Chapter Two

Treasure map:

Danica paced the floor of the kitchen reading document after document. She glanced up to the ceiling and she finally heard Ariadne stop moving about, she hoped she had fallen asleep. With the deadline three weeks away if they didn't have the money they would lose a ship and a major contract. Danica felt defeated. Smith and Brothers were going behind each of their contracted partners and offering “better deals”. Always just a little less than what they were offering. Danica became frustrated and found herself missing her parents. She knew this wouldn't be happening if they were there. She wandered into her father's office. She loved the smell in there. All the old books and maps. She inhaled, finding peace among it all. She sat down at her father's desk and smiled, running her hands over it. She remembered sneaking in there late at night when she was supposed to be in bed. She would sit up on the desk as her father would talk to her about his adventures, the ocean, and the stars. He would show her maps and point out places he had been. She couldn't wait to be older and have her own adventures. She smiled at the memories. 

“Oh Da what would you do?” She grumbled into her hands as she propped her elbows up on the desk.

She yawned slightly, folding her arms downwards as she rested her hands on them. They need a miracle. She quickly drifted off to sleep.

Patrick walked home completely confused. He wasn't sure what just happened or why the two girls were so angry with him. He reached the concrete front steps of his fathers home, he shook his head seeing the rotten tomato still on the steps. A small smile came to his face. The girl...Dani. she had such fire, he had never had a woman speak to him like that. He thought, shaking his head as he walked inside.

“Patrick, I am in the study.” His father called him when he heard the door. 

Patrick removed his coat and hung it on the rack by the door before heading to his father’s study. Walking in the room it was dim, his father sat in a tall red chair in front of the fireplace. He was smoking a cigar and had a small glass of brandy next to him. Seeing Patrick come in he motioned to the chair next to him. Patrick walked over and sat in it. The fire dancing in the fireplace caught his eye. 

“So how did it go?” His father asked as he took a drag off his cigar.

“It didn't.” Patrick said shortly.

“What?” His father asked as he placed the cigar down in the ashtray and turned to him; like facing him he would get a better answer.

“It didn't, I barely got a word out. Those woman are -

“Wretched, that's what they are. Children, spoiled brats. They need to let go of that company. I need them to do it before their parents come back too.” His father cut him off, becoming frazzled.

“Not interested.” Patrick mumbled and finished his sentence.

“Why before their parents come back?” Patrick asked as he stood walking over to his fathers small bar.

“Because they might be able to fix it.” His father mumbled to himself, taking a sip from his glass.

Patrick poured himself a glass of brandy and walked over to the fire place, leaning against it as he took a sip. His fathers words seemed to click as he glanced over to him.

“Fix what?” Patrick asked.

“Never mind. Never mind. We will just have to wear them down. That's all and in three weeks it might not matter. If everything goes well they will be begging me to buy them out.” His father chuckled to himself going back to his cigar.

“Why did they call us thieves?” Patrick asked with an eyebrow raised.

“They were just upset.” His father said, waving his hand at the comment.

“Are you not telling me something father?” Patrick said, making a face not sure if he believed what his father was telling him.

“There's nothing to tell. You just need to follow my instructions. You may be grown but you're still my son and this is my house. You may have been away at that fancy business school but this is my business and I am running it just well. You do what I say.” His father said becoming very defensive.

Patrick nodded slightly and poured his brandy into the fire. The alcohol sizzled and made the flames brighter. He set the glass down and started to walk out the room. 

“Night father.” He muttered leaving the room.

His father made a noise and went back to his drink and cigar. Patrick was frustrated. He knew there was something else going on. He just didn't know what and wanted to find out. He climbed the stairs to his room and shut the door a little too loud.

Danica stirred in her sleep, the moonlight dancing across the desk, hitting her in the face woke her up. She rubbed her eyes with the palm of her hands and then ran them down her face. She sighed deeply. She stretched slightly to stand. She hadn't found a solution but she was too tired now. Standing a glimmer of moonlight bounced off something in the book shelf. Danica began walking to it with a puzzled look on her face. Reaching the book shelf, the books looked like ordinary books. One stood out as the moonlight danced over it. The book looked like an old book. It was a deep navy blue cover but there was a piece of silver peeking out from the binding. Danica pulled the book carefully from the shelf. It was much heavier than a normal book.  Danica ran her hand over the cover and opened the book. It was a normal book. She frowned, running her hands over the pages filled with words telling  a story. The cover was so thick, she turned it over in her hand trying to figure out what was going on. As she did she accidentally fumbled it and the book crashed to the floor. As the book made impact with the floor the cover popped open revealing a secret compartment inside the cover. Danica bent down picking up the book as an old looking piece of paper fell out of it. It floated to the floor unfolding slightly.

It was a map. The moonlight danced across it as Danica knelt down to look at it. She recognised her dad's handwriting as she read it. She traced his coordinates and followed the route. An X was marking a spot. Danica looked at it closer and read the small handwriting next to it. It read “the hollow” and it was written in her father’s handwriting. She looked at the map puzzled. Why would he have this? She thought. She knew her father had a captain's log for each of these voyages. She needed to find them and see what this was. She knew all the trade routes and this was not one of them. The place seemed to be a random island in the middle of nowhere. She stood up and went to a small bookcase in the corner. She kneeled down going through all the old bound books that were her father’s journals. She picked up what looked to be the oldest one and began skimming through it. She didn't see anything about The Hollow so she moved on to the next. She sat criss crossed on the floor with his journals spread out around her. Her eyes grew heavy as she looked through one after another. She leaned back into the bookcase nodding out. A dark blue journal in her lap.

“Dani! Dani! Danica!” Ariadne yelled from the doorway of her father's office.

Danica stirred slightly, opening her eyes. She groaned, stretching her legs out in front of her. She could feel the numbness running up and down them; as pins and needles set in. 

'What are you doing?’ Ariadne asked her.

“I thought maybe Dad’s journals might have something in them. Something that could help us.” Danica sighed, wiggling her legs trying to get them to wake up.

“I got breakfast on the table and then I’m going to send an update to Orion. Then maybe go try to speak to that tyrant.” Ariadne said, her voice sounding almost sad.

“I’ll keep looking for something here. Don't worry Ari, we will figure this out.” Danica said to her hating to see her older sister feeling defeated.

Ariadne smiled weakly to Danica before walking out from the doorway. Danica groaned softly as she went to stand. The dark blue journal flopped open on the ground in front of her. Danica shook her head bending over to pick it up. Her eyes scanned the page as she did.

The Hollow, it is said that a Spanish conquistador left his fortune there. It is buried under the trees marked like an X. Travis will be excited to find that I actually have the map. I couldn't believe I tracked it down but now we have it. We can set sail on The Morning Star tomorrow. 

Danica’s eyes read her father’s passage. She stared at the words on the page for several minutes letting them sink in.

“It’s a treasure map.” She whispered to herself out loud.

She closed the journal reaching for the map. She held it in front of her face as she studied it once more. Her mind was trying to understand what her mouth had whispered.

“It’s a treasure map!” She yelled.

“A treasure map.” She laughed while repeating it.

She ran into the kitchen with the maps and journal tucked under her arm. She scanned the kitchen for Ariadne did not find her. She went to the front door and pulled it open. Again Aridane was nowhere in sight. She sighed. She needed to tell her. This might be what fixes everything. If they could get the treasure their money issues would be gone. She thought calmly. She could go find her, what did she say again? Oh right she was trying to get a message to Orion and then she was heading to Smith and brothers. Danica thought about trying to think of what to do next.

She grabbed a bag and headed back into the study. She grabbed the book with the secret compartment that she had found the map in. She placed the map back in there and closed the book. She then placed the book and dark blue journal into the bag. She was going to try to meet Ariadne before she went to Smith and Brothers. She locked the door to the house and headed out hoping she reached Ariadne in time.

Ariadne had found a man on the dock that was heading east. She handed him her message for her brother. He had agreed to take it to him for her.

“So I will pay you half now and half when you get back.” Ariadne said, waiting for the man to agree.

“Half when I get back?” The man asked, raising his eyebrow.

“Aye to ensure you actually take the message. My brother will send you a letter back inreturn and when you show that he actually received the message, I will then pay you the rest.” Ariadne said to him.

“Aye but-

“Sir not to be rude but there are other sailors here heading east. If you do not wish to enter this agreement then I can move on.” Ariadne said, folding her arms across her chest.

“Aye fine sounds good.” The man mumbled taking the letter and then waiting.

Ariadne almost rolled her eyes as she handed him a small bag of coins. The man took the pouch of coins and looked through it. He nodded slightly before heading to his ship. Ariadne rolled her eyes.

“One task down now, one more nuascient to deal with.” Ariadne muttered to herself  heading in the direction of the town where Smith and Brother’s were located.

Danica rushed down to the docks. If Ariadne needed to get a message to her brother she would pay a sailor to bring it to him. Scanning the docks she didn't see her. She frowned realizing she missed her. She didn't want to go to their business. She all but stomped her feet as she walked away from the dock.

Ariadne stood across the street staring at the brick building. She couldn't bring herself to cross the street yet. She fidgeted looking at the building. She shouldn't have to be doing this. If they were good people they would make their own way instead of stealing what wasn't there. She groaned trying to get her feet to move. Just then she heard loud footsteps coming up fast behind her. Her hand went to her hip where she had hidden a small knife. As the noise got near she spun around holding out her knife.

“Stop there.” Ariadne orders the person coming towards her.

“Ari, it's me.” Danica said, putting her hands up.

Ariadne shook her head and put away her knife, she gave Danica a look and asked why she was there. Danica smiled bright.

“We don't have to do this, come home I have an idea I want to tell you about. I found an old map for dads.” Danica said excitedly.

“Map?” Ariadne asked, confused.

“Aye and it will fix all of our problems.” Danica smiled, motioning for her sister to follow her.

“How will a map-

“Can you please just come home and see what I am talking about?” Danica said, cutting off Ariadne.

Ariadne sighed and motioned for Danica to lead the way home. She really didn't want to go talk to Hank anyways. She thought, glancing back at Smith's and Brothers building.

Patrick was on his way home when he spotted the girl in the alley way across from his home. He thought that it was going to be another tomato attack so he went around to sneak up on them. As he approached them he stopped hearing their conversation. Map? He thought.  He was intrigued by it. He wondered if his father knew what kind of trouble or problems they had. And how would a map solve it? He did not approach them as they turned around to leave. He wanted to know more. He moved out of the shadows of the alley and headed to his home. 

His father was in his study once more, this time standing over his desk. Maps rolled out in front of him as he muttered to himself. He didn't even hear Patrick walk in. 

"Damn Abners." He muttered, throwing his pen against the map.

Patrick cleared his throat to get his father's attention. 

"Patrick. My boy come, come and brainstormed with me. It might be what I need. A fresh new pair of eyes." Patrick's father called him waving him over.

"Now look here. Tell me what you see." He said pointing at a spot on the map.

Patrick looked over at the map. He saw several trade routes. They were the most frequently used. He ran his eyes over it. He noticed his father had marked off their contract trading points with red. There were several others in blue. If they obtained this one in particular they would have a majority of the north west. He then saw why he wanted that spot in particular. It would open him up for trading further north. Like most parts of the world no one has traveled too far in any directions. The Abners had made it the furthest now making trade deals with the east. 

“What are the blue markers?” He asked softly.

“Abeners contracts, these here in the northwest used to all be blue. I’ve been slowly wearing them down and weeding out their weaker contracts. Making deals with them that underhand the Abners.” His father chuckled proud of himself.

“I get why we are thieves now.” Patrick said, shaking his head, now fully understanding the girl's anger.

“We are not thieves, we are opportunists and if you don't get your self righteous chip off your shoulder the world will eat you alive boy.” His father said angrily at him.

“There’s nothing wrong with doing things the right way.” Patrick said, shaking his head in disgust.

“Well lucky for you and this company I can bite that bullet. How do you think I’ve made all this. Why do you think you’ve had an easy life because I did what I had to do.” He said, slamming his fist in anger on the desk.

“Abners left themself wide open when Gavin and Morgan thought they could take a vacation. Opportunity doesn't wait for anyone. In this world no one is safe. Learn it and learn it quickly.” He continued staring down at his son.

Patrick could only shake his head as his fathers rant continued.

“Those girls don't stand a chance and soon you will be thanking me. I am going to leave you a company that will leave you very well off.” His father said, waving him away.

“I wouldn't underestimate those “girls” father. They have more fight and fire then you know. 

“What could they possibly know? Get out of my sight.” He growled at Patrick.

A small framed woman came to the doorway. Her hair was placed neatly above her head in curlers due to the late hour. She hugged her night robe around her as she softly cleared her through.

“Ed, what is all this yelling about?” She asked softly but her voice held authority.

“Nothing sweet heart.” Ed said to his wife.

Patrick shook his head and began leaving the room. As he got to the doorway he leaned over and kissed his mother’s cheek.

“Goodnight mother.” Patrick smiled as he left the room.