Ava & Carol Detective Agency Series: Books 4-6 (Book Bundle 2) by Thomas Lockhaven & Emily Chase

Author:Thomas Lockhaven & Emily Chase [Lockhaven, Thomas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Twisted Key Publishing, LLC
Published: 2019-11-17T22:00:00+00:00

***

The girls made their way back to The Jefferson, avoiding the main roads, climbing fences, slipping between buildings, and dashing across parking lots. Had they not been running for their lives, they might have noticed a man and a woman in a gray Honda Accord following them to their hotel.

17

X Marks the Spot

Ava and Carol crept soundlessly into their room. Ava was relieved to see their decoys were just where they’d left them. They quickly threw the extra pillows and blankets into their closet and climbed on top of Ava’s bed.

“The seal is beautiful,” whispered Carol.

She was talking about the blood-red bruise of wax sealing the envelope. A soldier on a horse raising his sword skyward was stamped into the wax. The image was so detailed you could almost hear the cry of Charge! Arched above the soldier were the words “Confederate States of America.”

Ava pulled out her phone and took a picture of the seal, just in case there was a hidden message or it held some unknown importance that wasn’t immediately obvious.

“Okay,” begged Ava. “Open it—the suspense is killing me.”

Carol slid her thumbnail under the crease of the flap. The glue was dry and brittle. It reminded her of brown sugar crystals. Ever so gently, she pulled up on the flap; the wax seal fractured into pieces onto Ava’s bedspread. Carol tilted the envelope and gently shook out the contents.

“Whoa,” Ava whispered reverently. There were a half dozen black-and-white photos showing rows and rows of cannons mounted on strong wooden carts with giant wheels. Two artillerymen stood on either side of each cannon. There was also a small ornate brass key.

Ava picked up the key, inspecting it closely, it reminded her of the old skeleton keys her grandmother hung in her kitchen, a reminder of her family’s past generations. She lay the key on the bed. “We’ll save you for later,” she smiled.

Carol gently spread out the rest of the pictures, revealing Union soldiers’ tents and several small buildings, which Carol guessed were the officer’s quarters. On the back of each photo were hand-scribbled details about supplies, weapons, troop location, and troop movement, along with coordinates of where the photos were taken.

“Carol, this is incredible,” gushed Ava. “These are official spy reconnaissance photos!”

“This is the type of stuff you see in museums,” said Carol in a hushed voice. “We’re holding history in our hands.”

“What’s in that one?” asked Ava, pointing to a long, narrow envelope that had been folded in half.

Using her thumbnail once again, Carol carefully opened the envelope and shook the contents onto the bed. Ava picked up the yellowed paper and began to read:

“Understanding orders from the shadow, the Confederate gold has been moved. The shadow has either been killed or captured. Godspeed and long live the Confederacy.”

“Do you think Eli was the shadow?” asked Ava.

“I’m pretty sure,” nodded Carol thoughtfully. “Aves, flip the paper over. There’s something drawn on the back.”

“It’s a map,” said Ava excitedly, spreading it out on the bed. “This has got to be where the treasure is hidden.

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