â€œWhere did this map come from?” Adam asked.
    â€œWhere did the treasure come from?” Watch asked.
    â€œWhere did Leah come from?” Sally asked.
    â€œYeah,” Cindy echoed.
    Bryce shook his head. “One question at a time. First, my cousin was born in Spooksville but moved away five years ago. She’s seventeen now, so she left here with my uncle when she was our age. It was her father, Uncle Charlie, who gave her the map just before he died. That was only two months ago—she’s still getting over the loss of her dad. It was her dad’s dying wish that she return here and find the treasure. Uncle Charlie was flat broke when he died, and Leah has no way to support herself.”
    â€œShe has no mother?” Cindy asked sympathetically. Blond and cute, Cindy was the gentlest one in the group, except when it came to dealing with Sally.
    â€œHer mother died when she was two,” Bryce said. “Anyway, she returned here with this map but . . .”
    â€œYes?” Adam asked when Bryce didn’t finish. Although the shortest and the newest to town, Adam usually led the group.
    â€œIt’s in code,” Bryce said reluctantly.
    â€œAnd you can’t figure it out?” Sally asked. Sally had long brown hair, and liked to ask hard questions.
    Bryce hesitated. “I am having some difficulties.”
    â€œWonders never cease,” Watch said, glancing at one of the four watches he always wore on his arms.
    â€œWhere did Leah’s father get the map?” Adam asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” Bryce said. “But he grew up in Spooksville and lived most of his life here. He was adventurous when he was little. I’m not surprised that he found a treasure map.”
    â€œBut if he’s had the map for a while,” Watch said, “why didn’t he go for the treasure himself?”
    â€œI’m not sure how long he had the map,” Bryce said. “I’m only guessing when he got it. He died before Leah could really ask him about it.”
    Watch frowned. “Are you saying he gave it to her with his dying breath?”
    â€œI wouldn’t go that far,” Bryce said. “I only know that Leah doesn’t know where the map came from.”
    â€œThen how does she know it’s genuine?” Sally asked.
    â€œHer father swore it was,” Bryce said. “I knew the guy. He was honest.”
    â€œBut we still don’t get the deal,” Adam said.