by Suzi Weinert
Adam lifted his head to glance sideways, noting weapons trained on them by Early and one of his men. The rest worked at the treasure site. However, Adam knew change was imminent when he heard a digger say, “Here’s the second crate. Nothing more down…”
But his sentence stopped short at the sound of a single siren, followed by many more.
The mercenaries exchanged looks. They knew what to do. Their contract did not include capture and rotting in prison.
Early saw them prepare to leave. “Stop. I’ll…I’ll double your money if you salvage my treasure.” As they continued toward the woods, he shouted, “Chief, I’ll triple your money.”
The sirens increased to an ear-splitting volume, closing in.
“Chief, I ORDER you to stop!” Early screamed.
But at Chief’s hand signal, the men turned and disappeared into the woods as abruptly as they’d appeared. Adam jumped to his feet.
At this sudden movement, Early spun around, pointing his gun close range at the young man’s heart. Adam halted in his tracks, holding open hands at his side in supplication as the other family members slowly rose to their feet.
“Don’t move,” Early shouted, his pointed gun wavering toward one and then another as they stood.
Suddenly, eight policemen materialized in the clearing. A voice boomed, “POLICE. DON’T MOVE. DROP YOUR WEAPON.”
His world crumbling around him, Early reached to grab the nearest hostage. He jerked Jennifer in front of him, making her a human shield. Gripping her waist so tightly she could barely breathe, he backed them both toward the woods until they disappeared into the trees.
CHAPTER 77
Early jerked Jennifer along with him, then spun her around, jammed the gun in her back and growled, “Show me the way out of here.”
Realizing buying time might give her a chance to escape, she said, “Follow the creek downhill.”
“Go.” He prodded her before him. She moved along, desperate to invent a plan. Could she outrun him? Did his own need to get away mean if she bolted, he wouldn’t follow her? Or would he shoot her dead and escape anyway?
Suddenly she saw the clearing ahead with the circle of trees and odd boulder configuration. On impulse, she turned that way and he followed. As they entered the circle of trees and approached the Indian altar, Early tripped and fell on the sharp rock they’d all carefully avoided. The bag clipped to his waist protected his leg from a deeper gash, but it ripped open in the process. As Early struggled to regain his footing, a large snake slithered out of the torn canvas. Jennifer immediately recognized the now-familiar markings of the eastern diamondback rattler. She scrambled quickly atop the boulder.
Early was unaware of his close proximity to the escaped snake. The diamondback coiled effortlessly into strike mode and froze in this position, awaiting the right moment. Early had dropped his weapon when he fell and, turning to find it, he came face-to-face with the snake. Seeing no other defense, he kicked at the serpent to frighten it into retreat. But the diamondback retaliated, rearing and striking Early. Its needle-sharp fangs drove into his ankle.
He yelled at the searing pain, gripping the reptile’s body with one hand and clawing its head from his ankle with the other. During this desperate struggle, Early fell again. The powerful snake released the ankle. Its eyes focused intently on Early as its body coiled for another strike.
As Early twisted away on the ground, it lunged again, its fangs plunging deep into his neck. He writhed, scratching at the two pinpoints of blood near his throat as the rattler withdrew. The snake froze for a moment, as if surveying the situation. Then it slithered out of the clearing, melting invisibly into the bushes.
Atop the boulder, Jennifer frantically tried to think what to do. As her eyes darted around the clearing, she spied Early’s gun where it landed when he tripped. She crept down from the big rock, skirting where he thrashed and moaned on the ground. His gun in her hand, she climbed back up on the boulder, safe from him and the snake. She snapped off the safety, trained the weapon on Early and shouted, “I’VE GOT HIM. COME HELP ME.” She heard people rushing down the hill toward her.
Just as they reached her, the sun came out, flooding the clearing with the same eerie light they’d noticed before. For a freakish moment, her rescuers stood at the edge of the circle of trees, staring at her, open-mouthed.
Confused by their hesitation, she broke the silence. “A poisonous snake bit him twice.” This seemed to break the spell.
An approaching policeman called, “Ma’am, did you see the snake to identify for the medics?”
“Eastern diamondback rattlesnake. They’re not native here but the bite’s very toxic. He’ll need the antivenin quickly. He got a double dose.
Jason rushed to her and helped her down from the boulder. He wrapped his arms around her. “Oh Jen, my Jen. I thought I’d lost you.”
“You okay, ma’am?” another policeman asked with concern.
“We’re all okay now because you police came at the exact right moment. Thanks for your rescue. Any sign of Early’s men who got away?”
“No, but we hope to learn more about them when we question him.”
A stretcher arrived. The bearers lifted Early onto it and carried him up the hill. The rest followed back up toward the driveway.
When the ambulance left, Adam talked with his police friends as the others collected the picnic blankets and paraphernalia. He turned to the group. “The on-duty cops have to go back, but my buddies and I will give you an armed escort wherever you’re going next.”
Hannah turned to Jennifer. “Mom, what do we do with these bags of stuff from the dig?”
“Let’s take it all back to our house to decide what to do next.” She put an arm around Grammy. “How are you holding up, Mom?”
“When you’re old you think you’ve seen it all, but I forgot what life’s like being around you, honey. Despite all that happened to us in Florida, digging up buried treasure and attacked by armed camouflaged men is hard to match. I hope I can survive the next ten years here with you.”
They laughed together, grateful this latest close call ended well.
Becca retrieved her cellphone from the pile on the blanket. “Before you move anything, let me get a picture of the ones still in the crate for the documentary.”
“Documentary?” Nathan puzzled.
Becca grinned. “Yes, I just thought of this great idea.”
Nathan winced and shook his head. “Are you going to be like your mother?”
Jennifer arched an eyebrow. “And what does that mean?”
“I…I …” he stammered.
But Jason clapped Nathan on the back, gave him a sympathetic nod and shrugged. “Not easy, lad, but seems like it’s part of the deal. Mostly a great deal, but…well, not always.”
Jennifer winked at Becca and whispered, “If life with us is a magic carpet ride, buckle up, boys.”
CHAPTER 78
Returning to the Shannon home, they protected the dining room table with a blanket and spread the dirt-flecked treasure across it.
Then the phone rang. Jennifer recognized the voice of their aged family friend with psychic powers. “Veronika, I’m putting you on Speaker so we can all hear. How are you?”
“Worried, Jennifer. I had two visions about you this morning and I must warn you about the first one. This morning I saw you surrounded by terrible danger, but the next part makes no sense. In my vision, this danger comes from a snake-man. I know this sounds crazy, but it’s what I saw: a man’s body with a snake’s head. Impossible as this is, the threat’s power frightened me and I needed to let you know. Does this make any sense to you?”
Jennifer shivered. “I’m afraid it does.” She told Veronika what happened.
“Ah, a happy ending then,” Veronika said. “Well, the other reason I’m calling is my second vision—you’re bringing me a gift.”
Embarrassed, Jennifer could think of nothing she’d brought from Florida for Veronika. “What�
��what kind of gift?”
“That’s the unusual part. The gift is a person, but who?”
Suddenly Jennifer knew the answer. “I brought you my eighty-seven-year old mother—to McLean from Naples.”
“Italy?”
Jennifer laughed. “No, Florida.”
“Well,” Veronika continued undeterred, “I thought perhaps a handsome prince, because according to my vision, this person and I will become very close friends.”
“Then let’s get this friendship started. Would you like to come over now to meet my mother and continue with us this evening for dinner at Kazan Restaurant? Do you like Turkish food?”
“Why, Jennifer, thank you. My tastes are international, and I am happy to come. I’d suggest Serbian Crown, but they closed. Tragic since also gone are their fine Russian food and the slushy iced vodka I so adored. But Einstein reminds us, ‘Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving forward.’ So now I am eager to try this Kazan instead.”
“Good. How soon can you come to our house?”
“My driver knows your address. Maybe forty-five minutes?”
“Wonderful. See you then.”
Ending the call, Jennifer turned to Grammy. “Mom, I wanted you to meet Veronika soon anyway. You’re both seniors and about the same age. I think you’ll enjoy each other.”
Grammy smiled. “Apparently so, if we’re destined to become close friends, as her vision suggests. What can you tell me about her?”
Becca grinned. “Other than she saved Mom’s life during Milo’s kidnapping, what else would you like to know about her?”
But before Grammy could answer, Hannah spoke up. “Veronika Verontsova’s a magnificent lady who looks like Mother Earth. She wears long skirts and has thick gray hair she wears in a single braid. She moved here from Russia as a little girl and has lived on her father’s horse estate in Great Falls since then. He’s dead now, so she’s there alone except for servants. Lilacs are her favorite flower. Want to know why?” Grammy nodded. “Because the scent of lilacs makes her aware a vision is coming. She can’t gin one up at will; she has to wait until one comes to her.”
Adam couldn’t resist. “Actually, I met her first when she came to the police station to report a disturbing repeated vision about nearby terrorists. While she waited in the police lobby, she saw a picture in a local newspaper and told me, ‘The woman in that picture is involved somehow with those terrorists.’ Can you imagine how my jaw dropped when she pointed to a photo of Jennifer, my mother-in-law?”
They all laughed at this, even Jason. But then he whispered to Jennifer. “The truth is, having you in danger doesn’t really amuse me.”
She understood. Protecting the family was her job, too. But her personality infused her with curiosity about people and things. It also sparked her natural inclination to follow clues where they led. She never anticipated danger related to so simple a hobby as attending garage and estate sales. She thought the riddle and map might lead her on a harmless merry chase, unlike the scary paths some of her other garage-sale-adventures had taken. But not so, as it turned out…
“You’re right, danger isn’t funny. But I never look for trouble, Jay; things just seem to happen,” she whispered.
Becca stood. “Why don’t we all help rinse and dry these beautiful treasure pieces for Veronika to see and for whatever else is in their future?”
Jennifer jumped up. “I’ll wash if the rest of you will dry. Becca, would you pass around dishtowels for anybody who wants to help? Jay, would you call to see if Zeynel Uzun has room at Kazan for a table of eight tonight at six?” She explained to Grammy. “He’s the owner.”
Treating each item carefully, they carried the valuables to the kitchen. Meantime, Hannah whisked away the dirt-flecked blanket, substituting a tablecloth for the soon-to-be-clean artifacts.
“Add a little silver polish and they’ll shine as treasure should,” Grammy said.
Jennifer crooked her finger at Adam. He came over. “Would you please bring down the dragon figurine on my bedroom night stand?”
“A dragon on your nightstand? As I keep telling the guys, I married into a strange family. Sure, where shall I put it when I bring it down?”
“How about on the dining room buffet, back by the mirror?”
“Will do.”
Just then, the doorbell rang.
CHAPTER 79
Veronika Verontsova stood on the front porch. Jennifer greeted her warmly and guided her friend inside. She introduced Grammy. “I think you know everyone else,” but repeated their names to be sure.
“Veronika, would you like to sit here next to my mother?”
“I would be proud to do so.”
They engaged in lively conversation until Veronika pointed to the dining room table display. “Well, here is the elephant in the room. Please tell me about it.”
They took turns around the table with show-and-tell about the garage sale purchase with hidden cloths, the efforts to decode them, William Early’s involvement, the discovery at Iversons’ property, the armed attack, the police rescue and security escort home.
“How exciting.” Veronika examined a silver bowl near her with enthusiasm, turning it upside down to see the maker’s mark. “Sterling silver. Look at this unusual filigreed workmanship around the edges. What happens to this treasure now?”
Becca said, “Good question. You solved the riddle, Mom, and found the treasure by yourself. Is it finders-keepers?”
Jennifer toyed with her necklace. “Actually we found it on Adam and Hannah’s property, so technically, I think it belongs to them.”
Hannah giggled. “How about fifty-fifty?”
Adam leaned toward Jennifer. “Without your map and riddle, we’d never have known it existed. Would excavators even notice it when they dug out the old foundation in two weeks? Or report it to us if they did? I think ownership is more like ninety-ten, with the large number on your side.”
Grammy looked around the table. “So what happens next?”
Jennifer considered this. “When I first realized the cloths formed a two-part treasure map, it electrified the little child in me. I wanted to find buried treasure. After all, isn’t part of each of us still a little kid?”
She heard a few chuckles. “But then I began reading about the Civil War, how seriously many take it and what this discovery would mean to historians. I thought if ever I did find it, I’d give the treasure to a museum because this piece of American history belongs to everyone. William Early’s intention to keep it secret, hidden away in his private collection, reinforced my museum plan.”
She nodded toward Jason. “Then your dad reminded me I couldn’t dig just anywhere on private or public land, so even if I discovered the treasure’s location, a museum had authority I didn’t to excavate it. But when clues unexpectedly led to Hannah and Adam’s property and we actually found it there, the digging restrictions disappeared. And now here it is.”
Becca leaned forward. “So you could split the treasure with the Iversons and make the discovery public with pictures of the pieces. The country would own the knowledge, but you’d own the valuables.”
“And if you keep what you divide,” Nathan pointed out, relic hunters like my dad would vie to purchase every piece. It would be worth a fortune. That war and anything concerning it are almost sacred to many folks.”
Jason spread his hands on the table. “Jennifer and I prefer to avoid publicity.” He gave his family members around the table “the look,” reminding them wordlessly of their on-going risk, without revealing it in front of guests. Family members knew of Homeland Security’s warning to keep an invisible profile to avoid attracting the interest of Middle-Eastern terrorists. This terrorist vendetta still threatened the unknown person who took their diamonds, worth millions. The money from selling those diamonds was to fund their explosive plot against America. That unknown person was Jennifer. If they found her, they’d eliminate her. They’d warned: their memorie
s were long.
“So,” he continued, “if we donate this treasure to a museum it must be anonymous. Or perhaps it could be from you two.” He nodded to Hannah and Adam.
Becca jumped to her feet. “But the pictures I’ve taken document this historic find. Think of a PBS Civil War film featuring this new information. The public deserves to see the excavation pictures, even if the voice-over doesn’t describe where they were found.”
As the rest talked about this, Hannah whispered to Adam. When she finished, he stared at her, a grin lighting his face.
Hannah addressed the group. “My parents choose to remain anonymous and although the treasure was buried on our land, we feel the same way. We don’t want curiosity seekers or historians poking around our private property where we live and will raise our family. So if a museum donation happens, our role also remains anonymous.”
“Anonymous but with photographic evidence?” Becca pleaded.
Jennifer explored middle ground. “As long as no one can trace the photos or their buried location, could we present a photo-and-treasure package to the museum as part of the anonymous donation?”
“Yes!” Becca pumped her fist in the air.
Those around the table nodded at this seemingly reasonable compromise.
“Once you put all this together for the museum, who anonymously takes it there?” Nathan asked.
All eyes turned toward him.
“How about you?” Jennifer suggested. “To insure there’s no connection to any of us.”
Adam leaned forward with a wry smile. “Good thing you have a police detective here. You’re overlooking what detective work could uncover about your anonymous donation. A determined person, say a Civil War zealot, could tail Nathan to find out where he goes and who he sees and follow that trail.
