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- 12/02/2023
- 898 Words
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
ARROW - 238. Chapter 238
Arriving home, I saw Colin’s van. “I think we are in trouble.”
“Why?”
“We were supposed to have dinner at the club,”
Smiling, “I’ll give Pop a peanut. He’ll smile and I’ll get a hug.” I thought what a rascal he was because I knew he was right about Colin.
As soon as Colin saw Pierre, he wanted to know how he felt. He placed his hand on his forehead feeling for a fever I guess.
I went to make some coffee, it seems that whenever we are together, we drink coffee. I just poured three cups when Richie and Ronnie showed up.
Now the five of us sitting at the kitchen table, “Pierre, do you know Terry McBride and John Hershey?”
“Yes, Terry is a programmer and John verifies the program. They work as a team. When I first went to Paris, they came and set up my computer so I could stay in touch with the home office, and they were in touch with me. Why?”
“They were the two men who duped you, took your money, and had you sign the deed to the cottage.”
“Are you sure? We have been friends. When we consolidated England and Germany into my office, they spent several months going back and forth.”
“Did they ever meet Christian and did you ever show them your cottage?”
“I did show them the cottage but Christian was working on restoring it.”
“Did they meet Christian?”
“Yes on a few occasions,”
“Why?”
“Christian wanted the cottage. Would you know why?”
“No, it is a simple small cottage. Christian has his dad’s house. There is no reason why he would want the cottage.”
“The men said it was a part of the deal. Christian mentioned that before your mother died, you grandfather gave her a gift. He told her to never show it to anyone and to guard it.”
“I never knew that. She never said anything.”
As they were talking, I remembered the small box Arnaud gave me. I went to my bedroom and rummaged through my desk when I finally found it. Returning to the kitchen, I gave the wrapped box to Pierre.
“The day your grandfather asked me to take care of you, he gave me this. I have never opened it. I had the idea it was meant for you. So here, it’s yours and you can open it.”
I watched as Pierre carefully unwrapped the small box. Opening the box, he looked at the contents and then at me. “It is three gold coins.”
I knew those gold coins weren’t just plain gold. They had something to do with his heritage.
Colin went to his office and brought his magnifying glass to the kitchen. He gave it to Pierre.
“Dad, who was Louis XIV?”
“He was king of France, he died in 1715. Why?”
“The inscription on the coins, How did grandfather get these coins.”
“Your family was involved in the French government. When Napoleon fought and won France, your ancestors were charged with taking the royal treasury and hiding it.”
“So grandfather knew where this treasure was buried.”
“Yes, in privacy he told me where it was located. But before he died, he gave all the living relatives a large sum of money, Including Christian. I’m sure Christian found your grandfather’s list and seeing your mother’s name on it, he wanted her share of the money. I think that was why he was quick to agree to refurbish the cottage. Not finding anything, he was going to burn it down in hopes of finding the money.”
“He doesn’t know about these coins?”
“No, you probably would have stayed with him if he did.”
“I don’t understand. Grandfather was a wealthy man, I’m sure Christian inherited his wealth.”
“Your grandfather was a shrewd businessman. My guess is Christian isn’t.”
“Dad, I’m going to represent these two men. They will pay for what they did provided they tell the judge what this attempt on Pierre was all about. I don’t think you’ll see Christian in the States.”
Richie and Ronnie left.
“Dad, I can’t take these coins back to France.”
“Leave them here. The next time you come home, we will go to our bank and rent a locker.”
“Let’s go now. I called the bank manager and he will open it for us.”
I looked at Colin. I never knew a bank manager opening for a client in all my years. But if that is what Colin said, we left with the coins.
We met the bank manager, he took us to a small side door. “This leads directly to my office.”
Over the next few hours, we rented a safe deposit box, the coins were placed in the box, and Pierre took his key and gave it to Armand. He said for safekeeping.
Saturday night we stopped at the club.
“Peter, has James talked to you about Roberto.”
“Yes, I sent him a telegraph asking him if he was interested. I haven’t heard anything back.”
It was fun at the club. I haven’t been there except for meals for a long time. I got a chance to introduce Pierre as my son, I think they all knew any young person walking with me was my son or grandson or granddaughter.
I slept well that night. Tomorrow we would be flying to Paris.
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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