Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
M icah
Micah would not admit to himself that he was a tad depressed. After finishing his Chinese food, he leaned back on the couch in the Stone family living room and hated himself. Junk Chinese food hadn’t been part of his diet for a long time.
Annoyance rippled through him as he stood and moved toward the conquistador wall that his mother and Trey had put together. It started on the side of the kitchen, across from his dad’s office, and stretched all the way down the hall. The wall featured a replica of the map for the conquistador gold—a map that had been used by the whole family at various times in their hunt for the gold, but it had led nowhere. There had to be some way for the amulet to decipher more clues.
He saw the picture of Trey’s parents with all their siblings when they were younger. There were other photos of his parents and their beach crew friends. A sad pang washed over him; he wished he was related to them. Sure, they treated him like family, but he wasn’t blood related.
He moved down the wall and paused in front of the different articles written about the gold. Most of the details about the gold hunts were outlined in newspaper articles, but he knew the real backstory about that idiot Mr. Banks who had nearly blown up the house. He’d been there. He knew the danger his family had faced because of the gold.
Micah had never thought he would be cut out for the gold hunt. How could he, when his uncles were Navy SEALs and Brooks was an FBI agent who still kept tabs on anything related to the gold? His uncle Marshall was even a Night Stalker pilot.
He reached the last article written about the conquistador ship that had ended up in Kentucky. He skimmed through what the press had said about the whole situation, Ed Peters, and the gold that had been melted down. The articles didn’t have all the details, of course—just enough to be dangerous.
Micah strolled across the wooden floors and climbed the stairs to the Stone family library. When his mother and Trey had gotten married, they had finished restoring this house. They called it an inn, allowing people to visit and enjoy the beach, making memories; still, they were careful about who they let stay. Trey ran background checks on anyone who applied to come. Often, they told people the place was fully booked when no one was actually coming. Micah didn’t blame them. He still had his younger brother and sister, and the cousins were around. The whole family often gathered here, and everyone needed to be kept safe.
He reached the library and took a long breath. Turning on the lights, he looked over the high bookshelves with old books stacked at the top. A ladder slid around the room to reach the higher shelves.
He moved toward the locked case in the center of the library, which contained various articles related to the treasure hunt—including some journals that had belonged to Trey’s parents. There were also older guns on display.
Micah’s mind raced. He would have to ask Trey for access to the journals, but he wasn’t in the mood to explain everything. Trey wouldn’t like that they were on their own gold hunt. In fact, he was pretty sure his aunts, uncles, and parents wouldn’t be happy that he and Cheyenne had snuck into someone’s crypt and retrieved an amulet.
His heart pumped as he stared through the glass at the journals. Could they contain anything about the map?
Micah moved down and paused when he saw the actual map—not just the copy downstairs. There was also a copy in the museum in downtown South Port. They referred many people there when they asked about the gold.
Adrenaline surged through him, and he wished he’d told Cheyenne he wanted to keep the necklace with him. Not that she’d be willing to hand it over.
Just thinking about her distracted him. The rodeo queen—how had he not teased her about that yet? He felt stupid about how they’d left things. He hadn’t wanted to admit it, but it had irritated him that she was going on a date with Eli. It didn’t feel safe for her to continue to go out with a guy who’d shown up at the condo next to hers on spring break. She didn’t know anything about him.
Micah winced and pressed his fingers into his eyes, then massaged his temples. He didn’t want to think about how attracted he was to her. She was brave, fun, and daring. Today had been a complete adventure, and he had been lost in it—in her. He could honestly say she was the first woman he’d hung out with in a long time who felt real.
He pulled his hands back and moved toward the window overlooking the ocean. There were no families out right now—no spring breakers, either. But the moon was bright, and the sea looked calm. Was Cheyenne still out with that guy?
Micah frowned. Something felt off.
He pulled up his phone and entered the name ‘Eli Waters’. It pulled up a bunch of banking information, because apparently a guy named Waters was a banker. He refined his search to Duke Law School. He found some social media posts, including one that looked like it was posted by the college. He’d won some award or something.
Micah went to Instagram next. He scrolled until he found a post from Eli yesterday.
I’m finally on the beach in South Port. Excited to build houses for people that need them.
That was a jerk move, bragging about the service the guy was doing. Micah’s parents had always taught him that scripture—the right hand should not know what the left hand was doing. He scrolled through more pics but didn’t see anything about houses being built.
Even though he didn’t want to, he entered the phone number Cheyenne had given him. He took a little pride in knowing that he had an almost photographic memory.
He texted her.
It’s Micah. I think I’ve discovered something. Can you talk?
He hated himself for it, but he had an idea, and if she would talk to him, it would give him a clue about whether she was still with the jerk.
How long would he have to wait? He turned back to the case securing the gold memorabilia. He really didn’t want to ask Trey for the security code.
Irritation rushed through him, so he left the library and marched down the stairs and into the main part of the kitchen. On his way, he noticed the most recent addition to the Wall of Gold, as he affectionately called it. It was a picture of the original conquistador ship that had been acquired in Kentucky.
Another plan sparked in his brain—one in which he wouldn’t have to get Trey involved.
He sent Cheyenne another message.
Text me. I have an idea.