06 Uncovering Hidden Treasure (15 page)

******

Scoot, Bear, and Stump are in the air at dawn
flying toward Glacier National Park following the major highways.
Only a short distance outside of Cody they spot a dark, extended
cab truck headed toward the park and decide to keep it in sight and
see if by chance, it is the right one. They back off so as not to
be noticed by the driver.

The truck enters the park through a rarely
used entrance and makes its way through the off limits areas. He
obviously knows where he is going and the more they track him the
more confident they are that this is the man that kidnapped
Samantha.

Stump's heart is pounding with anger. He
wants to get his hands on the bastard that kidnapped her this time.
At least, he is reasonably sure that the man hasn't sexually
assaulted her. He hasn't had enough time and he prays they get to
her before that can happen. He keeps telling himself that since it
appears they are bringing her back to Yellowstone, they are
probably interested more in her brain than her body.

Scoot, Bear, and Stump are completely
surprised when the truck turns away from the area of the park they
have been monitoring toward the area where they lost her the first
night she was kidnapped. Scoot asks, "What do you guys think, is
the driver trying to lose us again or is he carrying her to
somewhere on this side of the park?"

Bear says, "Well, I scouted the entire other
side of the park and didn't see or hear anything that would
indicate the presence of a mine. Of course, I don't know what is
behind that curtain of vegetation where they have been entering and
leaving, but I think the mine is on this side of the park
somewhere. It is a lot more isolated."

Stump asks, "Why then have they been coming
and going out of that other area? Is it truly just to throw us
off?"

Bear says, "That's my guess. I think they are
staying away from here as much as possible to make sure they are
not discovered."

The truck pulls up in front of what appears
from the outside to be an abandoned chateau. It looks like it is
literally falling down. What used to be a yard is now grown up with
waist high weeds. The patio is crumbling and the roof is sagging
and looks like it could collapse at any moment. In spite of the
appearance of the place, they see the driver exit the truck, throw
Sam over his shoulder and enter the building. A few minutes later
he comes out of the building and gets back in the truck and leaves
headed back toward the other side of the park.

Stump's heart is pounding with fear. Sam is
in that building. Did that guy untie her or is she still bound? Is
she alone in the falling down house or is someone else inside that
might hurt her? He says, "Put me down there. I've got to get to
her." His heart is pounding with fear.

Scoot responds, "Stump, you can't just go
barging in that chateau. We don't know what we are facing yet. What
if twenty or so armed men are inside that building with her? If
you're dead you aren't going to be much help to her."

Bear says, "I'll go with him. We can spend a
couple of days watching the place and then make a plan."

Scoot hesitates and then says, "All right,
but Stump please don't let your emotions overrule your common
sense. Listen to Bear, he's not as emotionally involved as you
are."

Stump nods and says, "I know you're right.
I'll do my best."

Scoot says, "Stump, I know what you're
feeling. I've been where you are now. Sam needs you to be your very
best right now so don't let her down. Bear, you go down first."

Scoot drops them about two miles from the
chateau then heads back to the ranch to brief Goose and Pinky.

******

From the minute Bear and Stump are on the
ground they can hear the faint clanks and squeals of equipment in
the area. Bear says, "Now that's the sounds of mining
activity."

Stump asks, "Why didn't we hear these sounds
the morning we came over this way to investigate where they lost us
after Sam was kidnapped the first time?"

Bear responds, "My guess is they expected us
to be here so they suspended operations. It's good to know they
aren't expecting us this time. It makes me think this is where they
were taking her that night and then changed their plans after they
heard the helicopter following them."

Stump responds, "You're probably right. I
just hope we are able to get to her this time as easily as we did
the last time."

They make their way up above the chateau so
they can watch everything that is happening. Stump's heart is
pounding with apprehension. His imagination is running rampant
conjuring scenarios of what might be happening inside the walls of
the chateau and none of it is good. Please God, keep her safe!

******

Samantha is scared to death. When the man
stopped the truck and then opened the back door she recognized him
immediately as Terrence Wilbanks. She hopes she didn't betray her
knowledge. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder and
carried her inside an old building that looked like it was falling
down from outside, but inside it looks like any other home except
all of the windows are covered with thick drapes to prevent light
from coming in or getting out.

Terrence Wilbanks takes her into a room with
very comfortable looking furniture and sits her gently on a sofa
where he unties her feet and hands then he leaves. Samantha looks
around and sees several armed men scattered around the room. A
shiver of fear slithers down her spine. Oh God, why is she here?
After Wilbanks leaves, another man enters the room and approaches
Samantha. He says in a very deep gravelly voice,

"Finally, I get to meet the notorious
Samantha Wells. Yes, I know exactly who you are, my dear. I was a
huge fan of your grandfather's work. I actually found it quite
prophetic that you transferred out here to Yellowstone just when I
needed someone with your talents."

Samantha is surprised this man knows that
much about her. She hasn't told too many people about her
grandfather and his profession. She examines the man from head to
toe. He is around fifty, short, balding, with a paunch hanging over
his belt. He must be a smoker judging from his voice. Sam looks at
him but says nothing.

"You don't have anything to say, Miss Wells?
Well, that's all right with me, for now. We will have plenty of
time to talk later. I must say it is a real shame that you and Mr.
Kincaid had a disagreement. I could have used someone with his
talents in my organization. Oh, don't look so shocked, Miss Wells.
I have found that everyone has a price, even your Mr. Kincaid, and
even you. Are you hungry Miss Wells? I was just about to have lunch
and I would be honored if you would join me. Come this way." The
man turns and walks out of the room.

Samantha watches as he leaves the room. When
she makes no attempt to follow him, one of the armed men approaches
her and says, "Miss Wells, that wasn't a request. It was an order."
He points the gun at her and indicates she should follow the bald
man.

She rises from the sofa and makes her way to
the adjoining dining room where a hot lunch is waiting. Her stomach
rumbles with hunger at the delicious smells. She takes the seat
prepared for her and sits staring at the bald man.

He says, "Oh don't worry. I'm not going to
poison you. I need your help, you see. You are going to help me
identify and classify all of the artifacts we find. According to my
calculations we should be getting very close to the lost cave."

Samantha's heart is beating heavily. One of
the first things she noticed when Wilbanks got her out of the truck
was the noises of machinery in the area. The mine must be close. If
they are in the area of the park she thinks they are in, she knows
this is not the location of the lost cave but she's not about to
tell this pompous ass. She is going to keep her mouth shut and let
him find that out for himself. He may find a few artifacts on this
side of the park because the Native Americans that populated this
area lived all around the park but she is positive from her
research that the lost cave is over by the cabin where they carried
her the first time. It is the only area of the park that shows any
signs of being significantly altered by an earthquake.

Samantha spends several minutes enjoying the
delicious meal placed before her and finally she asks, "Who are
you?"

Surprised he says, "Oh, that's right. I
didn't tell you, did I? You can call me John. That is all you need
to know for now. As long as you do everything I tell you, you will
be perfectly safe here. Don't misunderstand me, Samantha. If you
try to leave, I will not hesitate to have you killed. Dozens of
archeologists would love to have the job I am giving to you. You
should also know that I am not totally ignorant about archeology. I
just lack your expertise, so don't try to lie to me. We already
have a few things for you to start working on tomorrow." He points
to one of the guards and says, "James will show you to your room
where you can freshen up. I have taken the liberty of acquiring you
some clothes. They are in the closet. Spend the rest of today
resting and we'll start work tomorrow."

******

When Scoot gets back to the ranch he is
greeted by Goose and Pinky. Goose says, "I found out some
interesting information about that construction company. Where are
Stump and Bear?"

Scoot says, "You aren't going to believe
this. Last night around midnight Stump called me very upset. He
said that Samantha was in trouble. He said he had heard her calling
to him. So I called Jeffrey Whitmore who checked with the folks at
Glacier and Sam was kidnapped late yesterday by a man in a dark
colored extended cab truck. The three of us left at dawn and found
the truck headed back to Yellowstone. We followed it to a falling
down chateau on the far side of the park. Stump and Bear are
surveilling it now. What did you find out about the construction
company?"

"Wow, that's really something! Stump and Sam
must have really formed a connection while they were alone in that
cave," exclaims Goose. "All right, the construction company is
owned by a multi-billionaire named John Bracken. He has his fingers
in a little bit of everything. His reputation is of a very ruthless
businessman and over the years several rumors about mysterious
deaths related to his business dealings have floated around. Of
course, they can't prove anything so he has never been charged. One
of his passions is archeology and he collects all types of
artifacts.

I am reasonably sure once they capture him
and are able to access his homes, they will find the missing
artifacts from the Wyoming museum in Cheyenne. Oh, the latest rumor
about him is that he is dying of throat cancer. He is thought to
have less than six months left to live."

Scoot says, "Well, that fits right in with
our original theory about the lost cave. It also means that Sam was
right when she said she thought they were trying to dig a new shaft
to the lost cave. But if John Bracken is right, Sam's guess about
the location of the cave is wrong."

Scoot's cell phone rings, "Scoot, this is
Bear. I wanted to let you know that the minute we hit the ground we
heard sounds of mining in the area. This is where they are using
the building materials. When we got near the chateau we discovered
that all of the windows are covered with blackout drapes so no
light gets in or out. We can't see anything going on inside. I'll
call you back tonight."

Scoot says, "Bear, the construction company
is owned by a multi-billionaire named John Bracken. He is ruthless
and very dangerous. His passion is archeology so it fits right in
with our theory about the lost cave. We are sure he has armed
guards and state of the art security. Be very careful."

Bear responds, "That's good to know. We'll
call you back later."

When Samantha is escorted to her room by
James she is surprised at how luxurious this place is on the
inside. It looked like it was falling down from the outside. She is
sure the look is intentional. When she looks behind the thick
drapes she sees the windows have bars preventing any attempt at an
escape that way. She looks in the closet and finds a complete
wardrobe all in her exact sizes. Obviously, this man doesn't leave
anything to chance. He must have had her thoroughly
investigated.

She decides to take a shower and then a nap.
As she is standing under the hot spray from the shower she once
again pleads for help to God and to Rance. She prays they are both
listening. She's not sure how they will be able to get to her with
all of the armed guards around but she knows her friends will find
a way.

After her shower she stretches out on the bed
and falls into a deep sleep.

******

Stump and Bear are crouched in the heavy
foliage above the chateau trying to figure out how to get more
information. They have determined the entrance to the mine is about
one hundred yards further down the road. They have been observing
several people entering and leaving. In the quiet Stump hears her
plea and a chill slides down his spine. He turns to his Dad and
asks, "Did you hear that?"

Bear says, "I didn't hear anything. What are
you talking about?"

Stump says, "I just heard Sam begging me to
help her. It's like she is standing right here."

Bear smiles and says, "She's speaking to your
soul. I'm glad to know you've opened your heart enough to hear
her."

Stump says, "It's scary. I've never
experienced anything like it before."

Bear says, "I did once, in Vietnam. It was
the time I didn't listen to my sixth sense and almost died. Your
mother's voice came to me out of nowhere, I heard her just like she
was standing in the jungle with me. She told me to stop, to not
cross the river. She said it was too dangerous. I did as she asked
and within minutes the whole area on the other side of the river
exploded in flames. She saved my life as well as my whole platoon."
He shudders at the memory then he says, "It's obvious we are going
to need help. Let's get Scoot to pick us up so we can brainstorm
what to do next. Come on, we need to move away from here."