▌Chapter 18 ─ Make A Scene ▌

━━━━━ CLARA STOOD WITH Ben and Riley in Paris, France as Riley flew his drone towards the Lady. Clara was amused by what Riley had been doing with the drone.

"This is, like, impossible what you're doing." Ben told the man.

"Glad you're enjoying it." Riley replied.

"Laboulaye had to leave a clue somewhere on here. Move in on the torch."

"Let me get there."

"Closer."

"It's not as easy as it looks."

"No, I... believe me, I understand."

"Excusez-moi, messieurs. Vous parler un instant?" Ben and Clara looked back at the two men, then they walked together looking before they crossed the bridge.

"Excuse me, officer. May I help you?" Ben asked them.

"Ah. Americans, huh?" Ben and Clara made it to the other side and looked at the officers. "Of course you see no problem in disturbing everyone's pleasant morning with your buzzing there."

"Hey... do you know how much of our Constitution was influenced by your man Montesquieu?" Ben asks.

"You know Montesquieu?"

"Oui, Montesquieu. Yeah. A government should be set up so that..."

"...no man need be afraid of another." Clara smiled at the two.

"Oui."

"That's very good."

"Thank you. Merci."

"Ben, Clara... I got it. I got it." Riley said as he ran across the street and over to them. He then handed the device over to Ben and Clara so they could look at it. "I hope you read French."

"May I?" The officer asked.

"Trs jolie." Ben said handing it over to him.

"He's a cop."

"Um, 'Across the sea, these twins stand determined...'?"

"Resolute."

"Resolute, yeah. 'To preserve what we are looking for.' Uh, 'Laboulaye, 1876.'"

"Six."

"It's a clue."

"These twins stand resolute. Let's see... resolute twins. Resolute. Resolute." Clara looked down at the floor as she thought about the word Resolute, she kept repeating it in her head. "And then twins. Siamese twins? Siam? Trade routes between France and Thailand? That's ridiculous. HMS Resolute. A British ship that got lost in the Arctic in the 1800s. It was salvaged by American whalers, then Congress sent it back to England. When the ship was finally retired, Queen Victoria had two desks made from its timbers. Voil. Resolute twins." Ben explained.

"And where are those desks now?"

"The closest one is in London." Clara answered.

"Riley, how fast can we get to Buckingham Palace?" Ben asked the man.

"I don't know. Why don't you and Clara ask your new best friend?" Riley said, causing Ben and Clara to look offended.

"He's going to call you a cab."

"Merci beaucoup."

"Nice helicopter. Is that yours?"

"Yes, actually, it is."

"Ok, so you get the ticket."

"Ha-ha, great."

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Clara, Ben, and Riley were now in London, England. Riley pulled up Buckingham Palace to show Clara and Ben where they would need to go.

"So the queen's office is here. The elevator shaft gets you close, but the only direct access is through security." Riley explained.

"We'll, that should be exciting." Ben said.

"Yeah, we gotta get you two in that room." Riley said. Clara looked over at Ben as his phone started ringing. He opened it and answered the phone.

"Hi, dad." She still kept her eyes on her husband, she could see his face quickly change to worry. "Call the police. I'm coming home."

"What happened?" Riley asked him.

"Ok. We're in London. We're going to Buckingham Palace. We have an appointment with the curator tomorrow afternoon. Bye." Ben hung up the phone and looked at Riley and Clara. "Someone else is after the treasure."

"Of course someone else is after the treasure. That's the axiom of treasure hunting."

"We have to hurry and see that desk."

"We don't want to miss that appointment."

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The three arrived at the Palace. They headed towards the front gates.

"Hi. I'm Ben Gates." Ben said.

"Tell Security they'll let you in." The doors opened and the three walked in. Once they were inside Riley separated from Ben and Clara. The two walked over to a table. Ben pulled out both they're earpiece comms.

Clara took hers and opened it, pulling it out she placed it inside her ear while Ben did the same thing. She watched Ben open the small bottle. He placed some of it in his mouth and then on both sides of his neck.

"I really hope that works." Clara said, staring at her husband.

"It will." Ben replied, the two then turned around and started to walk down the steps.

"Ben, Clara." Abigail called out, gaining they're attention.

"Abigail." Ben said.

"Abigail. What's she doing here?" Riley asked the two.

"What are you doing here?" Ben asked her.

"Your dad called me. Said your next clue was here." Abigail explained, while Ben lifted his finger to his ear and messed with the com.

"She's really there?"

"Look, Ben..."

"Drop her. Lose her."

"I wanna help."

"That's very nice, but it's kind of a bad time right now."

"A bad time right now." Abigail said.

"It's a bad time."

"Did you tell him?" Abigail asked, placing her eyes on Clara. The blonde became wide-eyed and began to shake her head quickly like her life depended on it. Abigail proceeded to laugh. "Ok, I just flew all the way to London to offer my help..."

"Remember the plan."

"...you don't need it."

"You're the one making a scene right now." Ben told her.

"I'm not making a scene right now."

"We wanna make a scene." Riley informed the two.

"Well, then fine!" Ben yelled looking between Abigail and Clara. "If that's what you want, let's have it out right now."

"Ah, so subtle."

"Ben..."

"Let me guess ─ it's the wrong time." Ben then turned to look at everyone. "It's the wrong place! I'm wrong again! Wrong about our friendship, wrong about Thomas Gates, wrong, and you'd like the Queen Anne chair!" Clara and Abigail walked to the edge of the steps looking at Ben.

"You're wrong to assume I'd like the chair." Abigail replied.

"Guys come on, this isn't the time or place." Clara said, jumping into the conversation and playing along.

"You see, everybody? Listen to this." Ben ran down the steps to the group, while Clara and Abigail moved down as well. "This is more interesting than that. She thinks that even when I'm right, I'm wrong, isn't that right? Abigail, just because I answer a question quickly doesn't make it wrong."

"That's not true Ben." Clara said.

"Not if the right answer is something we need to figure out together as friends. That's what friends do, Ben."

A security guard came up to the three. "Sir, you and your missus and your friend take it outside."

"Now look at what you've done. You brought the little bobbies down on us. You take the missus and her friend outside. I'm staying right here." Ben then climbed onto the banister.

"Ben." The two women called out.

"Whee."

"Good afternoon, sir."

"Hello." Ben said, mocking his accent.

"Been drinking, have we?"

"Just a nip. Just popped down to the pub for a pint. But it's all right. Going to arrest a man for that? Going to detain a brighter for enjoying his whiskey?"

"That's enough, sir."

"Bangers and mash. Bubbles and squeak. Smoked eel pie."

"Sir?"

"Haggis!"

"That's it. Dismount the banister." He pulled Ben off who started singing while Clara and Abigail started yelling at the man while being pulled away as well.

"That was brilliant."