by DJ Dalasta
Rock was well traveled. He prided himself on having visited over fifty-two countries and domestically hit almost every region of the United States. However, his work had never taken him to the historic city of Boston, Massachusetts. Had circumstances been different, he might have even been excited about his first visit. He was a huge US history buff and would love to be able to look around the city famous for helping spark the American Revolution. But riding in the back of the Cooper’s car, tethered together at the wrists and ankles was less than appealing. They had come off once when they crossed the border but despite his protests, the Coopers slapped them back on not more than a couple miles afterwards. Now, his skin was chafed and inflamed from the irritation.
He had learned very little about the two men as most of the 12-hour long ride passed in silence. Presently, Malcolm drove while Michael slept in the passenger seat but he had just given his brother a nudge as they turned off the highway. After another turn, Rock realized they drove directly towards downtown, heading straight for the Massachusetts state house located on Beacon Hill, overlooking the famous Boston commons. It was just past midnight and they passed by a few drunks stumbling home from the bars. One man even leaned up against a light pole and started heaving in the street.
“Maybe we should wait until morning,” Rock said. “I don’t think we’re going to get a good look at this hour.” Earlier they had bombarded him with questions about what he had found and even held up the small leather map they had taken from him. They also had informed him of the various recorders they had placed in his truck and hotel room, playing certain sections to prove they knew everything that was going on. Rock realized then that he had been very careless and naïve when it came to keep his discovery a secret.
“We’re not going to go snooping around the state house in the middle of the night with flashlights. Do you think we’re idiots?” Malcolm retorted. “We have a place to stay.”
Rock wanted to give a smart-ass answer but decided to remain silent. A few minutes later they pulled into a half empty parking lot. Michael pulled out a folder and thumbed through many pages until he plucked out a sticker and pushed it up against the window.
“I take it you’ve stayed here before,” Rock said.
“We’ve stayed many places,” Michael replied. “Now I’m going to take off those ties and you’re going to be a good boy.” Rock nodded.
Michael took out Nate’s survival knife and cut through the ties. Rock massaged his wrists. It felt good to finally be free of them. He thought about running as soon as the ties around his ankles were cut but he needed to know if they had Anna and Sayla before trying to escape. It could just be an empty threat meant to keep him docile but at the moment, he decided to stick around to see what this was all about. That and he didn’t feel like getting shot.
Rock climbed out of the car once he was free from his bindings and stretched his arms and legs. Michael came up next to him and grabbed his arm. “Follow me, don’t make a sound, don’t look at anyone,” he muttered into Rock’s ear. They entered an old brick building. The front lobby looked to be as old as the city itself. The floor was riddled with streaks from black sole shoes and the corners were filthy, piled with years of dirt nobody had bothered to clean out. The front desk looked like it had sat vacant for some time.
“You guys really know how to live it up,” Rock made light of the situation gesturing towards the dusty counter. Neither of the Cooper’s responded.
They took him up a stairwell that smelled of piss and stale air. He wanted to hold his breath but couldn’t do it after passing the second floor. They exited the next level up and walked down an empty hallway. Rock wondered if anyone even lived here. He had yet to see a sign of anything alive beside mouse droppings. Malcolm stopped in the middle of the hall and put a key into the lock of an old green wooden door. The number read 306.
Rock stepped within as Malcolm turned on the lights and disabled a security system. Once Rock’s eyes adjusted, he saw the place was immaculate. The kitchen stood off to the right adorned in new, shiny, stainless steel appliances. It overlooked a living room of modern design. A large television, expensive hardly used sofas, and a small bar made it look more like something that belonged in a new development in California instead of surviving in this gritty old building. Along the far wall rested a bank of four computer monitors, a large desk and filing cabinet. Rock knew this was a hub for their organization. An organization up until this point, he thought consisted of just a few individuals.
“Who are you guys,” he asked walking into the main room. Malcolm shut and locked the door behind them, setting the security system back in place.
“I told you before,” Michael began, “it’s better if you don’t know. Though I’ll tell you we are very well connected.”
“I can see that.” Rock started walking to peak into the bedrooms but stopped short. “So what are you going to do with me as you sleep?”
“You’ll have the spare bedroom,” Michael said. “There is no window and the door locks from this side, but it does have its own bathroom and television.” Rock was pleasantly surprised. He thought he was going to be locked in a closet.
Malcolm came in from the kitchen, he tossed them both a beer. “Time for bed. We’re getting at this early tomorrow. That one at the end of the hall on the right, is yours,” he said to Rock pointing down the hall.
“I guess that’s my cue,” Rock popped his beer and took a sip. He walked down the short hallway and into the bedroom. Malcolm followed him.
“Good night,” Malcolm said from the doorway once Rock seated himself on the bed. He shut the heavy wooden door and turned the key in the lock.
Rock looked around his space. It was nice, like a glorified hotel suite. The bed was queen size and looked clean, the television was new and mounted on the wall, and the closet was huge, though he had no idea where his clothes were at this point. He peeked into the roomy bathroom complete with a large sunken tub and rose bubble bath. He found that ironic.
Rock sat on the bed and finished off his beer. He thought about looking for something to pick the lock with but decided against it. He wasn’t even going to try and find a way out of his room. He wanted to figure out more about the Cooper’s organization and their specific intentions. And despite his hatred for both men, that meant staying with them a little longer. He turned out the lamp and stuffed his feet under the covers. He shut his eyes and saw Brett slumped over in Delega’s basement. He immediately opened them as memories of their trips together flooded through him.
“Not now,” he said to himself. “Let it go for now. Just for now. It won’t do you any good for now.” Rock took a few deep breaths and shut his eyes again. This time, his mind let itself fall away.
Michael Cooper unlocked his door early in the morning. Rock was already dressed, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Good morning,” he said. Michael looked surprised.
“Up already. You should have let us know, we’ve been up for an hour.”
“As have I,” Rock replied.
“Well, come on, let’s have some breakfast.” Rock followed Michael into the kitchen. A single plate of sweet rolls and a large bowl of fruit were laid out for him. Malcolm had his back to them, sitting in front of the bank of computer monitors on the other side of the room.
“Are we heading to the state house this morning, or do we have other things to attend,” Rock asked.
“Just this, Rock. This is all we have scheduled,” Michael responded.
Rock smirked. He didn’t understand why they were treating him like a friend. But he’d let them do it and let them think it was working. “Ok, I’m ready to go. I should warn you not to expect anything the first day, it may take awhile to understand the code words and to understand exactly what we’re supposed to find.”
“I don’t expect miracles,” Michael said.
They were located just a few miles aw
ay from the commons and made it to the area in minutes. The oldest city park in the United States was a flurry of activity, even early in the morning. The daily exercise routines of the physical creatures of habit crawled along the many paths like ants. Bicyclists and inline skaters moved through those people running and walking, darting around them like orange cones daring to get close enough until they actually hit somebody. Rock hoped to see a collision.
They parked as close as they could get, which at the moment wasn’t close, and started walking.
“You seem distracted,” Michael said to him.
Rock could hardly take the man seriously. Up until this day he only saw either brother in button-up shirts and pants. They always appeared professional and sharp, almost intimidating. Today, they dressed down in khaki shorts and plain T-shirts with stupid sayings. Michael’s read ‘You! Outta the Gene Pool’ and Malcolm’s an interesting, ‘Man Candy.’ They looked like tourists. “I think you look ridiculous, that’s all,” he replied.
“You’re just jealous,” Malcolm said.
Rock was beginning to think these two had gone crazy. There was no logical reason for their change in character. But he didn’t say anymore about it and kept quiet as they walked the rest of the way to the State House.
The building was impressive from the front, dominating the hill. Its most striking feature was the golden dome, reflecting the morning sun in a brilliant display of light. Michael suggested they take a guided tour to begin with but Malcolm and Rock wanted to go straight to the Northwest corner and have a look. They walked into the building and Rock watched carefully as both Malcolm and Michael scooted through the metal detectors. According to the machine, they were unarmed.
“Don’t get any ideas Rock,” Michael said. “My phone is just as powerful as a gun.”
“I wouldn’t think of it,” he said. But he was. A few steps later he paused, brow furrowed. “Wait, this isn’t right. This isn’t where we should be.”
“What are you talking about,” Malcolm said.
“Look at the map, we need to be somewhere else at noon.” Malcolm took out the piece of leather and Rock snatched it from his hands. He took a couple of steps backwards.
Malcolm stared at him, “what are you doing?”
“I’m going to leave you now, just like you planned.”
Michael stood next to his brother. “We’re that transparent.”
“You’re just not very good actors. I know you wouldn’t bring me here if you didn’t expect me to leave. You could do nothing to stop it, no guns or weapons and any violence would be seen and stopped, in which case you both would be under heavy scrutiny for past offenses. I’m sure. You haven’t tried to force anything from me, which means you don’t need anything from me. You probably already have what you want, so I am leaving.”
Michael smiled. “You’re going to need this,” he flipped Rock his phone.
Rock immediately tossed it back, “good try. And I know you plan on tracking me. You don’t think I can stay away from the find and eventually I’ll lead you to it. But you’re wrong.” Rock didn’t look back as he left the building. The morning was still very early and he wanted to make it over to the Old State House by noon. Luckily that was only a few blocks away and he could walk it with no problem.
The Old State House was built in 1713 and is the oldest public building in Boston. The State House he was coming from was finished in 1798, and by that time, the Oak Island treasure was already placed.
At the intersection of Washington St. and State, the old building rested. It looked small and out of place as high-rise buildings made of glass shot up around it. Sort of like a stump in the midst of a forest. But it looked well kept by the Bostonian society.
People walked feverously around the building, bunched together in groups. Two subway lines met just below it ferrying people around the city. The Old State House was now a museum, preserving the historical place where rested the seat of the first elected legislature in what is now the US. It was also used for wedding ceremonies.
Rock looked upwards as he came to the building. He had a couple of hours before noon and decided to have a look around the premises. In his mind were the words, ‘first’ and ‘noon’ as he tried to figure out what exactly they meant. He also kept repeating the small poem
.
Of twenty men, the answer’s ten.
Of those ten hearts respond in parts.
Part one to solve take three to sea.