Trouble & Treasure - Dave Moyer (reading rainbow books .TXT) 📗

them would let in the morning sun, and one of them would let in the setting sun. This chest of drawers, if I wasn’t much mistaken, would have sat roughly in the middle of the attic before all the furniture had been moved around to collect all that lovely treasure. If that chest of drawers had sat in the middle of the room, then in the morning the 12 on the back would have been illuminated by the sunshine, and in the evening the 12 at the front would have been illuminated by the setting sun. In other words, the beginning of the day would bring 12 and the end of the day would bring 12.

Both of us turned to stare at the shambles of the broken chest of drawers to our side. Soon I realized that engraved on the front of one of the drawers, probably the one that had sat in the center, was a beautiful gold-leaf 12.

Sebastian dropped to his knees and began searching through the broken wood and drawers at our feet. I joined him, though I didn't know what I was looking for. I assumed we would find another clue, and I thought it would be cleverly written on the back of one of the drawers.

I heard Sebastian's breath stick in his throat, and I saw him lift up the back of the chest of drawers. On the inside of the wood, directly opposite the perfectly painted 12, was a small box. It wasn't that much bigger than two fists put together, and considering its size could have remained within the body of the chest of drawers forever without somebody noticing.

Though I still thought we were going to find another clue inside, I realized Sebastian was starting to shake. His shoulders were shivering, and I reasoned he might be cold from the drafty attic considering it had two gaping windows.

I moved over to his side.

Whatever it was, Sebastian didn’t thankfully smash it on the ground and start stamping on it to open it. Nor did he dash down to the garden shed and find a spade to whack it with. No, he opened it, finding a latch somewhere and lifting the small lid.

I leaned over his shoulder in time to see him pull out a small object. It took me a while to realize it was a small spotting globe.

“Jesus Christ, we found it,” Sebastian said, voice shaking.

“What—” I began.

“It's one of the Stargazers,” Sebastian said, voice reverent.

“But it’s so small.” I protested.

“They don't all look the same,” Sebastian said, voice shaking into a laugh.

“But…” I trailed off. Had we honestly found another Stargazer? Sebastian wasn't lying to me, was he? He wasn't joking, was he? Considering my day and night, I wasn't in a joking mood. Yet as I watched Sebastian cradle the small spotting globe, saw the slack-jawed look of wonder on his face, I realized he was serious.

He began to laugh harder, a gargantuan grin spreading across his face. “I thought it would take my whole life to find one of these,” he said, “And all it took was a day with you.”

I blushed, thankful the light was too dim to make out the exact hue of my cheeks. “What does this mean? It doesn't belong to me, or us even. The only reason I sold the other one was Imelda wasn’t interested in it, and told me to put it up for auction. But all that money goes back into the residuary of the estate. And Imelda’s the principal beneficiary.”

Well that put a dampener on Sebastian's mood. Though he still held the globe reverently, he let it drop to his side.

He took a moment, and I was aware of his breathing. “It's okay, Amanda.”

“It is?” I questioned automatically. Though I hadn’t known him long, I’d known him long enough to know these Stargazer things were important to him. And I was starting to appreciate that if something was important to Sebastian, he didn’t let it slip.

“It's okay,” he said again, “It's a treasure map. Plus,” I could see him smile in the dark, “I know about Imelda Stanton – and the old girl wouldn’t sell something like this. Plus, you know where she lives.”

I gave a stuttering cough. “Are you suggesting trying to steal it from my great-aunt?”

He put his hands up. “I’m a lawyer,” he said in a quick, sarcastic voice. “I’m suggesting that, if ever we feel the need, we can always borrow it from her. Plus,” his voice grew more serious, “The Stargazers only work once you’ve got the whole set. So we can let Imelda hold onto it for now.”

I gave a soft laugh, which ended in a sigh and somehow transformed into an enormous yawn.

“I think you've had enough for today. Time to go to bed, Amanda Stanton.” He reached a hand over and patted my head distractedly.

I flushed, heart giving a pleasant shudder. “But there are still criminals in my library.”

“They are all being taken away by the army,” he assured me.

“There are soldiers on my lawn,” I pointed out through another yawn.

“I'm sure they are packing up as we speak.”

I closed my eyes. I couldn't believe it was all over. Despite Sebastian's assurances that every crooked crook in the neighborhood would soon get the picture I didn’t have the Stargazer Globes and leave me alone, I still couldn't shake the feeling that all of this wasn’t over.

But Sebastian was right, it was over for tonight. Epilogue

Amanda Stanton

One week later, after the police and army had moved on, my safety apparently assured, I had a visit from my lawyer, which was a funny thing considering I’d never had a lawyer. But that’s what Sebastian was calling himself, and who was I to disagree.

With the morning sunshine filtering in through the shambles of my kitchen door, Sebastian and I sat on the stoop and watched the sunshine warm up the countryside. He’d brought a box full of pastries and cakes from the village, and I was enjoying a chocolaty one as I stared at a bird washing itself in the birdbath.

Sebastian, as he was my self-appointed lawyer, had demanded I show him all legal documents regarding my great-uncle's last will and testament, and he was pouring over them, a pastry in one hand that he kept going to bite, but pulling away from every time he flicked to a new page. Sebastian the lawyer was a different creature to Sebastian the treasure hunter, though they both wore the same suit and were both equally handsome.

Sebastian kept shaking his head, and I reached for another pastry.

“That's four of those you have had,” Sebastian noted as he licked his finger and turned another page, never looking up at me, apparently absorbed by the boring documents instead.

“I think you will find I have earned these,” I said after I took another enormous bite at a pastry, “I did a lot of running last week.”

“Good point, finish them all off,” he said with a nod of agreement, still staring at the documents on his lap.

He honestly did look absorbed by them. I couldn't guess at why he found them so damn interesting, but soon a wry smile curled his lips.

“Did your great-uncle leave you anything in the will?” He looked up at me, taking a small bite from his pastry.

“He left me some money. I haven't received it yet; he didn't have any cash flow when he died, but I think it's meant to be taken out of the estate once this place is sold,” I said and I couldn't stop my voice from dropping, as I was fond of this place. Yes, it held some pretty uncomfortable memories for me, but even the knowledge that every criminal in Christendom had traipsed through it still didn’t ruin the appeal. It was the kind of place that, if looked after properly, would be a beautiful home for the rest of your life.

“Nothing else?” Sebastian asked, voice professional.

I couldn't help but smile at the change in him. I still remembered the man who’d teased me and strung me along. “There was a gift, but it didn't go to probate, because no one could find it. It doesn’t exist anymore.” I shrugged.

“Do you know what the gift was called?” Sebastian still had that professional look to him.

“I can't remember, I think it was in Ancient Greek or something.”

Sebastian nodded. He looked like he had a secret, a secret that was tugging at the corner of his lips and making him smile in the most charming of ways. “Ancient Greek for stargazer perhaps?”

I frowned at him. “No, I think it was light map or something. Anyhow, there was obviously nothing like that in his estate, so the gift failed...”

“Amanda,” he winked at me, “I'm fairly proficient at Ancient Greek—”

“As well as arrogance,” I interrupted automatically.

He smiled easily at my jibe but continued. “Amanda, trust me, because I have a feeling my Ancient Greek is better than yours.” He pulled up one of the pieces of paper he’d been pouring over and handed it to me. “Is this a copy of your Great-Uncle Arthur Stanton's last will and testament?”

I laughed at the excessively professional move, and managed to nod.

“I am happy to inform you, Amanda Stanton, my client,” there was a distinct kink to his lips, “There has been a mistake, and the gift referred to here,” he pointed to a section of the will, “Has been mistranslated. It should not read light map, but stargazers, and I think you will find there are items within your great-uncle’s estate that match the terms of that gift.”

My lip wobbled down. “The will has already been finalized,” my voice was quiet.

“I think you'll find I am a good lawyer.”

“Sebastian... I’m not sure I want the Stargazers. Look at all the trouble they’ve already caused me.” I gestured to the door we were sitting next to, the one that had been broken by world-class criminals.

“Look,” he smiled again, “As your lawyer, I can suggest selling the globe, using the funds to, I don't know, maybe buy a nice house in the country.” He pointed to the kitchen, clearly indicating the house we were already in.

I stared across at him, lips parted. “I do not want to go through another one of those auctions,” I answered honestly.

He burst into a low laugh. “Neither do I. This time I suggest I find you a client and we sell it off quietly.”

I looked at him. “Why don't I give it to you?” I said quietly, saying the thought as soon as it leaped into my mind, even if it was the stupidest thing to do.

He looked at me steadily, and smiled. Though I’d seen Sebastian smile before, I hadn’t seen a smile like this. It was personal. It left a large question mark in my mind about my new lawyer Sebastian Shaw – a question mark that invited me to scratch the surface and find out who he truly was.

He shook his head. “Though as a treasure hunter I would be willing to take you up on your ridiculously generous offer, Amanda, as your lawyer, I advise against it. I can help you find a client to sell it to,” he put up a hand before I