ONE MORE CLUE
Hey guys! Happy Friday again! I'm in a bit of a rush to get this posted with being busy today, but the chapter itself was not written quickly - took my tim as always. :) I'm glad I got such a positive response from you all on the authenticity of the Roanoke story in the last chapter. It was a lot of information to put together, but I loved doing it! Below is the next installment, and I thank all of you who reviewed again! Although reviews have been down recently, I know people are still reading this which is just as good to know. Also, for those of you on LJ, I was thinking of starting an NT 100 prompt challenge community, but I am challenged and low on free time. Anyone want to set it up for me? I'd love you forever! Just review or email me. Thanks!! Enjoy the chapter!! - Dis/Claimer – x x x . Chapter Four . Carolyn watched dim street light pass over Maddox’s file on the car seat next to her as she followed Riley back to the house. She left the compass with Ben at his request until they went to the post office tomorrow, but she knew he had other plans for it. He had just said so on speaker phone. “I’m not giving it up that easy,” his voice said over her cell phone attached to the dash. “I was never going to.” “But Riley’s not going to go along with it,” Carolyn said, stopping at the red light and watching Riley rub his head in the car ahead. “He said so. He seemed pretty serious, Ben. I don’t know why you lied and made him that promise. It means a lot that you’re honest with him.” “Riley knows I’ve always been one to keep my word unless circumstances call for another course of action,” Ben said. The light flashed green over Carolyn’s face, and she started to drive again. “And this calls for it. He might not understand that I have to do this for my mother, but I’m going to with or without him. But… I’d really prefer he’d help,” Ben admitted quietly, not knowing why he had sounded like Riley’s involvement didn’t matter to him. Because really, it did. Carolyn sighed. “Well, talking to him got you nowhere, and I doubt it will.” “We’re past talking,” Ben’s voice said as they drove into a steady snowfall. “I need him on this; I really do. He’s just… washed out, I guess. I understand he doesn’t want to, but he has to. It just wouldn’t be the same without his whining. Or his hacking skills.” “Well, whatever you’re planning,” Carolyn said, making a left turn, “you have a week to do it, minus all the time you have spent preparing for the wedding with us. You know you’re going to ruin my wedding, right?” she added, not sounding too thrilled. “I’ll work around it somehow,” Ben said dismissively. “Maddox doesn’t know about my mother’s compass, but he’s going to find out eventually if they’re really connected like I said. I just need to see them together.” “And how are you going to do that?” Carolyn asked knowingly, still keeping a watchful eye on the back of Riley’s head as she drove. It was as if Ben were sitting right next to her catching her grin. She could hear the smile growing on his face. “I have a few ideas.” x x x Riley only half-watched Raiders of the Lost Ark. His mind was too preoccupied, too paranoid that something was going to go all wrong because of this compass stuff. He had known Ben for the better part of seven years now, and if he could sum the man up in one word, it was ‘persistent.’ He never quit, he never stopped; he always found a way to what he wanted to obtain. These traits were that of horrific to him now. Riley knew he had to do back flips to have Ben even consider his reasoning (which, he’d just ignore anyway), and to see him simply hand over a compass that would lead him to discover the answer a huge world mystery? He knew it just wasn’t in him to do that. So Ben didn’t want the fame, the gold, or the recognition. He had all that. To Ben, the thrill was in seeking the truth and showing it to everyone like the noble-hearted heroes you read about in books. That was entirely good in Riley’s opinion, just… not so much when their well-being was being endangered for something that wasn’t even theirs to begin with. And so what if Ben’s mother left him a compass? It probably wasn’t even a compass! And the FD-E thing? Pfft. That was a system of filing codes if he’d ever seen it. Sure, he didn’t know what it meant, but banks were secret societies like that. And what was Abigail’s deal? She and Ben had three kids he’d thought they’d want to keep safe above all else, as well as a job obsessing over x-hundred-year-old documents that were priceless. You’d think this stuff would come to mind before running headlong into yet another treasure hunt – a phrase here meaning: breaking laws, being threatened, almost dying, beating your head off a wall to figure out clues as fast as possible before the bad guy, lack of food and sleep, and a surplus of ‘How did I get myself into this?’ Okay, so they had found the treasures, too. But all in all, it was a pretty bad business! Things were changing now. Riley felt like he was leaving his actual home and parents to go off and start his life, and Ben had to be having the most difficult time with that on top of everything else. He held utmost respect for Ben, but now, other things were more important than treasure. Ben had his mother’s stuff to sort out, Riley had a wedding to prepare for, a real life to start now… He knew he had Ben’s support, but its foundation felt unsteady in light of ‘losing’ him. Riley sighed. He wasn’t going anywhere! About ten miles away. Big deal. Well, to Ben it was, apparently. He definitely had problems when it came to letting things go. Carolyn fell asleep under his arm. He felt the tingling in his shoulder creep into his spine, and he winced at the awkward sensation when she made a small shift to cover herself with the blanket around her shoulders a little more. Riley’s stomach was still somewhat ill with guilt when her disappointed face flashed across his mind, but why did she want to do this? What was so hard about giving the man back his compass and letting him discover a teeny little treasure? He figured there was a pride issue on her end. She hated her brother but would gladly defend his decade-old agreement to some maniac that goes around breaking into hi- Ian’s house, he corrected himself. Riley cast a dark look around the room to make perfectly clear to its invisible Ian entity that he still hated him and thought he, Riley, was wasting precious time of his own life with every second he spent in this house. Yeah, Riley thought defensively. I hate your house. It’s probably the worst house in the history of houses. Oh, but only if you overlook a lot of stuff. Riley sighed silently, relaxing back into the chair more. He thought about how much more comfortable the one at the manor was, about how quickly his room had been overtaken by a six-year-old that idolized him, about how Ben’s mind must be in overdrive on how to get around his promise to him despite the lack of sleep he was experiencing already. Persistence was a double-edged sword that Ben knew how to wield with skilled expertise. He was dangerous with it and knew it got him places. Riley only wished that he could see how much it impacted the ones around him the most. x x x The next day brought sweeps of warm wind across sunny skies to the Capital, the rise of the temperatures enough to start melting the few inches of snow covering the ground. Still, as they entered the U.S. Post Office on Pennsylvania Avenue, Ben, Riley, and Carolyn were dressed warmly. Inside the large, quiet room, they walked up to a preparation table where Carolyn opened Maddox’s file and searched for his address. Riley watched Ben set the fine wooden box on a sheet of bubble wrap. “Hold on,” he said, reaching out as Ben began to wrap it. Riley nodded to the box. “Open it.” Ben sighed and looked up boredly as he unfolded the bubble wrap. “I’m ashamed you think so little of my honesty anymore. You know I’m a terrible liar.” “I know how you are,” Riley said knowingly as Ben unlatched the box. “You may be a bad liar, but you’re a good swindler when you want to be.” “Swindler?” Ben chuckled. Riley’s eyebrows leveled. “Come on, Ben. You know what I’m talking about,” he said, looking down to see the aged compass sitting inside the box right where it should be. “Can you blame me? I mean, you’re not exactly one to surrender anything. Ever.” “Yeah,” he said slowly, “but for you and the better interests of all of us, why not?” Riley gave him a look, suspicious that Ben’s smile was over the top. After a moment, Ben’s face dropped sternly. “Is that good enough for you?” he suddenly asked, motioning to the open compass box. “You see it in there?” “Yep, that looks good,” Riley said with an affirmative nod. “May I package it and send it now?” Riley smirked at his sarcasm, playfully responding in the same manner. “What an excellent idea. Carry on.” “Oh, Riley,” – Carolyn leaned passed Ben to see him – “this table’s out of shipping labels. Could you get me another one at that table?” she said, looking over to the one on the opposite wall. Riley watched Ben finish wrapping the compass in bubble wrap and set it in the postal box before closing the flaps. He nodded. “Yeah, hang on.” Carolyn watched him push off the table and head across the vast room. Ben finished taping up the box and fell silent. “Is he looking?” She snuck a glance over her shoulder. “No.” “Give it here.” Quickly, Carolyn bent over beside the table and picked up a parcel identical to the one Ben had just finished packaging. She saw Riley maneuvering awkwardly around an elderly couple as Ben took her box, placed it in front of him, and handed the other one to her. “Hurry.” Ben kept an eye on Riley as Carolyn tucked the parcel under her arm and briskly headed for the exit. His fear of Riley seeing her was tranquilized when Carolyn made it out a split second before Riley turned around, adjusting his jacket with a spiteful look back at the old man and woman. Upon looking back up, Riley threw his hands out at his sides, mildly clueless. “Where’d she go?” “She went to pull the car around for us,” Ben said as Riley handed him the shipping label whilst giving the box an untrustworthy look. “We’re going to drive into town more and meet up with Abigail and the kids at Circle Bistro for lunch.” “Oh yeah,” Riley said, forgetting about this since he heard it in passing that morning before leaving. Ben smoothed the label on the box and started to write Maddox’s address on it with Riley making sure every letter was copied exactly. “We have anything after that?” Ben laughed inwardly; it was Riley’s wedding, and he was asking him the itinerary. “Carolyn has you lined up to go pick out champagne and wine with her in a few hours. I think that’s it for today.” “Oh, and uh, we’re getting fitted on Monday,” Riley reminded him, waving his hand between the two of them. “Three days.” Ben finished the label and picked up the box, carrying it up to the window. “Yeah, around two, right?” he asked as Riley grabbed the file from the table and walked up beside him. “We got bumped back to four-thirty,” he said, making a sound with his lips as he sighed quickly. “Carolyn’s going over the decorations and layouts all day Sunday, so it won’t matter. Abigail said she’d help a lot, too. Thank god.” Ben nodded his thanks with a smile to the clerk before he and Riley headed for the door. “I told you my dad said he might not make it, right? He’s still tied up in everything with my mom-“ “It’s fine,” Riley assured. “I understand. I’m not exactly family, anyways.” Ben smiled at his friend. “You’re there. He’d never admit it, but you’re up there.” The comment had two effects on Riley; he felt welcomed, that he really belonged there amongst the Gates, but on the other hand, ‘family’ was a strong word. Ben’s mentoring was that of an older sibling’s, and their quarrels were just as petty. A picture of himself in the Gates family portrait popped into his head, leaving him indifferent. He ultimately displayed a small smile, finding satisfaction in that he was thought so highly of. Though, he had a looming feeling it would create detachment issues. Riley could already sense that it was. As they stepped onto the sidewalk by the edge of the road, they saw Carolyn pull the silver Audi around the corner. “What about your mom and dad?” Ben asked, nudging him as they waited for the car. “Oh. My parents are flying in Wednesday night. Carolyn and I are going to try and put my old bed in one of the empty bedrooms for them by then.” “Really?” Ben asked. The car rolled to stop in front of them. “Where are they flying from?” Riley huffed out a sarcastic laugh. “Who knows?” Ben gave him a strange look as he entered the car. Ben quickly ducked inside, leaning forward to Riley earnestly. “You don’t know where your parents are?” Riley laughed again, looking over his shoulder at him. “No one ever does.” Carolyn seemed amused as she pulled away from the post office. Ben turned to her, hoping she might have more insight on the subject than Riley did. She smiled widely, choosing to keep Ben in the dark as well. She shrugged her shoulders. “No one ever does.” x x x “Hey, Maddox!” Maddox let out a soft groan, looking up from the large plots he was leaning over with Priscilla. Dominic came running up to him, his glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose. “What is it?” Maddox asked, trying to remain patient despite his exhaustion. Dominic held up a box. “Package.” “Dom, it goes with the others. I’ve told you this-“ “But it’s the one you told us bring you if it came. From Carolyn Howe?” The expression on Maddox’s face changed dramatically from annoyed to surprised, sharing it with Priscilla. She was somewhat lost, but his reaction made her all the more curious. “Carolyn Howe?” “Sister of an old associate, paid her a visit the other day,” Maddox said, taking the box from Dominic and setting it on the map. “Her brother had something of mine, and I asked her to send it to me before her wedding if she got the chance. Looks like she did,” he smiled, cutting the tape of the box. Priscilla and Dominic looked on, bewildered. “That’s where you went?” “Yep.” “Well what did she send you?” Maddox smiled as he unwrapped the smooth wooden box with the compass rose top he had not seen in almost a decade. Priscilla and Dominic leaned forward curiously, silently pushing the other with his or her elbow for more room to see. “She sent me the lock to my key,” he said, lifting the box and admiring it copiously. Dominic snorted. “What does that mean?” “It means Roanoke’s mystery is about to be solved, right after we find its treasure.” Priscilla jumped forward. “Treasure? Maddox-“ “Finding the treasure will determine the fate of this colony, and I’m going to do it,” he said resolutely, carefully setting the compass box on the table. “You know I’ve talked about the treasure before, so don’t pretend to be surprised. We’re going to find it and get the recognition of a lifetime.” “Aaaaand... how? Do you plan to do this?” Dominic asked uncertainly. “Very easily, Dom,” Maddox smiled cleverly, unlatching the front of the box. “All we need is… a point in the right direction.” Priscilla looked to Dominic, amused by the mysterious banter. Dominic kept his posture strict as Maddox opened the box. His smile vanished, the glimpse of an angry snarl appearing and disappearing. “What?” “What is it?” He stared into the box, Priscilla and Dominic on either side of him filled with anticipation, trying to let his anger flow into the edge of the table as he gripped it strong and silent. Priscilla’s hair brushed against his face as she bent over to pick up the contents of the box. A slip of paper. “This is it?” Priscilla asked, opening the tiny note. “What does it say?” Dominic asked in a hushed breath. Priscilla read it to herself, knowing Maddox would not be happy. She looked at the back of his head, eyes intent and jaw firmly set. “’Come and get it.’” Maddox gripped the table even more. He might be breaking bones or straining muscles, but he didn’t care; he was never so infuriated, frustrated, and flustered in his life. Gates… Maddox pushed off the table and walked away with the other two in his pursuit. “Get me Joseph Myers on the phone and find everything you can about Carolyn Howe, Riley Poole, and the entire Gates family. I want everything.” “Maddox, I can only access so much-“ “Dom, you’re a professional,” Maddox said sharply. “You can handle it. Priscilla?” “What?” “Find a dress for the wedding. You’re coming with me.” x x x Over the following two days, much had been done, but much still needed to be done. Preparations for the wedding were going smoothly; a sigh of relief to everyone, especially Ben, Abigail, and Carolyn. Riley was evidently happy to forget the whole ‘Maddox-compass-Roanoke-treasure’ ordeal and carried on each day normally, but he still had his personal suspicions about him. And they just kept getting more bizarre and unrealistic in his head until he’d remind himself that he’d watch them package and mail that compass back where it belonged. Or so he thought. The others were careful around him constantly now. Every sneaky execution had to be perfect; Riley couldn’t see or know or hear anything. They took to collaborating in pairs while one of them would be off occupying Riley with choosing decorations or sorting out things at the Estate. Ben wrote and rewrote the riddle a hundred times, examining each one for something he might’ve missed. He applied codes, looked up infinite amounts of knowledge, scrambled the words, and practically butchered it. ‘Captive truth, ye worthy, bare, Rests upon the twilight’s air.’ Well, ‘twilight’ and ‘air’ both dealt with the direction of East, that he was certain of by now. He discovered that ‘truth’ and ‘worthy’ were also references to East, as they were characteristics of that direction. So he needed what he now called the East Compass; the one he believed to be in that bank account his mother had left to his name. But he wasn’t getting it as soon as he’d like, and it presented a problem, what with more or less provoking Maddox to kick in the church door without an exact plan in mind. He’d have to stay one step ahead and get into the bank somehow. It was vital. An idea began to ferment into a plan in his head, and by now he wasn’t concerned with things like pleasing everyone and trying to work around anything or anyone that wasn’t Maddox Whittacre. “Well, that’s not selfish at all,” Carolyn commented later that night after he told her this. Riley was out with his old college roommates for the night that had flown in to see him, leaving Carolyn and Abigail free to join Ben in relaxed, open discussion. Ben smiled from the desk in the study of the Manor; her sarcasm was as bitter as ever. “It’s going to take cooperation from everyone,” he said, leaning back in the chair with his hands folded in the air. “We need minimal upsets and a good thorough understanding of what’s going to happen if we’re going to pull this off.” He took a deep breath, looking between Abigail in the antique armchair and Carolyn on the leather sofa. He let out a reluctant sigh as his eyes rested on Carolyn. “We can’t have the wedding.” Carolyn rolled her eyes. “I thought we said this? Yes, we have to have it,” she said loudly. “If we don’t, Maddox is going to know we’ve run from him. Besides, he-“ “I know we’re still going on with the wedding as planned, that’s not what I meant,” Ben said, cutting her off. He took great difficulty in delivering his news. “There’s going to be a wedding. You and Riley just won’t be married when it’s over.” Abigail stared at him, a short laugh rushing out of her. “What?” Ben turned back to Carolyn. She looked at the floor thoughtfully or distraught; which, he couldn’t classify for certain. She was very still, save for her fingers absentmindedly toying with one another. A jolt within him knew this might not turn out as he’d hoped. “Please, I really need you on this, Carolyn,” he pleaded gently. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Abigail look even more shocked at his request (whatever, she’d get over it). “You know what this could mean,” he continued. “My mother meant for me to do this and, by some weird… fate, Maddox left that compass with Ian, and now you and Riley are a part of it. I can’t do it without you.” Abigail sounded doubtful. “Call me crazy, but I think you’ll have to after that one, Ben.” “No, I’m totally serious,” he said outright. “I need his computer skills and her… experience.” Carolyn smiled faintly at his terminology, and he was happy to get some kind of response from her. He pushed on carefully. “Especially for what I have in mind.” “Riley’s not going to do anything that involves this treasure,” Abigail said. “He thinks that compass was mailed two days ago, and here we are with it! What do you think he’ll do when-“ “What Riley doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” Ben said, glancing over at Carolyn briefly as she sat in silent reverie. He looked back at his wife, her mouth agape in astonishment. “Unbelievable!” she said, throwing her hands in the air. “You are unbelievable!” “Why?” “Why?!” “Yes.” “You’ve been keeping this from him and he believes you, now you want to actually go through with it like it’s ‘no big deal’ and he’ll just not be angry and gladly help you-“ “He’ll understand-“ “Hah! I really think you’re relying on that just a little too much, Ben.” “It’ll be fine, okay? Riley wants to do it. Deep down...” “It’s not fair to him not to know what’s going on, though! He’ll-“ “He can’t know what’s going on, unless you want to blow this opportunity,” Ben said acutely. Abigail bit her lip fuming, but Ben lowered the austerity in his tone, looking at her sincerely. “He will know, Abigail.” He smiled like he had his own personal joke. “Trust me; he’s going to know it. I can’t get where I need to if I don’t have him, so at one point, he’ll know all about it.” Still seeing that she looked unconvinced, he added reproachfully, “Trust me.” “All right.” Ben and Abigail looked up at Carolyn suddenly. “What?” Abigail asked as Ben’s smile spread. “I said ‘all right.’” Carolyn rubbed her hands on her legs, sitting up tall out of her hunch. She felt that she was placing Riley on the thin blade of a knife that was stabbing her guiltily, but she hardened up to a state of mind that was old, familiar, and enjoyably edgy. Feeling unexplainably stimulated, Carolyn met Ben and Abigail’s eyes. “What’s the plan?” x x x “Here. Here’s the jacket.” “Oh, yeah.” Riley turned around, taking the tuxedo jacket from Ben (already suited up in his own). He slipped it on with care and adjusted it comfortably with a few shrugs of his shoulders, looking into the tall mirror slowly. His expression softened as Ben smiled over his shoulder proudly. “You look great, Riley.” Riley stared at himself thoughtfully. He examined every inch of his mirrored image in good detail; the suit was so clean-pressed, the cufflinks were shiny and bright, his shoes were hard to flex. His skin crawled and prickled at this other version of himself. He felt intimidated, almost frightened and unnerved. He swallowed and ballooned his chest with air to make more room for the butterflies. Was this him? “Ben?” “Hmm?” “Can I ask you something?” Ben’s spine went rigid, picking up the undertone of genuine seriousness in his voice. His mind was already running ramped with outlandish thoughts. Maybe he didn’t want to go through with the wedding. Oh no. He had to do it. Did he and Carolyn have fight? Was he just chickening out? They had to have this wedding! Ben cleared his throat, trying to alleviate his alarm. “Sure. What is it?” Riley didn’t speak immediately. He seemed oblivious to Ben’s eyes growing uneasily at the silence that could possibly confirm his wild suspicions of actually backing out. Ben was about to burst inside out from lack of patience and panic when Riley finally found his voice, staring intently at the creases in his bowtie. “How are you supposed to feel when you’re standing here?” Thrown off by the question, Ben glanced between Riley and his expressionless reflection, trying to respond positively despite the lingering feeling of concern. “That’s a question only you can answer,” he said to the mirror. Impatiently, he glanced sideways at Riley. “How do you feel?” Riley exhaled soundly, biting his lip with a decisive nod. “Old.” At this, Ben had the uncontrollable urge to laugh openly and did. What was he thinking? Riley leaving someone at the altar? It was suddenly all nonsense! He was overly relieved after Riley’s humorous reply. “Yeah,” he chuckled, “I think we all get that.” The corner of Riley’s mouth tugged into a smile. “Did you hate the shoes, too?” “Every second of it.” “Great,” Riley said with a sound sigh. “I’m not alone.” A knock then came from behind them, and they turned around to see Carolyn peering around the corner at them with a smile. “Hey guys. How’s it going?” Charlie then came running in fully dressed in his own little suit. “Dad! Uncle Riley! I don’t like the bowtie!” he whined, yanking at the stubborn thing. Ben knelt before him laughing, helping him to take it off. “All the ring bearers wear them,” he said, fixing the boy’s shirt collar. “Your sister has to wear an itchy dress, so you’re lucky.” Charlie made a face of triumph as Ben turned him around. “Go get dressed. We’re out of here in five minutes.” “Okay!” Charlie ran from the room, the thick carpet muffling his footfalls. Ben stood up, exchanging looks with Riley and Carolyn. “Thanks,” Ben said to her. “I know he’s a handful.” “Aw, but he’s sweet,” she insisted as Riley walked up to her and kissed her. He put his arm around her and led her into the private room of the boutique they occupied, her eyes running over him in awe. “Like it?” “Oh, I love it. You look amazing,” she said, seeing Ben nod his agreement out of the corner of her eye. She ran her hand over the crisp white shirt and black jacket, smiling up at him. “Why don’t you look this way every day?” “I’m not a mannequin,” Riley replied, inducing some laughter from her and Ben. “So, what are you doing here? Forget something?” “Actually, Ben called me,” Carolyn said, motioning to him with a sly gleam she was careful not to let Riley pick up on. “There’s something I wanted to ask you, and I’ve already gotten Ben’s permission…” “Permission for what?” Riley asked, looking between them curiously. Carolyn drew her eyes away from Ben, playing up a very innocent, sweet face at Riley. He tried not to laugh. “I wanted to know if you would mind if Ben could give me away?” she asked. “But he’s already my best man and-“ “I don’t have anyone else to do it,” Carolyn reasoned. Riley felt caught in the middle, babbling wordlessly until he was able to look at Ben and make words. “You, you agreed to do it?” “You can use me wherever you need me,” he said, trying not to sound too rehearsed. “Whatever makes it go smoother for you guys.” “Please, Riley?” Carolyn asked. “He’ll do it. He just said so. You can get Dillon or somebody to fill his spot, can’t you?” Feeling bombarded but wanting to make Carolyn happy, Riley began to nod with a shaky sigh. “Yeah. Yeah, if it’s what makes you happy, then sure,” he said, trying to keep his response bright as Carolyn beamed at him. “I’ll give Dillon a call later. He’d love to do it.” Carolyn patted his chest with an effervescent smile, conveying to Ben with a fraction of a wink. “Thanks, hon,” she said, planting a kiss on his cheek. “You’re the best.” “I know,” he said with a quirked eyebrow. “You don’t have tell me.” She punched him lightly in the arm at his arrogance as they laughed. “Obviously not, Mr. Poole.” “You love me.” “Yeah, somehow,” she giggled. Ben stood sick with amusement. Riley was getting his turn to mildly agitate him with the pre-marital lovey-dovey banter. He stayed quiet at their consistent giggling, knowing he deserved as much as he and Abigail had annoyed Riley with it, but come on! They had to leave because he had more conniving to do… “Ahem.” Riley and Carolyn looked up, their cheeks flushing with slight embarrassment. “You, uh… wanna go make a last few checks on the cruise and stuff?” Riley asked her quietly. “Make sure nobody double-booked our beach house or whatever?” “I’m already packing,” she countered enthusiastically. “Barbados is in the middle of a hot spell right now, so it’s going to be gorgeous.” “Let’s hope it holds out another week and a half,” he said, taking off the tuxedo jacket as the three of them went to leave the room. “Riley!” They turned at Ben’s call, the historian pointing to a pile of clothes on the arm of the plush couch. “Don’t forget your pants.” “Oh yeah. Guess I should get changed, huh?” Riley headed back into the room and Ben headed for the door with Carolyn casually. “Wait up for me outside, guys.” “We are,” Carolyn said, shutting the door gently. She looked up at Ben. He seemed very approving of her performance. “Well done,” he told her as they moved away from the door. “Thank you. So what now?” “I’ve got almost everything for the wedding worked out, but I need you to come by tomorrow morning while Abigail and Riley go pick up the centerpieces and favors. I’m looking at the layouts of the bank and wanted second input.” “Second input on what? How to get in?” “Bypassing, that sort of thing.” Carolyn blew out some air. “I can help you with some things, but Riley’s far more experienced with that sort of stuff.” “He’ll do what you can’t,” Ben said. “I just need to get as far as possible before then.” “All right,” she said, not sure he was placing his trust in the most qualified person. “I’ll be there after they leave, but I only have until four; I’m having my fitting then. Abigail and Sally are coming, so they’ll be back by then. We also have to help set up the reception hall Thursday…” “Yeah, that’s right,” Ben hissed, sounding pressed for time. Carolyn looked up. “You’re still coming?” “No, I’ll be there,” he assured her quickly. “What kind of flowers did you get for the hall?” “Jasmine, roses, and lilies,” she said without hesitation. “And of course, a purple-pink theme as you can tell.” She looked at his lavender vest under the jacket he wore knowing he was not one for purple, and he nodded with a smile to confirm it as usual. Still, the fine material made him look handsome even if the color didn’t compliment him as nicely. “You really do look good,” she said, smoothing the wrinkles from the vest. “Only if you say so,” he obliged half-heartedly. Carolyn laughed. “Come on, you can pull it off just fine,” she said as he started to remove his bowtie. “Just don’t think about it. At least it’s not a deep royal violet.” “I’d never expect to be having this conversation with you after seeing you with a gun,” Ben said honestly. “It’s such a feminine topic for you.” “Every woman does this for her wedding, even if it’s not necessarily going to happen,” she said pointedly. Ben rolled his eyes, the comment directed right him appropriately. “Okay, get it out now so I don’t have to hear both you and Riley later,” he smiled. “Here what?” Carolyn and Ben jumped guiltily, but it was only Charlie staring up at them with his suit balled up in his arms. They both looked horrified at the state of the suit, but Carolyn smiled for quick cover and took it from him, Ben helping to straighten it on the hangers. “Nothing, honey,” she said to Charlie. “Something for the grown-ups about the wedding.” “Yeah, you’ll find out later, bud,” Ben said. Carolyn gave him a look at choice of words, but it was the gentlest way he could put it. “You and Aunt Carolyn go pay for that suit, and Riley and I will see you out front.” “What now?” Riley asked, stepping out of the hall behind Ben. “Oh,” he said with start. “They’re just… paying for that while we put these in for alterations. I’ll go change real quick and-“ “Ben?” “Huh?” “Ben.” “What?” Riley nodded at him respectfully with a sincere smile. “Thanks. For everything.” Ben’s stomach dropped, but he didn’t let it show on his face. He smiled in return. “Take that to the counter and I’ll meet you outside.” “Right.” . Please Review .
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