Chapter 18 Plans
December 29-Present Day
The four Hanks children and Cyrus rode to the hotel without speaking. They all scrambled out of the taxi, dragging their feet from exhaustion to the front desk. Sebastian reluctantly gave his reservation information to Cyrus, letting Ethan help him to a couch in the lobby. It was a relief to learn that he at least had the decency to get two separate rooms that were connected together. Time to plan in private was an essential right now, especially since they had to figure how to work around Sebastian’s current condition.
When they got to their rooms, Cyrus excused himself for a shower. He made it very clear, nearly scowling at them, that they were not to go anywhere without him. Frustrated at the new turn of events, Sebastian rolled his eyes and cursed silently at the helpless feeling he had, his plans now screwed up. Not to mention the fact that they were now allowing a complete stranger to assist them. How on earth were they going to tell Cyrus about the box? How were they going to get away from him long enough to search for the keys? If they told him, he would probably think they were crazy and put them on a train straight back to Ithaca. On the other hand, Cyrus didn't seem to be all that normal either, so maybe he would believe them.
Makayla rushed into the bathroom, claiming first dibs on the shower, which was fine with him. All he wanted to do was crash on the bed, his pain meds were starting to wear off. Overwhelmed by everything, he lowered himself on the bed and felt a heavy sigh escape. Marshall sat down next to him, laid his head on his stomach. Sebastian sharp breath reminded all of them his need for rest.
Marshall sat up and mumbled, “Sorry, I forgot.”
“It's OK, buddy. Today's been a very long day.”
“Are you worried?” His eyes were roaming over Sebastian’s wounds.
“About what, exactly?”
“What we’re going to tell him?” Marshall motioned toward Cyrus' room, looking down at Sebastian.
Sebastian laughed, wondering how Marshall does it. “Are you a mind reader? Sometimes I swear you can read my thoughts.”
Marshall smiled, clearly thrilled at his brother's observation. “It's not that hard to know what you're thinking. You just have to be observant, that's all.”
“Well, mister-know-it-all, what do you think?”
“Well, we could tell him the truth, but it's a risk.” Marshall turned and put his chin on his knees. “If he thinks we're crazy, then we'll probably be making this trip again next month. But, if he believes us, then we could use his help, that's for sure.” Sebastian winced at the reference to his inadequacy.
“So, I was thinking that maybe we could do it with him, without him even knowing about it.” Marshall was still staring at the blank television on the dresser.
“What do you mean?” Ethan, who had been tinkering around on the GPS was now standing at the foot of the bed, curious what Marshall was thinking. Makayla's shower was still going, and Sebastian knew she'd probably be in there a while. She deserved it, after what she'd been through in the last 24 hours.
“Well, what if we said we wanted to go on a sightseeing tour? And we happened to find ourselves in the area that the map’s leading us to?” Marshall pulled out the map. It seemed to Sebastian that the blue lights were brighter than the last time he'd looked.
Noticing his expression, his little brother expressed his thoughts. “Yeah, they're getting brighter. It seems like the closer we get to this spot,” he pointed to where the map ended, “the brighter the lights get. It’s talking again; trying to tell us that we're close.”
Sebastian ran his fingers lightly over the map, in awe. How could a map talk? How could light have life? These kinds of thoughts made his head swim. He laid his head back down on the pillow, tracing the cracks in the plaster ceiling with his eyes.
“Anyways, if we go to the spot with Cyrus, then we'll know where it is. Then we can sneak out early tomorrow morning, before he wakes up, and search for the key. Once we have it, we can come back and act like we never left.”
Ethan looked at the clock. “Marshall, it’s almost five. Everything is probably getting ready to close for the day.”
Marshall put his lips together in thought. “OK, so what if we find a restaurant on your GPS that’s close to here.” He pointed to the last light on the map. “We can tell him we want to go there for dinner?”
It was the best plan they had. In fact it was the only plan they had. “Marshall, I think it might just work.”
Marshall smiled, loving it when Sebastian liked his ideas.
Ethan sat down at the edge of the bed. “We still have to come up with a story. We have to tell him why we're here for a day, by ourselves, and leaving tomorrow.”
Closing his eyes, Sebastian racked his brain for something that seemed realistic. But there was nothing but intensifying pain.
Marshall smiled, and Ethan rolled his eyes at his little brother.
“You thought that through too, haven't you?”
“Of course!” Marshall said it so confidently that Sebastian found himself laughing. He grabbed his ribs in pain.
“There's a Boston Celtics game tonight. Maybe we got tickets for Christmas and our parents let us come for the day to see the game with some family friend who didn’t show up at the bus stop. We could pretend to try to call the friend a couple of times tonight. It wouldn’t be our fault if we don’t get through.”
“What about the tickets?” Sebastian sat up on his elbows, trying to see any possible holes in the story.
Marshall smiled. He reached into his pocket, pulling out four tickets to the game.
“Where did you get those?” Ethan’s eyes were wide with surprise.
“Oh, I thought we might need an alibi. So, I had Alice help me purchase these before we left. I purchased them and had them overnighted to our house before we left.” Marshall was clearly delighted with himself.
Looking over the tickets his brother had handed him, he was amazed at the things he’d failed to think through. “Incredible,” he whispered. “You think of everything! It’s all very impressive for someone with no imagination.”
“I know!” Marshall jumped off the bed and shoved the tickets back into his pocket. “This has more to do with logic than imagination. So, do you think it'll work?”
“Yeah, I do. I think it will.”
Ethan nudged him on the leg. “Do you think we could really go to the game? I mean, since we already have the tickets and everything?”
Sebastian threw a pillow at his brother. “We are not here to go to a basketball game! “
“What a waste!' Ethan grumbled, going back to work on the GPS.
“I guess you could go. But if we're getting up at the crack of dawn, I'm not dragging you around on my back.” Maybe they could go and he would have a quiet room to sleep.
“Like you even could.” Ethan smirked. “Marshall, what time does it start?”
“Tip off is at eight,” Marshall said, lying on the bed next to Sebastian.
“Why don't you guys find the restaurant on the GPS?” Sebastian said, looking at Ethan while dictating directions. “We need to know where we’re heading tomorrow morning. Then have Cyrus take you to the game. I'll stay here and crash.”
The sound of the GPS being programmed let him know that Ethan was already getting to work on find somewhere to eat in the area of the last light.
“Ethan, remember to program your GPS on the way to the restaurant. That way we can retrace the route tomorrow morning.”
“I thought that was the plan, genius,” Ethan mumbled.
A knock at the attached door in their room startled them. Cyrus poked his head around the door, scanning the room.
“Are you guys OK?” he asked gruffly. He glanced around the room again, noticing the absence of Makayla, but then glanced at the sound of the shower and his shoulders relaxed a bit.
“We have tickets to tonight's Celtics game. Will you take u
s?” Ethan grabbed the tickets from Sebastian and held up them up as proof.
“There aren't enough for all of us.” Cyrus looked at the tickets, clearly not excited about basketball. Smiling in spite of himself, Sebastian wondered why he took pleasure in the fact Cyrus might be miserable at a basketball game.
“I don't want to go. I'll just stay here and crash,” Sebastian tried to say complacently.
“And you want me to take them? I thought you didn't trust me?” Quizzical, and normal, eyes were boring into him.
He narrowed his eyes back, not wanting to give him an upper hand. “Well, I figured if you were going to hurt us, you would’ve had your chance. And if you weren't really interested in watching out for us, you would've let those boys beat me up and take Makayla. I guess I really don't have a reason not to trust you.”
There was a moment of silence in the room, while everyone waited to see if he’d take the bait.
“OK, a basketball game it is. But, Sebastian, you have to promise me you won’t leave this hotel.”
Sebastian shrugged, still looking hard at him.
“Cyrus, there's this restaurant I wanted to try before the game.” Ethan held up the GPS. Marshall was rummaging through his pack, pulling out a pamphlet of the restaurant that was on the screen. He saw Ethan’s mouth fall open, and Marshall shrugged at him, as if it was no big deal. Sebastian tried not to smile, silently wishing he had an ounce of Marshall's brain.
Cyrus grabbed the pamphlet, scanning the front cover.
“Marshall, it’s almost five-thirty. I don't think we can to get to the north side of downtown, eat, and make it to the game in time.”
Marshall shrugged, “I don't care if we miss some of the game. I really want to go there. Please?” Marshall gave him his pleading eyes, the ones that always got him what he wanted, especially when he was asking for a new train.
Cyrus wasn't biting. “Why do you want to go to this restaurant?” He glanced around the room, studying their faces, obviously suspicious. Ethan was trying to study his GPS intently, not wanting to give away his shock.
“Well, it’s Cheers. This is the restaurant I've seen on all those reruns, and I thought it would be cool to see it in real life. Haven't you seen the show?” Marshall looked at him with a curious glance.
Sebastian studied Cyrus. Not a hint of recognition came across his face.
“Uh, sure.” Cyrus seemed flustered, quickly heading back to his room. “All right, I guess I'll go get my stuff and get ready. You'll need to get Makayla out of the bathroom. Tell her we're leaving in 15 minutes.”
“She can stay here with me, if she wants,” Sebastian offered up the idea, thinking they could study her books together. Maybe they could make some new plans, now that things have changed.
“No way!” Cyrus snapped too quickly at the idea. The dark features were returning to his face, but soften instantly when he saw Sebastian flinch.
“I don't want to let her out of my sight right now. Plus some fun might do her good; get her mind off what happened today.”
“Fine.” Sebastian was ready for him to just leave. He suddenly wanted to be alone.
Cyrus went into his room, shutting the door behind him. Ethan shot Marshall a look.
His little brother sighed. “I just thought we’d need information on places around the end point. I pulled this up online, mostly to show a taxi driver or something. It’s no big deal.”
A few minutes later, Makayla came into the room. They caught her up to speed about their new plan while they rushed around to get ready. Cyrus came back into the room and barked some orders to Sebastian, nothing Sebastian really heard, before he pushed the rest out the door. Sebastian ordered room service, took more pain meds, watched some television, and fell asleep.
Trunks of Ages: The Seven Seals Page 24
