Wow, I love this story! Be sure to check out my new National Treasure story 'Man's Best Friend', and my new Danny Phantom story 'Danny Phantom: Friday the 13th'! (What? Timmy and Vicky are friends! WHAT KIND OF FUTURE IS THIS!)
Chapter 6:
Familiar Stranger
Their luggage was retrieved from the ruined Accord and loaded into the back of a new navy blue Navigator that the police department had rented for them. There were still questions left unanswered, but they would be answered in time.
Ben insisted that he drive the rest of the way so Alexis and Riley could get some much-deserved rest. After a few more papers were signed and reports made, the four were allowed to leave. It was 1:00 AM.
Ben pulled the car into the parking lot of the San Louis Hotel at 2:30. He and Abigail gently awoke their younger comrades and unloaded their luggage.
The surf washed against the shore, lapping lazily at the sand. The sound calmed the minds of the four friends as they entered the classic brass-trimmed glass revolving door.
The lights of chandeliers blazed in the window lined entry hall. Halfway down the hall, a player piano sat silently, waiting for the dawn to come so it could sound again. The entry hall opened into a large lobby. A ramp curled downward to their left and another set led to a darkened steakhouse. On their right, a woman with curly red hair sat behind a reception desk, reading a magazine. Four brass elevator doors engraved in the style of the late 19th century lay ahead of them, and above them hung a grand chandelier that steadily lit the lobby. The walls were painted a deep red, and the tiles were a reddish-brown.
Ben approached the receptionist. "Excuse me."
She jumped, not expecting to see someone so late.
"I'm sorry." Be apologized. "We just got in. Can we get two rooms?"
The receptionist nodded, her red curls bouncing with the motion. She set the magazine down and typed something into a computer.
Though tired, Riley stared at his surroundings, awed by their beauty. Abigail found a brochure on Galveston attractions to take to the room with her.
Ben returned with a cart for their stuff and their room keys. The three followed him as he walked to the closest elevator and pressed the button.
They had ocean-view rooms next-door to each other on the eighth floor.
When they reached their rooms, Ben handed everyone the keys to their rooms. "Okay," He said quietly, "here's how the rooms work. Abigail and I will take this one. You two are in the one next to us." He pointed to Alexis and Riley.
Alexis's face registered shock, while Riley wore an expression of pure confusion.
"I expect you two to behave." Ben said with mock severity. He didn't really expect them to try anything anyway. They both looked like they were on the verge of collapse and he knew Riley would still be tired for two days.
Alexis stuck the card into the slot on the door and unlocked their room.
"Good night." Abigail said as she and Ben entered their suite.
Alexis was uneasy about sharing a room with Riley. Of course, they had stayed in the same house many times, and he had once spent the night on the couch at her apartment, but the same hotel room? But, then again, Riley had always respected her as a woman (and he was shy). She finally convinced herself that they wouldn't run into any problems.
Riley flopped wearily on the bed closest to the door.
Alexis unpacked her clothes and put them into the closet. Then, she found a cami and a pair of cotton pants to sleep in.
Riley was still lying on the bed, his arm over his eyes, shielding them from the light.
Alexis walked into the bathroom and shut the door. First rule of living together: the woman gets the bathroom first.
Riley took the opportunity to change, as well. He crashed as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Alexis turned off the light and stumbled through the darkness until she found her bed.
After their harrowing night, it was no surprise that none of them woke up before ten the next morning.
Alexis opened the curtains that blocked the sun from the sliding glass doors to the balcony. Sunlight spilled in, filling the room with warmth.
Riley groaned. "The light, it burns…"
Alexis laughed and picked up a pillow.
"C'mon, can't I sleep?" How am I supposed to track down a treasure if I don't get any sleep?" He said, turning away from the light.
Alexis rolled her eyes. "Get up Riley." She said and smacked him in the head with the pillow.
He sat up. "Alright, Alright. I'm up." He threw the pillow back on Alexis's bed. "What is it with people and hitting me in the head? First Ben, now you!"
Alexis poked her head out of the bathroom. "Can you throw me my conditioner?"
Riley got out of bed and shuffled across the room to her suitcase. He found her conditioner and tossed it to her. She caught it rifle-catch style. "Ha! I still got it!"
Once they were both dressed and ready, Riley and Alexis went next door to Ben and Abigail's room.
"So what's the plan?" Riley asked.
"Well, we know we need to do as much research as possible" Ben said, once everyone had found a comfortable place to sit. "But we also know that two men in a car stolen from a car lot in this city tried to kill us last night. We have to be careful. Since there is always the chance of being recognized as the people who found the Templar treasure, I say, we split up differently. Alexis, you come with me. Abigail, Riley, you'll be together. We'll check with the Galveston Historical Society. You two see if you can find any local maritime museums. Report any suspicious behavior. And if anyone asks, use a fake name." He said to Abigail and Riley. "Okay, let's go."
"Wait!" Riley said. "Who's taking the car?"
"How about you two drop us off since you don't know where you will find your museum." Ben suggested.
"Great." Riley said, happy to not have to walk anywhere.
Ben and Alexis scaled the steps of the Galveston Historical Society's office and archives building.
They walked through two tinted doors to find a lobby with two receptionists busily answering phones behind a desk. The two friends approached them.
The man, who appeared to be about Ben's age, set the phone down and looked up at them.
"Welcome to the Galveston Historical Society Archives."
"Hi." Ben said. "We're doing research on Jean Laffite. We thought this would be a good place to start."
"We'll need your names." He said.
Ben hesitated. "It's…Paul Brown."
"Roxanne Owens." Alexis said with a pleasant smile.
"Alright, Mr. Brown, Ms. Owens, I'm referring you to Ms. Monica Camden. She'll be able to help you find what you're looking for." He picked up the phone and pressed just one number. "Monica? Yeah, I've got some people here to do some research on Jean Laffite."
Abigail parked the Navigator outside of an old, well-kept brick building. The sign above the door read 'Galveston Maritime Museum.' They decided on their aliases and stepped out of the SUV.
"Well, let's see what they know." Abigail said apprehensively.
Riley pushed the glass door open. A bell attached to the door announced their presence.
To their surprise, a small, old lady greeted them. "Welcome to the Galveston Maritime Museum. Feel free to look around."
Riley stopped the old lady and began asking her question after question. Abigail curiously searched the glass encasements of the artifacts.
Within ten minutes, Abigail had found several interesting items in the first room alone. "R-Bill?" She called, catching herself. "Bill, come look at this."
There was no answer. She walked around to the other side of a glass case several shelves high. She came to the other side and sighed. There was Riley, standing with his back to her, reading a small card describing one of the artifacts. "Bill, didn't you hear-" She stopped as he whirled around.
"I'm sorry." He said in a cultured voice that sounded like a cross between a New England accent and an acquired Texas accent. "I think you've mistaken me for someone else."
Abigail stared dumbfounded at him. He wasn't wearing the same clothes, and his hair was neatly combed, but even so, the man before her was an exact clone of Riley, right down to his vivid blue eyes.
"I'm sorry." She stammered. "You look exactly like a friend of mine."
He smiled, flashing the same smile she saw so often from Riley. "I'm Ryan Kingsford. I'm the curator of this museum."
There was an awkward pause as Abigail tried to forget that it wasn't Riley behind the neat suit. "Rose Sparrow." She said, giving her alias and extending her hand. He shook it firmly.
"I hope you enjoy your visit." He said.
"Actually, I was hoping you could help me answer a few questions about Jean Laffite." Abigail said.
"Our famous founder." Ryan mused. "It's thought that he was born in 1780, though no exact date is known. He was born in France. He served in the War of 1812, fought against the British as a privateer, and helped to win the Battle of New Orleans. Afterwards, he continued as a pirate and established a pirate haven here on Galveston Island. In a few years, President Adams ordered the haven destroyed. Laffite, still a gentleman, gave up the port without a fight, and the city was burned."
"Where did he go after that?" Abigail asked.
"He dropped out of the spotlight. I believe he returned to Louisiana."
"What about the treasure he is rumored to have accumulated?"
"There is no documentation suggesting its existence." He said quickly. A little too quickly for Abigail's liking.
"Thank you for your help." Abigail said, smiling warmly to disguise her suspicions.
"Thank you for visiting." He said.
Abigail walked through the other exhibit rooms until she came across Riley still talking to the old woman.
"Bill, we need to leave." Abigail said as casually as she could.
Riley nodded. "Alright, Rose, let's go."
The mysterious Ryan had vanished by the time the two entered the front room where Abigail had met him.
Riley walked out, and Abigail took one final look into the museum before joining Riley in the SUV.