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“Attagirl.”
I arrive just as they load up the last cameras into the truck.
“Ivy, hi,” Jessica moves to greet me, beaming. She’s wearing tight jeans and a red puffer vest, and knee-high boots that are totally impractical for a muddy dig. “How was the reunion? I heard it was a blast, I would have come too, but we’ve been so busy here.”
“You sure have,” I reply, just as bright. “Stealing, lying, snaking all my research out from under me … where do you find the time?”
“Aww, you aren’t taking that personally, are you?" Jessica coos. “You know how it is. All’s fair in love, war, and treasure hunting.”
“Is that how it goes?”
Reeve gives my hand a reassuring squeeze, and it makes me feel better. I’m not alone in this. “So, did you figure out the curtain clue?” I ask, keeping my voice even. “It’s a tough one, huh?”
“For you, maybe,” Jessica smirks. “But it’s obvious, don’t you think?”
I pause. She’s bluffing. She’s has to be. Then Clayton comes out, checking his clipboard. “Team A can head straight to the mines,” he says loudly. “And then we can get some aerials with the drone, before Jake meets us there—“
“Shh!” Jessica hisses at him, but it’s too late.
“The old copper mines?” I ask. “That’s where you think the treasure is stashed?”
“Whoops,” Clayton says, giving me a quick wink. “Looks like I gave the game away!”
Jessica looks pissed, but she gives an exaggerated shrug. “It doesn’t matter, you’ll all know soon enough when we bring home the gold. Obviously, the curtain in the clue refers to a rock curtain. And Earl knew those mines like the back of his hand. It makes perfect sense that he’d stash it there.”
“Yup, it sure does,” I smile, feeling much better. “Well, good luck out there. And be careful,” I can’t help adding. “I wouldn’t want you to get crushed to death by a nasty cave-in!”
I tow Reeve away. “You don’t think they’ll find the treasure there, do you?” he asks, grinning, when we’re a safe distance away.
I shake my head. “It’s the first place anyone ever thinks to look. Those mines have been searched a hundred times over, it’s like the number one hangout for rebellious teens around town.”
“So if we crack this curtain clue, we can still beat them.”
I nod, determined. “I need to cover at the museum this afternoon, but let’s meet up when I get off, and—” I stop, catching his smirk. “You know what I mean!”
“I do,” Reeve grins, pulling me closer for a brief, hot kiss. “We’ll meet up, and you’ll get off. Sounds like a plan to me.”
I smile allthe way back to the museum – and through not one, but two groups of bored kids who would rather be anywhere else on their Sunday besides listening to me give them a talk about the town founders. I know how they feel. A part of my brain is running over that last clue all afternoon, even as I finish up my work, and deal with all the emails Dot has been ignoring.
Look behind the curtain …
What did Earl mean? It must have been something Madeline knew about, too, and close to home, since they weren’t exactly racing around in a Toyota Hybrid back then. Maybe Reeve will have some better ideas – for the clue, and ways to make me moan …
Mary-Alice calls, just as I’m getting home. “Where’s my big play-by-play?” she demands, when I answer. “You’ve been back for hours, Kyle saw you in town. Unless you’ve been naked this entire time, there’s no excuse for leaving me hanging.”
I laugh, letting myself into the house. “I’ve been busy!” I protest. “And don’t you know, a lady doesn’t kiss and tell.”
“Then it’s a good thing we’re not ladies,” she replies immediately. “Come on, details.”
I smile, remembering the wild, fevered look in Reeve’s eyes right before he came. “It was …spectacular.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” she whoops. “Now, can you take the week off work and tie him to your bed for more?”
I kick off my boots and head to the kitchen to make some hot tea. “Still feeling all the pregnancy hormones, huh?”
Mary-Alice sighs. “Yup. And Kyle leaves tomorrow for a work trip, for three whole days. I’m going to lose my mind, and wear out my rabbit vibrator. In that order.”
“I’m sorry, babe,” I offer sympathetically. “Want to bring Ruby over tomorrow and watchMoanaas a distraction?”
