Worth More Than Gold

Just moved in to a new apartment and got my internet set up. Done was few chapters cause I don't have a job... enjoy.

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Chapter 3

“So Mr. Crater, what exactly was James Aubrey working on? I have learned that a red leather bound notebook when missing form his study. That was the only thing his son could identity as missing. What were the contents of that book?” Sergeant Rothgart asked the old scholar.

“James was one of very few people that studied the people of Erazith, a forgotten temple on a tropical island somewhere far out into the Indian Ocean. James was the only man to decode their language. When he was younger, he and Professor Hobbs of the University in Oberly found the scrolls in Egypt. The language was nothing like their hieroglyphs and thus began his interest in their reasons for breaking off and starting their own civilization a few thousand years ago. “ Mr. Crater explained.

“Hmm, but why would that be of interest to our killer?” the sergeant said and pondered. “A hidden treasure perhaps?” The man laughed but noticed the older man becoming nervous.

“Actually, James was convinced there was a huge treasure there. Something about appeasing an angry demon.” Mr. Crater confessed. “He wanted to get funding for an expedition to the island but…”

“I can’t believe it. That’s ridiculous.” The sergeant replied, yet he was curious. “Did you believe him and his clams?”

“James was a brilliant man, he would not lie about such things. He had little interest in treasure; his only drive was discovering answers of why they left for the open ocean.”

“Who else knows about this? It’s possible that his talk of treasure could have sparked some interest.” The sergeant asked a little exited at the prospect of treasure.

“ A few members of the museum and university. No one really believed him. He was the only one who could understand their hieroglyphs so no one else could make sure.”

“I want a list of names of whoever James spoke to about his findings. Perhaps his son could shed some light on this matter,” the sergeant said, “also I will meet you at the museum later today, lets say in two hours at about four o’clock. I am meeting Professor Hobbs.

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The room was dark with little rays of light coming through the old wooden boards that made up the walls and rood. The sound of the ocean crashing in the distance as some men gathered in a room. One scruffy man ran up to the big man in charge who was sitting in a large chair smoking his cigar. He whispered into the man’s ear and handed him a red leather book. The big hands flipped through the pages. He shut the book loudly and turned to face his men. “The man who wrote these notes is dead?” a gruff man asked as angrily at one of his lackeys, “ and now these notes are useless to me without someone who can read the god damned language. You! Bookworm, can you translate these?” He shifted his attention to a clean well-dressed man.

“Un, I’m sorry sir but I thought he would have written out the translated hieroglyphs not write in the language. I can’t decode it, I’ve been not as successful,” the man said meekly.

“So your useless too! If you don’t find someone who can read these notes to my treasure then I will rip out your lying tongue!” the Captain screamed.

“Sir I will! Aubrey has a son, Evan, perhaps he knows something.” The man pleaded.

“Find out!” the man screamed throwing a book at the man, which missed but caused the man to cower in to his knees, “That professor, he doesn’t know anything?”

“No, he isn’t an expert like James was. He is heading here anyways.”

“Well find out for sure, he must know something. Perhaps something you missed,” The Captain screamed stroking his bushy beard and blowing out the smoke to his cigar at the smaller educated man. “What the hell are you standing here for? Get out of my sight!” With that the small man ran out as quickly as possible.

The educated man made it passed the scruff crewmembers and left the shipping yard. He sighed in relief but he knew he had just

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Evan awoke a few hours later to a loud knocking on the door. He sat up in bed and glanced around. The detective went over to answer the door cautiously. He opened it to find the sergeant. “Sir? I wasn’t expecting you. Any developments?” Regis asked.

“Not really but I do want Mr. Aubrey to meet us at the museum at four. Professor Hobbs will be joining us. He in the named guardian of the kid so there is much to discuss,” the sergeant replied. He turned and left followed by officer Bradley.

The detective closed the door. Evan looked at him and he knew the boy wanted to know whom the visitor was. “It was the sergeant, he says Professor Hobbs will be arriving and meeting us at the museum,” Regis said, “You can sleep for a bit more.”

The kid nodded his head in a daze, still not completely awake and crawled back into his comfy nest.