Search Me(38)

Maddox glanced from the picture to me and shook his head. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Excuse me? Two seconds ago you were more than happy for me to prostitute myself, and now that the shoe is on the other foot, you’re not willing to help our cause?”

“It’s not happening,” he muttered. The vein on the right side of his head started throbbing, and I knew he was extremely pissed. It didn’t help that his face had turned an odd shade of eggplant. But then something else on the bookshelf caught my eye, and I hurried over to it.

“I am not flirting with that dude, or any other dude for that matter, for all the Cherokee gold in the world! Got it?”

“Quit being such a homophobe.” I pulled a book off the shelf and waved it at him. “Besides, I think I have a plan that will keep you keep your dignity and your shirt on.”

Maddox crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at me. Dr. Bretsky swept back in the room, rolled his eyes, and huffed, “You two are still here? Do I have to call Park Security?”

I smiled sweetly at him as I pointed to his bookcase. “I noticed you’ve got quite a collection of Stephen Montgomery’s books.”

“Yeah, he’s the best crime novelist of the decade. What’s your point?”

“What if I was to tell you that Stephen Montgomery just happens to be my father?”

“I’d say you were once again wasting my time with your stupid lies and treasure maps.”

Stabbing the air in front of him with his finger, Maddox ordered, “Google it.”

I nodded. “You’ll want to go to his website. There’s a nice family picture under his biography.”

Dr. Bretsky narrowed his eyes. “It is only out of sheer morbid curiosity that I’m still even playing along with this freak show and not having you hauled out of here.” He flopped down in his chair and started a flurry of keystrokes. After a few clicks of the mouse, he glanced from the computer screen over to me and raised his eyebrows. “Okay, I’m listening.”

A smile curved on my lips. “Being an only child, there’s just about nothing my dad wouldn’t do for me. So, I’m sure if he found out you helped me with something super-duper important, he’d really want to repay you.” I leaned forward on his desk. “Like maybe discussing his novels over dinner…maybe even reading his newest book before it goes to print?”

At this point, Dr. Bretsky practically salivated on his chin. “You’re serious?”

“Totally.” I reached over and grabbed a pad of paper and a pen off his desk. I scribbled Dad’s cell-phone number on it and then ripped the paper off. With a smile, I teased him by waving the number in front of his face. “This could be your lucky day.”

“Regardless of how I feel about the map’s authenticity, I guess it wouldn’t really take that long to decode it,” he said, tentatively.

“So, do we have a deal?” I asked.

He nodded. “But only for the translation—you’re on your own after that. I don’t have time to sit around and help you figure out what it means.”

“Okay, it’s a deal, Dr. Bretsky.” I handed him the piece of paper. Not wanting him to “out” me to Dad, I quickly said, “He’s on a pretty stressful book tour at the moment. If you could wait a week or two to call, you’ll have his undivided attention.”

His lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Thank you. And please call me Paul.” He motioned for me to hand him the map. Instead of beginning to read the symbols and lettering, he held it up to the light. Then he dug a magnifying glass out of his desk drawer and started peering at it closer. His expression was one of disbelief. “This is real animal skin.”

I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. “Yes, we’re well aware of that, Paul.”

“Yes, but the very fact that the Cherokee’s stopped using animal skins for documents in the early 1800s makes it even more ‘legit’ as you say.” Paul continued examining the parchment. “Where did you find the map?”

“It was hidden behind the frame of a Cherokee painting,” I replied.

“Interesting. I assume it was an antique?”

“Yeah, it was. Maudie said that…” My chest clenched, causing my voice to choke off. All I could see was her lying motionless in a coma while machines beeped around her. I couldn’t finish what I was going to say, so I stared helplessly at Maddox.

He drew in a breath. “The lady who gave us the map said it was painted by the grandson of a Cherokee chief who took part in the removal and Trail of Tears.”

I mouthed “thanks” to him to which he gave me a small smile.

Excitement danced in Paul’s eyes. “That’s fascinating. It must’ve been handed down in the family, but all the while, the map was concealed within the painting.”

“Probably. I mean, it was an accident that it was even found. After I broke the frame, we saw the map hidden inside.”

“This changes everything,” he murmured.

Maddox and I exchanged a look. “What do you mean?” I asked.

Paul glanced up from the map and smiled tightly. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to renegotiate our bargain.”

“What you want to fanboy some more and spend the night at Lane’s house now or something?” Maddox asked.