“What’s that?” Riley asked.
“Kharma,” Chief Burton smiled. “Someday, Isaiah Wright will get his reward.”
Frank chuckled. “I hope you’re right.”
“You got the emerald. You won this round.” Chief Burton headed out of the kitchen. “Come in tomorrow so I can get your statements.”
Noah flipped over and pretended to sleep.
“Nice try.” Chief Burton tapped Noah’s head. Noah looked up sheepishly. “You stay out of trouble, you hear?”
“Yes, sir,” Noah said.
“Will do.” Frank shook Chief Burton’s hand. “Thanks for everything.”
Chief Burton whistled as he went out the front door.
***
Monday evening the following week, the Winters, Anthony and Juan Carlo arrived at the Key West Harbour Yacht Club, one of the best places to eat in Key West.
“I love their Key Lime pie,” Noah whispered to Juan Carlo as the maître’d seated them.
“I must try that,” Juan Carlo said.
Noah ordered sautéed yellowtail, his favorite fish.
“I took the emerald to be evaluated,” Juan Carlo said. “It is estimated to be worth five million dollars.”
“Are you going to sell it?” Noah asked.
“No,” Juan Carlo said. “It will remain with my family. I am just glad to have it back and to know that Roberto De La Rosa was indeed a pirate.” He smiled. “It makes my heritage that much more interesting, no?”
Noah nodded. “That’s pretty cool, if you ask me.”
Anthony laughed. The waiter delivered their entrees. Noah put his nose close to his dish and smelled the yellowtail. Living on a tiny island, he loved all the varieties of fish that he could eat.
“Before we start, I would like to offer a toast,” Juan Carlo said, raising his glass.
Noah lifted up his water glass along with Frank, Riley, and Anthony.
“To the finest team of treasure hunters around,” Juan Carlo said. “You have fulfilled an old man’s dream.”
“Thank you,” Frank and Riley said together. Anthony smiled.
Juan Carlo tipped his head at Noah. “And to the bravest boy I have ever met.”
Noah blushed. “Thank you,” he murmured.
Everyone took a drink.
“What a week,” Juan Carlo said, chuckling. He set his glass down.
“Let’s eat!” Anthony said.
“All right.” Noah dived into his yellowtail. It tasted as good as it ever had.
***
The next night, Noah was sitting on the couch with Anthony, watching TV.
“Hey, we have a surprise for you,” Frank said as he came in from the kitchen. He handed Noah an envelope.
“What’s this?” Noah asked.
“Open it,” Riley said.
Noah opened the envelope. Inside was a brochure for a ski resort in Vail, Colorado. Noah took the brochure out and held it up. “Skiing?”
Riley smiled. “I think it’s time for the boy with a cold weather name to actually see some winter, don’t you think?”
Noah stared at her, speechless.
“But I don’t know how to ski,” he finally said.
Anthony laughed. “You water ski. Trust me, you’ll pick up snow skiing. Or you can try snowboarding.”
“Sound like fun?” Frank asked.
“Yeah!” Noah said.
“We figured you deserved a reward for all the help in finding the De La Rosa emerald,” Riley said. “You have to keep up your grades, though, or no deal.”
“I will,” Noah promised.
“Hey, look at that.” Anthony pointed at the television. On the screen was a picture of Isaiah Wright.
“Turn it up,” Frank said.
Noah pushed a button on the remote.
“…was found dead in his home. Wright, an eccentric billionaire, owned Copper Key, nine miles past Key West. Authorities do not suspect foul play in Wright’s death, although an autopsy will be performed. In other news…”
Anthony looked from Frank to Riley. “Do you think Max Scheff was involved in Wright’s death?”
“I’ll bet he used that poison,” Noah said. Everyone stared at him. “I forgot to tell you that part,” Noah continued, then explained about Wright’s vial of poison.
Frank rubbed his chin when Noah finished. “If that’s what happened, I’d say that Wright was rewarded for his actions.”
“But what about Max Scheff?” Noah asked. “What will happen to him?”
“I’m sure we’ll be seeing him again,” Riley said. “Whatever treasure we go after, it seems Max is there, too.”
Noah thought about Max. The man was certainly the formidable foe his parents said he was. And as Noah watched the rest of the news with his family, he knew that he would someday cross paths with Max Scheff again.
Noah Winter will soon be back in another exciting adventure! To find out when the next adventure is available, and for information on Renée's other books, contests, and freebies, sign up for email alerts at www.reneepawlish.com.
If you would like to have Renée visit your classroom or book club, email her at [email protected].
Biography
Renée Pawlish is the award-winning author of the bestselling Nephilim Genesis of Evil, the first in the Nephilim trilogy, the Reed Ferguson mystery series (This Doesn't Happen In The Movies and Reel Estate Rip-off), The Noah Winters Adventure series for young adults (The Emerald Quest), Take Five, a short story collection, and The Sallie House: Exposing the Beast Within, a nonfiction account of a haunted house investigation.
Renée has been called “a promising new voice to the comic murder/mystery genre” and “a powerful storyteller”. Nephilim Genesis of Evil has been compared to Stephen King and Frank Peretti.
Renée was born in California, but has lived most of her life in Colorado. When she's not hiking, cycling, or chasing ballplayers for autographs, she is writing mysteries, thrillers and horror. She loves to travel and has visited numerous countries around the world. She has also spent many summer days at her parents' cabin in the hills outside of Boulder, which was the inspiration for the setting of Taylor Crossing in her novel Nephilim: Genesis of Evil.
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