Page 42 of Once a Hero

Jake surprised her. What was she going to say about that?

“No!” Kenichi yelled. He was still at the back of the van, out of sight. Apparently, he had heard the conversation.

“Who is he? The Wizard of Oz?” Jake made Beatrice laugh.

Sigh.

The whole expedition had been a failure as they were now stuck by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, looking for a cabin that may not have plumbing needs.

“I know your bodyguard is injured. Broken arm. Can’t shoot—unless she’s ambidextrous.” Jake waited.

Beatrice didn’t say a word.

“No? Well, then you have a problem. The Wizard over there, as far as I remember, usually stays in the van. I saw him fight in the forest, so he’s got training. But you could use extra protection.”

“Extra protection?”

“You didn’t want to tell me anything, but I looked you up, and I suspect you’re not a random stranger I met in San Francisco.”

“Maybe people go there for vacation though.”

“Yeah, but only one person is Chisolm Wright’s daughter.”

Beatrice kept calm. How could he have guessed? Had Philomena told him enough to set him on her trail?

“You followed me all the way from Paris to Cannes and then from France to the States because you think that I could lead you to the Amber Room—the very thing that Molyneux wants to find.” He paused. “Am I right?”

He’s guessing.

Beatrice remained silent. Then nothing could be used against her. However, maybe it was a bad mission to begin with. She should have gone as far away from Molyneux as possible instead of trying to beat her to the Amber Room.

“Someone must have told you that your deceased father kept a map to the whereabout of some of the panels of the lost Amber Room,” Jake seemed to suggest.

And that person who told her everything about the Amber Room would be Benjamin, the armchair treasure hunter who knew more about Molyneux than anyone Beatrice knew.

The brooch collection was his specialty.

“When Philomena resurfaced, you thought she could lead you to your dad’s map. You knew they were in a brooch collection of some sort. Perhaps it is your only connection left with him. Memories?”

“My father died twenty-five years ago. I was a child and have few memories of him.” However, Beatrice was impressed with Jake’s deductions.

“So you are Chisolm’s daughter. How did you go from Amberlyn Peterson to Beatrice Glynn?”

He was fishing and Beatrice fell for it. She looked into the distance. A bird flew in the forest. The leaves rustled. The sunlight came through again.

Life goes on.

Her eyes moistened.

“Hey,” Jake said quietly. His hand reached through the window and touched her shoulder. His fingers were warm and gentle. “I’m sorry.”

Kenichi appeared. “Get your hands off her.”

His snarl surprised Beatrice.

“Are you her boyfriend?” Jake retracted his hand.

Beatrice felt bereft for some reason.

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