The Explorer's Code, page 13
Ha! He was like Anna. Only, and his heart sank, not really. A maze invited exploration. Anna explored even the places that wanted to keep her out, and wasn’t that what made her brave?
But still, a maze was a maze. So Charlie stepped into the cool shade of the trees.
The maze smelled sweet, almost citrusy. He wondered what kind of trees made up the walls. He’d have to remember what they looked like and search for pictures online once he got home.
The maze, though small, was surprisingly intricate. Twists and turns appeared almost constantly, making Charlie backtrack often. Not that he minded. He just added each dead end to the mental map in his head and used the shadow of Idlewood, falling over half the paths, as a guide to what parts of the maze he hadn’t visited yet.
He’d have to bring Anna here, though she’d probably already explored it. Where was she? If she wasn’t out on the grounds, and she wasn’t wreaking havoc in the house, then where?
He wasn’t the only guest in the maze. The honeymooners giggled as they ran past him, a few times (they seemed to get lost a lot), and Charlie found an elderly couple wandering the maze. The woman, the one with wild curly gray hair, was smiling into the sunlight, and her mustachioed husband wore a bemused expression. “Don’t get too turned around, kid!” he said when he spotted Charlie. “You don’t want to be out here all night.”
“I won’t be,” Charlie said. By his calculations, he was approaching the center of the maze. What would be there? In the old movies his mom liked to watch, there was usually something in the middle of a hedge maze. A fountain, or maybe a gazebo, or—
“Huh?” Charlie turned a corner to find Suitcase Man standing in the center of the maze, pinned suitcase by his side, staring at the ground with a stick in his hand. Other than him, the center of the maze was empty.
Suitcase Man snapped his head up to face Charlie. “Oh, you,” he said, sliding the stick behind him. “Um, you’re…”
“Charlie Henderson.”
“Nice to meet you, kid. Jack Argent.”
Charlie peered at the stick in the man’s hand. “What are you doing?”
Mr. Jack Argent grinned, stepping away from the boy. “Just out enjoying this maze. I have to say, I was surprised to find it. I don’t think it was mentioned in any of the literature on the house, do you?”
Charlie shrugged. He took another step closer as the “stick” behind Mr. Argent’s back let out a whir. He glanced at the disk on its end. “Is that a metal detector?”
“Why don’t you keep going? The maze must have an end. I bet a smart kid like you could find it quickly.”
Charlie looked at the man. He was still grinning, but his eyes were wider than normal. He looks scared. “Why do you have a metal detector?”
“Um, well,” Mr. Argent stammered, but Charlie’s mood started to lift. It seemed like Mr. Argent might know something he didn’t! Maybe he’d found the numbers, and maybe he knew what they led to.
“Did you find something?” Charlie asked, taking in the pins on the man’s suitcase. England, Quebec, Arizona, Oregon … Mr. Argent had traveled a lot. What had he looked for, and found, in those places? “Did the … did the clues lead you out here?”
Was that clear enough? Or, if Mr. Argent wasn’t following the same clues he was, was it vague enough?
Mr. Argent scratched his head, then shook it and swung the metal detector out from behind him. “I guess you could say they did.”
“I knew it!” Charlie leaped into the air. “How did you find them? Where did you find them? And do you have a copy of the book, too? I bet you got yours from the library, because I couldn’t find one there.”
Mr. Argent raised a hand. “Whoa, slow down.” He rested the metal detector against his leg. “Book? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh.” Charlie took a step back. “I, uh, thought…” He swallowed. So Mr. Argent wasn’t following a book code. “Why are you out here?”
Mr. Argent frowned. “Are you going to tell Mr. Llewellyn?”
Honestly, Charlie wanted to stutter an apology and leave. But something didn’t add up, not with Idlewood and not with Mr. Argent. So he straightened up and pretended, for a moment, that he was Anna. “Why would I? Are you doing something wrong?”
“No, of course not! There’s nothing illegal … I mean, this is for the greater good.”
“Okay. So, what are you looking for?” When Mr. Argent didn’t answer, Charlie added, “I bet I could help you find it. I’m pretty good at solving things. My family is here because I won a math competition. And if I can’t, there’s always Mr. Llewellyn.”
“Inquisitive type, aren’t you?” But Mr. Argent was smiling. “Let’s just say that the gold and jewels of Idlewood aren’t all sitting on display in there.”
It took Charlie half a second to realize what Mr. Argent meant. “You’re looking for treasure? Are you serious?”
Mr. Argent nodded, and Charlie looked around. “But why? Don’t tell me pirates used to bury their loot here, in the Shenandoah Mountains.”
“Pirates?” Mr. Argent laughed, and Charlie’s face got warm. He’d been thinking too much about Treasure Island.
“No, nothing like that,” Mr. Argent said. “Or, well, maybe. Could have been pirates, could have just been old mobsters or moonshiners. Honestly, I don’t really care as long as the treasure is still around.”
“You still haven’t told me why you think there’s treasure here.”
Mr. Argent laughed. “Family history, mainly. A story passed down from someone who used to work on the house. Supposedly, there’s riches on the property, and the Gardners knew about it, so when they sold the house, they left clues behind to tell people—probably their friends or family—where it was. I heard Idlewood was opening up for the first time in decades, and I already had made plans to come, so I thought, might as well see if anyone found it yet.”
Whoa. “So you’re out here with a metal detector looking for the treasure?”
“A big maze without a fountain or something in the middle? I thought this would be a perfect hiding place.” Mr. Argent sighed. “Look, Charlie. If I know about the treasure, I’m sure someone else does, too. Maybe Mr. Llewellyn, or maybe just one of the other guests. And since I only have this weekend to search, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone what I’m doing. Just keep it a secret for one more day, okay?”
Charlie’s head was spinning. Treasure? Here? “Okay,” he managed to say.
Mr. Argent nodded. “Thank you. Anyway, think you could help me? Let me know if you see anything that might help me find it?”
“Um, sure. Okay.” Charlie nodded, still feeling a bit bowled over by Mr. Argent’s information. “See you around. I need to go.”
Charlie turned and raced out of the maze, feet moving almost as fast as his mind. Treasure. Here. He believed it. Why wouldn’t he? No one left clues and puzzles for no good reason. And a rich family protecting its wealth? That made sense, too. All this time, the misplaced numbers and codes on the wall were leading him to treasure. Treasure Island. Mr. Silver! Probably wasn’t even his real name! This was a treasure hunt. It always had been.
Charlie figured he could tell Mr. Argent about the codes and share the message, but then he reconsidered: After all, Mr. Argent had a hunch and a metal detector, but Charlie had the codes. He could find the treasure easily, once he had the numbers for the book code.
Charlie barely saw the Idlewood grounds as he found his way out of the maze and raced back to the house. Instead, he saw visions of gold and silver, and himself the brave champion who found them. Doing something more than just sitting in a chair, reading about elaborate codes that had no purpose. Wouldn’t Anna be impressed!
Mr. Argent could keep looking, and so could all the other guests if they wanted. But Charlie was going to be the one to find the treasure. All he had to do was find the numbers for the book code, and he had the entire afternoon to look.
12
WELL, THAT SEARCH was a waste of time. After Charlie left the maze, he’d searched for Anna first, excited to tell her about how there was treasure hidden here. But Anna wasn’t anywhere, so he tried looking for Emily to ask her if she knew about the treasure and tell her about the book code. They could look for the code numbers together.
But after searching for Emily in the main rooms and going up and knocking on the Rome suite door and getting no answer, Charlie had gone back outside only to find Emily’s parents had disappeared, too.
“I think I saw them heading into the forest,” Rosie had told him when he’d asked around. “I’m sure they’ll be back by dinner.”
Forced to wait, Charlie wandered back to the China suite, passing the older woman with the curly hair. She smiled at him and offered him a candy from her big bag, but Charlie declined.
Inside the family’s suite, Anna’s door was closed. She must have come back to her room, the one place he hadn’t thought to look. Why would she be home when there was so much to do? The place was quiet. Maybe she was napping. That was unlike her.
The Henderson parents must have been out somewhere, maybe talking to Mr. Llewellyn about the house’s history. Lots of the adults seemed to be eager to do that.
There was still a little time until dinner would be served. He could take Treasure Island out into the halls and search for the numbers one more time.
Charlie went to his room and touched the sword for good luck. Grinning, he swiped his finger down the dull edge, imagining what it might have been like sharp. Had this sword been part of the treasure haul? Or maybe something used to defend it, once upon a time?
Wow. Treasure! He wanted to sit on the bed and daydream, picturing the heaps of gems somewhere on the property. But doing that wouldn’t get him any closer to finding said heaps of gems. So he needed his book.
Which, he was sure, he’d left on the little table beside his bed. But now all that was there was his glasses case.
Charlie knelt, checking around the table. Had the book fallen off? It wasn’t on the floor, and it hadn’t slid under his bed.
Maybe he’d left it downstairs. But no, he remembered carrying it back to the room after Mr. Llewellyn had commented on it. So, could it be in the suite’s living room? Maybe he’d left it on a table there?
After about ten minutes spent ransacking the living room, yanking cushions off the couch, and sorting through every item on every shelf, Charlie had to set the second dragon statue back in its place and admit defeat: Treasure Island was gone.
He dropped onto the couch and put his head in his hands. The only copy in Idlewood, and he knew because he’d looked so hard for it. He knew he’d put it here. So someone must have moved it. But who?
Another treasure hunter? If I know about the treasure, I’m sure someone else does, too, Mr. Argent had said. Who else might be looking for it?
Mr. Llewellyn? He was the owner of Idlewood. If anyone knew about the hidden treasure, it was him, and he had seen Charlie with the book.
Then again, so had Rosie and Xavier. They seemed so nice, but it could be a cover.
Charlie’s stomach felt cold. He’d carried Treasure Island around the whole house, examining it all morning. Anyone could have seen him with it. Mr. Argent. Matching T-Shirts family. The old man with the mustache, or the woman with the curly hair. The honeymooners. The tour group. If they knew about the treasure, and had any idea that a book code was needed, they’d know he had the book. He hadn’t exactly been subtle.
But that was only because he’d had no idea, until now, what he was looking for!
A door opened and closed. Anna emerged from her room, red-eyed and silent. She looked at him.
“Charlie?” she asked. “I thought I heard you come and go earlier.” She shrugged, and headed toward the bathroom.
Wait a minute. Wait one darn minute. Anna was nosy. Anna was a troublemaker. Who knew how much time she’d spent exploring the house? How much she might know? What if she’d figured out there was treasure here and how to scoop its discovery out from under him?
Anna, his sister who lived in the same suite and knew he had a copy of Treasure Island. Who had been vanishing for hours at a time with no explanation for where she’d been. And who could easily get the book, even when the suite’s door was locked.
Anna left the bathroom, rubbing one eye, and stopped to look at him. “Hey,” she said. “Where have you been all day?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” Charlie said.
Anna frowned. The redness of her eyes pricked at Charlie’s senses, but he ignored it. He needed to get answers now, not piece together clues like he always did. Look where that had gotten him.
“Um, I’ve been in my room,” Anna said.
“But before that?” Charlie walked forward so he was face-to-face with his big sister. He’d be anxious if he wasn’t so furious. “This morning? And what about yesterday? Where do you go, and why are you always taking showers?”
Anna crossed the hall and stood in front of her door. “I’ve been exploring the grounds.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. You look upset. Did you have a fight with Emily or something?”
Charlie scowled. “Where is it?”
Anna shuffled her feet. “Where is what?”
But those red-rimmed eyes darted back into her room. Charlie pushed past her and saw a book on the bed, but more importantly, the brown paper wrapping. “Is that Emily’s book?”
“She came by earlier to see our rooms. She left it behind. I was just reading it.”
Charlie picked up the book. Emily carried this everywhere. It wasn’t something she’d just leave behind. And Anna reading a math book for fun? Please.
“I don’t believe you,” he whispered.
“What?” Anna stepped into her room.
Charlie turned around. “I don’t believe you,” he said, louder. “I think you took this book from her.”
“That’s ridiculous! Why would I do that?” Now it wasn’t just Anna’s eyes that were red; spots of color appeared on her cheeks. Even the curls in her ponytail looked tense, ready to spring loose.
“I don’t know. Why did you take my copy of Treasure Island?” Charlie asked.
Anna’s mouth opened and closed. She squeezed her eyes shut and said, “If you’re referring to that dusty old book you’ve been toting around all day, I didn’t touch it.”
“Liar!” Charlie threw Emily’s textbook down on the bed. “It’s gone.”
“Did you grab it when you were here earlier? Maybe you left it downstairs.”
“I didn’t come back here after lunch at all,” Charlie said. “So that’s not going to work.”
Anna frowned. “Really? Because…” She shook her head. “Maybe you lost it. Or are you so brilliant that you never lose anything?” She glared at him.
“I didn’t lose it. I know I put it right by my bed, and now it’s gone. Who else can get into this room, Anna? Just our family. I know it was you.”
“It wasn’t me! Why don’t you trust me?”
“You know why!”
Anna stepped backward, like Charlie’s words had physically hit her. Then she rallied, taking in a large breath, which she released with a yell. “Gah! Fine, you know what? Fine. Why not? Every time there’s a problem, why not blame Anna? You could have figured that Mom or Dad found it and returned it to the library, but no. I have to have been the thief. Just because I’m the screwup, right?”
Charlie hadn’t considered that his parents might have moved it. But that wasn’t the point. “Maybe if you weren’t always causing trouble, we wouldn’t think that. Why do you have to be so reckless?”
“I’m not reckless. I just … there’s so much more. You don’t understand. How could you understand? You’re too scared of the world to step out from behind your books.”
Charlie felt like he’d been slapped. “That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it? Why don’t you ask Mom and Dad where your book is? They’d be the ones to know.”
“Mom and Dad have been out all afternoon. You’ve been here. Or at least, I think you have. Maybe you’ve been off wherever it is you go. Where do you go, Anna?”
“Nowhere special.”
“Really? Then why did you take my book? What have you seen? What do you know?”
Anna didn’t say anything. She just opened the door behind her and ran. Charlie chased her as she fled the suite, closing the door on him, which slowed him down.
“Come back here!” he called. If he had any doubt Anna was the thief, it had fled as soon as Anna did. Innocent people didn’t run. Everyone knew that.
His sister’s red hair flashed as she left the entry hall of Idlewood and dashed out into the sun. Charlie caught a glimpse of her turning right before she vanished outside.
Gasping for air (Anna was the athlete), Charlie stumbled after her. When he couldn’t see her on the lawn, he turned the corner of the house to check the side. No sign of his sister.
He’d guessed wrong. She must have run out into the trees. Well, good riddance. You’re too scared of the world to step out from behind your books. Oh, yeah? Once he found that treasure, she’d see he wasn’t too scared to do anything important. He’d show her.
Or, he could have, if Anna hadn’t taken that book. Now he was exactly as useless as she thought he was. And she was just as selfish and destructive as everyone said she was.
Charlie went back inside, short one key to a code and one thieving sister.
13
ANNA, UP ON THE ROOF, watched her brother scan the Idlewood grounds for her and then turn to leave. If he had just looked up, he would have seen her. But people didn’t usually look up. They didn’t bother to look for things that weren’t right in front of their faces.
Like that she didn’t steal Charlie’s old book. Why would she want it? And even if she had borrowed it, why would she lie about it? Trust Charlie to value some stupid book over his own sister.
Bitter, Anna climbed the rest of the tower to the window, imagining all the things she should have said to Charlie instead of running away. But would any of it have mattered? Anna was the reckless child, and to her parents—and apparently Charlie, too—that meant delinquent.
