The Emerald Quest (15 page)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

GREAT CATCH!

Max held an assault rifle. Behind him stood Dave ‘The Wrench’ Dixon. He had a bump the size of a crabapple on his forehead.

“How did you find us?” Frank asked Max.

“We put a bug in the spyglass,” Max replied. “Just in case you did escape. We’ve tracked your location since you left the Copper Key. I know you, Frank.” He nodded at Riley. “And you, too. We’ve worked against each other for so many years, searching after the same treasures. I could tell you what you’d do before you even think of it. I knew you’d keep the spyglass with you at all times.”

“Ever since you stole the French Diamond from us, we’ve had to be extra careful,” Frank said.

“But you’ve never resorted to threatening us,” Riley said. “Or kidnapping.”

“That wasn’t me,” Max snapped. “That was Isaiah Wright.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Frank said. “We have the emerald.”

“Not anymore.” Max took a step forward. “Give it to me.”

Noah clutched it in his hand. “No. We found it. It belongs to Juan Carlo.”

Max turned and looked at Frank. “Do you want to tell him to give me the emerald, or should I? I guarantee that I’ll be much more persuasive.”

“Let him have it, Noah,” Frank said.

Off to the left, something rustled in the brush. Dave whirled around, gun pointed at the disturbance. Max kept his gun trained on the Winters and Anthony.

“Relax, Dave,” Max said. “Frank here just threw something over there to distract us.”

Frank raised an eyebrow. “No, I didn’t.”

Uncertainty crossed Max’s face.

“You think you know all my moves, but that’s one I didn’t make,” Frank said.

“We had a fight with a python a few minute ago,” Anthony said. “Maybe it’s come back.”

Max laughed. “You’re not going to scare us.” He pointed the rifle at Noah. “Give me the emerald.”

Noah stepped forward and handed the jewel to Max. Max held it up, twisting it in his fingers.

“Stunning,” he said. “I can’t believe it’s real.”

A crunching sound came again, but this time a long, steel-gray body slithered out of the underbrush. Its long tail whipped to the side, crushing sawgrass. It snapped its jaw, teeth flashing dangerously.

“Max,” Dave said fearfully.

An alligator stared at them all. Then he inched toward Max and Dave.

“Shoot it,” Max ordered Dave.

Dave lifted his rifle, but before he could fire, the alligator stormed at him. It seemed to Noah as if everything was happening in slow motion. He saw Dave jerk backward, bumping into Max. Max stumbled, his hands flailing. The rifle butt hit the ground near the alligator. It stuck in the mud, with the stock pointing skyward. The gator paused and stared at the rifle. The emerald flew out of Max’s hand, high into the air, where it circled around, catching the beams of sunlight. Green sparkles danced around them. Then the emerald dropped toward the ground.

“No!” Riley cried out.

Noah reached out and caught the emerald.

“Great catch!” Anthony pumped his fist.

Everything sped up. The gator raced at Max and Dave. Dave snatched a tree branch and hauled himself up into the cypress. Max did the same, only he couldn’t quite pull himself up. He clung to a branch, his legs dangling precariously close to the gator’s snapping its jaws.

“Run!” Frank yelled. But Riley, Noah, and Anthony were already racing through the muck to the airboat. They all leaped aboard and Frank jumped in the elevated seat. Juan Carlo and Anthony grabbed the oars and they pushed away from the island.

Anthony looked back. “The gator’s leaving them,” he said, pushing with all his strength.

The boat crept agonizingly slowly out into the marsh. Noah stared back. Max and Dave dropped out of the tree and disappeared.

“Just a little farther,” Juan Carlo said, helping Anthony push.

The boat slid into deeper water.

“Now, Frank,” Riley hollered.

Frank pivoted the rudders. Just as he was about to fire up the engine, Noah heard the roar of another airboat engine.

“Max is coming,” he shouted.

Frank nodded and the airboat powered to life. He worked the rudders as the boat picked up speed. They cut through the mucky water and into the sunshine. A sawgrass prairie surrounded them.

“There they are!” Noah pointed.

Max and Dave were in a similar airboat, barreling down on Noah and the others.

“Hang on!” Frank turned the boat. It tipped precariously, but continued on. Behind them, Max kept pace.

“Head toward that island,” Anthony screamed over din of the fan.

Frank saw the island and some mangrove trees. He jerked the rudder and the boat careened to the right of the mangrove. The screeching sound of metal scraping the tree roots shuddered through the boat.

Noah glanced over his shoulder. Max tried to turn his airboat. It tipped toward the right. Then the airboat’s portside clunked against the mangrove roots and jerked to a halt. The impact threw Max and Dave out of the boat. They tumbled head-over-heels into the marsh. Max stood up, dripping wet. He shook his fist at Noah and the others.

“He’ll never catch us now!” Frank yelled.

The airboat flew through the sawgrass, heading back to Everglades City.

“Ha.” Juan Carlo smiled triumphantly. “The emerald is back with my family.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

VIAL OF POISON

Later that night, Noah was dozing on the couch when Chief Burton came over for a visit.

“Don’t get up,” he said to Noah.

Riley led Chief Burton into the kitchen, where she and Frank were reliving the day’s events. Anthony was asleep in his room, and Juan Carlo had already flown his private jet back to New York. But Juan Carlo promised that he would return in a couple of days to take the Winters and Anthony out for a celebratory dinner.

Noah yawned. Now that all the excitement was over, he was exhausted. But just hearing his parents talking made him happy. They were back safe at home again. And he had helped with that.

He rolled on his side and looked into the kitchen. Chief Burton was leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. Frank and Riley sat at the table.

“I got a warrant and this morning we searched Isaiah Wright’s house and the island,” Chief Burton said.

“And?” Riley asked.

Chief Burton shrugged. “We didn’t find anything that would indicate you’d been held there.”

“What about the motorcycle that Noah ran into the water?” Frank said.

“We searched along the coast, but it wasn’t there,” Chief Burton said. “We took Wright in for questioning, too. I talked to him for hours, but I couldn’t get anything out of him. He denies any wrongdoing, and he says he’s never heard of Max Scheff or Dave ‘The Wrench’ Dixon. Not only that, Wright said that you all had trespassed on his island and that he caught you. When he confronted you both, you stole the Slingshot and left the island. He and Chang were following so they could get their boat back.”

“You know that’s a lie,” Frank said.

“Of course,” Chief Burton said. “But it’s because you’re the ones telling me the story. If someone walked into the station and told me Wright had kidnapped them, I’d have my doubts. Isaiah Wright is eccentric, but he’s never broken the law, and he’s never been suspected of breaking the law.”

“He’s too rich to get caught,” Riley snorted.

“That may be so,” Chief Burton continued. “But until I can prove anything, I can’t do any more. A man like Wright is too smart to have any evidence lying around. Although I don’t know how much that will help. And Wright made an interesting comment right before Detective Shaw and I left.”

Riley rubbed her eyes in frustration. “What’s that?”

“Wright said that he could press charges against you for stealing his boat –”

“But that’s preposterous!” Riley interrupted.

Chief Burton held up a hand to stop her. “No, Wright could do that. But he looked me square in the face and said that he wasn’t going to do that because he didn’t want any problems. He was clearly sending me a message. The police leave him alone, and he’ll leave us alone.”

“So Wright gets away,” Riley said angrily.

“We’ll keep an eye on him,” Chief Burton said. “He’ll have to be extra careful about what he does now. If he so much as jaywalks, I’ll arrest him.”

Riley frowned.

Chief Burton looked from Frank to Riley. “And there’s another thing.”

“What?” Frank asked.

“Say we did find something and we charged Wright. You would have to testify, and so would Noah. And then it would be Wright’s word against Noah’s. It could get ugly in court. And after all that Noah’s been through, do you want to see him endure more from Wright?”

Frank crossed his arms. “You’re probably right. I just hate to see Wright get away with this.”

“I do, too,” Chief Burton said. “But there’s one thing I believe after twenty years of law enforcement.”

“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.