Trey found them on Adams Street. "Hey there!" Trey said as he gave his cousin a bear hug. "So great to see you! And who are these two beautiful kids?"
Jim introduced Adrianna and Jay. The kids looked up at the good looking, dark haired man in his 40s. Trey whisked them off to his building and up to the 20th floor. "I told you I had a great place," he said as the kids took in the view of the Lake and the avenue below.
"Real estate investing seems to be paying off for you," said Jim taking in the feng shui design in the spacious apartment. Jay and Adrianna were exploring the other rooms.
"It seems to be my thing," replied Trey. "Your kids are great. They seem happy and calm...is that possible these days?"
"I don't know," said Jim. "They are very mature in some respects. They cope in surprising ways. After Anne died, they toughened but deepened as well. It's like they have an internal anchor."
"I was sorry I didn't make the funeral."
Jim said, "No worries. I wasn't much of a conversationalist at the time. It's been a rough year and a half."
"Well, I am going to wine and dine you guys while you're here. I'll make up for my lack of connection. I'm taking off work the next two days. What do you think the troops will want to do?"
The two men worked out a plan and began to discuss their lives, sports, the Cubs specifically and the events of the day.
"You know I saw a very bizarre thing in the paper today," said Jim. This presidential candidate, McCann, had on his jacket and on it was, an insignia of, I believe it was, of a group called the Quants. The toughs who harassed us over this treasure thing and who kidnapped Adrianna were Quants. A couple of them had a similar patch on their shirts."
"Oh, c'mon," laughed Trey. "You don't really believe McCann is a biker in his spare time? He's an uptight bureaucrat. I can't imagine him "heading out on the highway" on his Harley hawg!"
"You're right," answered Jim. "The "Q" was probably not the same symbol at all."
"Let's look at the online version. Was this in the Tribune?" Trey asked, checking out his phone.
"I think so."
"Ok, here it is. It's a smaller image here of course but that's not a "Q", man. It looks like a golf ball with a golf tee coming out of the bottom of it. Here take a look."
Jim looked more closely at the symbol. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I must have "Q" s on the brain."
"The guy is evidently an avid golfer, besides being a senator. I'm leaning toward Foster myself."
Just then the kids came in. "Can we go to the bean now? asked Jay.
The bean turned out to be as cool as Jay and Adrianna had hoped. There were lots of people there at the giant metallic sculpture on this summer evening. A jazzy blues band was playing as the O'Neills and Trey strolled through Millennium Park. They stopped at a tent for drinks and ice cream.
"Let's get a selfie," cried Adrianna.
"Oh, yes, a selfie in front of the bean is a right of passage," quipped Trey.
That night after the kids went to sleep in the spare rooms, Jim and Trey sat in the living area watching a film. It was so good to relax in this other world that Trey existed in. His bachelor lifestyle seemed perfect and left Jim somewhat envious. After the movie they switched to a late night news show. Here was a recent set of interviews with the two presidential candidates. The anchor was asking Brian Foster questions on immigration and the defense budget. Jim thought that this would be a good opportunity to bone up on the issues. Trey said he had had an early morning and needed to get some sleep. Would Jim be ok out here on the couch. Yes, he told Trey. He was already getting comfortable enough to fall asleep right there. They would see each other in the morning to begin a full day at Navy Pier and the Aquarium. Jim listened to Foster give his answers and found himself dozing through most of the interview. So much for my education, thought Jim after he woke up. He was about to turn off the tv when the show switched to a McCann interview. Jim sat up. He checked out this 60 something man with graying hair and a comfortable sweater and slacks. He seemed a likable, intelligent person with an appealing voice. His mood was moderated, not at all emotional or carried away by any lunatic ideas such as the Quants might hold. McCann answered the usual political questions but later in the interview the topic turned to his interests and hobbies. McCann told his listeners that he was a history buff. His particular interest was the Civil War he said.
"I, like many others, had ancestors in the Civil War. Every guy has a favorite war, right? Mine happens to be the war between the states. I am fascinated that the people of this great nation could be so bullheaded as to actually fight to kill their brothers in such a terrible conflict. I am running for the presidency for that reason. I stand for unity in America. I run to unite all people regardless of their race, religion, or gender."
"And how do you plan to get people to unite?" posed the anchor.
"We need to change hearts and minds. Our government needs to offer people a pathway to hope. The brotherhood of mankind, womankind, is a goal that is attainable. When people are given the opportunities to come together, they will respond. Do you recall the enlightenment of the 18th century? The world saw that reason and science were the pathway to sense. Logic was paramount and when the government utilizes that reasoning, the people will follow."
Maybe it was the late hour, but Jim wasn't quite sure what McCann was saying. The program cut to a woman being interviewed in the street. "McCann? I like what he says. We've been so at odds with each other in this country lately. I want peace. He wants peace. It's as simple as that for me."
Jim turned off the tv. He didn't feel that he was any closer to making a judgment. Maybe he would listen to the debate on Tuesday. He grabbed the spare blanket and went to sleep.
The next morning they had a leisurely breakfast and talked about what the day would bring.
Everyone agreed that Navy Pier was the priority but they decided to go later because after the rides, they wanted to see the fireworks. So off to the aquarium they went. Laughing and joking as they toured the Shedd Aquarium, the family enjoyed a completely different mood from the previous days. They spent the morning checking out everything from penguins to sharks.
"Dad, don't look now but someone's watching you!" said Jay, motioning to the very soggy otter in the exhibit in front of them.
Jim chuckled at the joke, but that old anxiety rose up in him and he looked around. Suddenly, he saw him, the man who had been staring at Jim in the restaurant outside Sterling. Jim stared back and began to approach. The man turned and walked quickly towards the entrance. Jim called after him. "Hey, hey you!" he called. He started running after the man. The man got to the entrance. Jim had gotten as far as the turn styles but stopped. The man exited the building. Jim sat on a bench against the wall trying to catch his breath.
"What was that all about, dad?" asked Jay.
Trey and Adrianna had come over too. "Are you ok, Jim?"
"Yeah, yeah. That guy was staring at me. I saw him outside of Sterling at the restaurant. I know it's the same guy. I just wanted to ask him what he was doing? The thing that was strange was that he ran from me."
"He probably thought you were going to bust him," Trey sniggered. "Most likely a gangster." The kids laughed and they all moved on to the Beluga whales exhibit.
During the fireworks that night, Jim started to get paranoid. Not paranoid of gangsters following him but paranoid that he was paranoid. Maybe the stress had been getting to him. So what if some guy was staring at him. Lot's of people stare. Maybe he was staring at someone behind Jim or at a Beluga whale. It was the place to stare for cryin' out loud, thought Jim.
"Oooh!" breathed Adrianna watching the burst of colors in the sky.
"That was a beaut," said Trey.
They all agreed that the fireworks display was terrific. And after the finale, they walked back to Trey's building. Jay said, "So what about tomorrow?"
Adrianna said, "I know it sounds like school but I would really like to go to the Art Institute."
"Can't we go to a game?" asked Jay.
"That sounds perfect and the day's on me. Art Institute right after brunch and then I'll treat you all to a Cub's game tomorrow night. Cubs vs. Yankees."
"Oh, yes. That will be a treat," smiled Jim. They were all looking forward to their last day in Chicago.
When they got to Trey's place, Jay challenged Adrianna, "Race you to the 20th floor!"
"You're on!" she agreed. "But I get a handicap because my legs are shorter."
"That's fair," Jay said. "I'll stop at every landing and count to ten."
Adrianna took off. "Let's go!" she yelled, bounding up the stairs.
"How do they have all that energy after a day like today?" asked Jim.
"Remember our races when we were kids?" asked Trey. "It's a kid thing, you know bouncing off the walls?" Once on the elevator, he said, "You need to let all this go now, Jim. You're wearing yourself out. You want my bed tonight? Maybe sleeping on that couch is wearing you down. 'Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care.' to quote the bard."
"'He makes me lie down in green pastures'...I'll ponder it."
After one of Trey's apparently famous morning brunches, if he did say so himself, they walked across Michigan Avenue to the lion guarded Art Institute of Chicago. "This museum has so many famous artists," Trey explained to Jay and Adrianna. "Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Picasso and a massive collection of Impressionist paintings live in this place."
"They live here?" Jay asked doubtfully.
"Yeah, I would definitely say this art work still lives on. C'mon, let's check it out," urged Trey.
Adrianna found herself engrossed in the Impressionist paintings, especially the paintings of dancers by Degas. "They're so soft and beautiful," she said.
"You kids are lucky to see so many famous paintings. Now don't get too close or the alarm might go off," warned Jim.
"Chill," smiled Trey.
Everyone decided to wait to eat at the game. They took a taxi to Wrigley field. "Good thing the weather forecast says no rain," said Jay, as he looked at the blue sky above the field.
"This is an open air stadium," remarked Trey. "We take it as it comes."
They indulged in baseball game food - burgers, salsa and chips, tacos, and hot dogs. They stopped short of indigestion and cheered for the Cubbies. And by the ninth, they were ready to go back to Trey's. The Cubs won.
"Why is it called Wrigley Field?" asked Adrianna when they got into the taxi.
"The guy who owned the baseball team was named Wrigley...He made gum," said dad.
The jovial, middle aged taxi driver began singing, "Double your pleasure, double your fun..."
Jim and Trey joined in, "...with double mint, double mint, double mint gum.”
"You guys are old," said Jay with a smirk.
"Old but fun." Trey winked at them.
The next morning they said goodbye to Trey. He had to leave town on business, but said the O"Neills could stay as long as they wanted if they promised to feed the fish. The deal was struck and Jim and the kids decided to do the couch potato thing for most of the day. Jay was on his phone. Adrianna drew the skyline from the window. Jim watched cable news streaming.
It was Wednesday. There was a lot on about the presidential race. Jim sunk down into the couch and took it all in. This McCann guy seemed to have it in the bag. His approval numbers were better than Foster's. In five days the two candidates would sling it out verbally onstage. If he were here on Tuesday, which seemed likely since Trey was out of town until the following Friday, he could watch it on this giant screen tv in this fantastic apartment. I'm liking this 'chill in green pastures idea', he thought, although he knew it meant more than lazing around on the couch.
McCann was being interviewed again.
"What are your views on school choice?" asked the interviewer.
McCann replied, "I have total faith in our public institutions. Our proud teachers have been molding America's children for generations. At this point in time, I see no reason to open the education of the youth to those who may not be as well equipped in the kind of training that our students require."
"So you'd consider yourself a traditionalist, then?"
"I consider myself a supporter of the great institutions of this nation. Institutions that are based on traditions that go back to the beginnings of our country. Groups that have bolstered our constitution in times of trouble and war are the bedrock of this nation. The people! We listen to the people. When the government got it wrong, the people brought sanity back into our lives. When bureaucrats brought us into needless wars, the common sense of the people steered our course."
"Thank you senator for that enlightening rebuttal," the woman with the microphone was saying.
"Enlightening?" said Jim. "I had no idea of what that man was talking about."
And there it was again. That symbol on his shirt. He moved closer to the screen. Was that a golf ball and golf tee? No, that was definitely a "Q". So bizarre. Maybe he's from Quincy, thought Jim.
He got on his phone and googled - "symbol" and "Q". Nothing there that made sense. But did Quants make sense? A group that still followed the philosophy of a crazed raider from the Civil War? And this story about Quantrill following Mosby to get the treasure was indeed the stuff of comic books. I wonder if the bikers even found treasure in that box, thought Jim. They hadn't come after him so they must have gotten it. It was disappointing and quite frankly unfair. Here is a family treasure. By rights, it should belong to Jim. And basically they stole it. It might be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars - old Southern plantation jewelry supposedly, if it was actually Mosby's treasure. If so, it was technically stolen property. Was it from the Civil War? How did grandpa get it? Where did it come from?
It started to rain after lunch so the O'Neills decided to lay low by playing board games that were sitting around Trey's apartment. Jim got tired of the games and left the kids to battle out a game of chess. He decided it was time to look through grandpa's diary. He hadn't taken the time to read the entire thing and now he wanted some answers. The Quants had not seemed to know he had the diary because they didn't ask for it. The diary was packed in his suitcase. As he took out the small, leather book, he felt the thrill of connection. His grandfather had hidden this very special "treasure" away in a secret prohibition era, liquor cabinet. How many hours had he sat writing down his thoughts and memories in this little, black book. In a way, it was grandpa's comic book, but it was true. Or was it?
He began reading at the beginning. He skimmed over the entries, skipping most of them.
"September 13, 1924. I got this journal for my birthday today. Harry is a dead duck. He got caught cheating during the history examination today. His father will kill him. We had beef stew for supper. It was good. Ma is a good cook."
September 30, 1924. The boys and I met down at the river today. Tommy had cigarettes. He got kind of sick. I didn't cauz I have been smoking before. We go down to the wharf cauz nobody will bother us there. I think I am flunking English.
October 31, 1924. We have decided to start a gang. Our headquarters will be in the old shack next to the wharf. Nobody goes there. We have crates to sit on and the roof doesn't leak hardly at all. Harry is the leader. He's ok I guess. We need to make money.
May 6, 1925. We have a good system now. We do work for the mob. Kelly gives us the jobs and we look for people. We take small stuff from the jewelry stores and they sell it and we make a lot of money.
September 10, 1925. I quit school. I'll be 13 in a few days and they don't care if I don't go back. I have to get a job though. I'll have to sweep out the wood shop and deliver pieces for old man Schwartz.
February 26, 1927. bad blizzard. everything closed. pa bawled me out for not working hard enough. he was loaded. what a waste to be boozy. this liquor is bad half the time. cant wait to get out of here.
June 12, 1927. Fitz is giving me more work. says I got the makins of a good Quant. wanna make it. they hel
p people even though sometimes they slip it up.
July 1929. Things are lookin up for me. plenty of money. they won't let me in yet. Harry and I stole a car and we dumped it on the street when we were done with it. no cops.
August 19, 1929. got caught and was down in the slammer overnight. pa said I had it comin and left me there. Fitzy brought Oscar down and they fixed it. I have to do community service for a couple of months. could have ended up in the joint.
March 1931. bad things have been happening. Fitzy was shot in a gang war. the Italians did it. now the Quants are gonna take some of them out. Oscar's orders. Or his orders. I don't want no part of murder. but can I get out??
June '31. I found out about the police academy today. thinkin about joining the force. that's crazy talk.
July '31. Lot of guys hit. Oscar says he needs me in now. I can be a big hustler. Irish stick together he says. There's the man at the top. they never tell us his name. from Chicago. says he wants me to be one of the guys. I've got potential he says.
October '31. I almost got initiated today. told me all about the Quants. Its a secret society thats been around since the civil war. named after this raider name of Quantrill. He was the man at the time, the head boss man just like him. they wanted me to read a speech and sign in blood. I said I was sick and had to leave.
October 20, '31. I was in the headquarters on M. Street. I saw the paper they wanted me to read. I panicked when i read their paper with the speech. I ain't sayin that and signing in blood. I have to leave town.
October 30, 1931. I needed the cash so I took their funny box. I figured it had the treasure they keep talking about. I needed the money. they wont know it was me if i stick around for awhile.
Nov 3, 1931. They blamed the Italians so im off the hook. they took out the Italians on T street. but couldnt find the box
Nov 5 '31. I haven't looked in the box. sounds like jewelry when you shake it. im gonna bury it and hide the key and then im leaving town. I don't want the big boss to ever get it. they say they have work for me in Chicago. don't think I better go there.
Treasures of Darkness Box Set Page 6