The Emerald Quest Read online

  “You didn’t need to resort to kidnapping,” the other man said. “My team would’ve found the emerald on our own.”

  Wright chuckled. “Max, your team has done nothing so far, and we didn’t have any more time. I had to take matters into my own hands.”

  Wright was talking to Max Scheff! Noah had never actually seen Max before, he’d just heard his parents describe Max’s exploits. As Noah observed Max, he agreed with what his parents had said. He did indeed look like a formidable foe.

  “And you’ll take the fall for this,” Max said.

  “What does that mean?”

  Max stood up. He ran a hand through his curly brown hair. “I had nothing to do with the Winters, or their kid. I just locate valuables.” Max held up his hands. “And then I sell them to the highest bidder.”

  Isaiah Wright’s face came into Noah’s view. His eyes narrowed and Noah could feel the hate emanating from them. He approached Max. “I am paying you to find the emerald.”

  Max shook his head. “At one point, that was true. But I have a higher bidder.”

  “Who?”

  “I can’t tell you that,” Max said. “But this person will pay a million more than you.”

  Wright stepped closer to Max, backing him up to the railing. Max glanced over his shoulder. Noah pulled his head back, not breathing.

  “You can’t intimidate me,” Max continued.

  Noah looked slowly around the corner again. Max had moved away from the railing. He stood, legs apart, arms crossed, staring at Wright.

  Wright tapped his fingers together thoughtfully. “Okay,” he finally said. “Let’s find the emerald and we will renegotiate a price.”

  “A million more,” Max said. “That’s the new price.”

  Wright walked over to an enormous mahogany desk. He opened a drawer, pulled out a box, and took something from it.

  “Do you see this?” Wright held up a small glass vial.

  Max shrugged. “What is it?”

  “It’s a new poison.” Wright lifted the vial up to the light. “It’s odorless, tasteless, and untraceable. Just a small injection will kill a person. No autopsy in the world will detect it. I had it specially designed.”

  “Sure,” Max said sarcastically. “What are you, some kind of villain out of a spy story? Trying to threaten me with a new poison.”

  Wright pursed his lips. “I am no villain. I just get what I want. You should keep that in mind.”

  “Oh, I will,” Max said. “I –”

  Wright’s cell phone rang. “Yes?” he answered. Wright listened for a moment, then slammed the phone shut.

  “That was Karl, my third in command, after Chang here. It seems that young Noah Winter has escaped,” Wright said. “Your men can do nothing right.”

  “What happened?” Max asked.

  “Noah attacked Dave when he came to get the boy. The kid ran into the garage and took off on a motorcycle. I don’t know how, but two of your men ended up in the ocean. Karl has them now.” Wright waved a hand angrily at Max. “Get out there and take care of this.”

  Max hurried down the stairs, grumbling about his incompetent partners. Noah scooted across the floor and hid behind a long couch. Max stomped through the living room and down the hallway where Noah had just been. Noah breathed a sigh of relief. Once Max was gone, he stared back up into the loft.

  Wright was twisting the vial in his fingers. “Chang, our Mr. Scheff thinks he can threaten me.”

  “Not very smart,” Chang said.

  “No, it’s not.” Wright examined the vial. “Once his team finds the emerald, we’ll test out this new poison. I think Mr. Scheff will be a perfect candidate, don’t you?”

  Chang smiled. “Absolutely.”

  Wright placed the vial back in the box. He turned to Chang. “We’d better go check on things. Max’s team may be great at underwater exploration, but they have no idea how to subdue a young boy.”

  Chang came down the stairs, followed by Wright. They walked across the living room and into the hallway. Wright stopped and opened a door.

  “Paul, how are things going?”

  Paul’s the man guarding my parents! Noah thought.

  “Everything’s fine,” Paul’s deep voice boomed from inside the room. “The Winters are quite cooperative now.”

  “We’re doing what you asked,” another voice said.

  That was his dad! Noah shook with anger. Wright better not have hurt them, Noah thought.

  “Thank you, Mr. Winter,” Wright said. “Once this business is out of the way, we’ll reunite you with your son.”

  Noah heard his dad’s muffled voice, but this time he couldn’t understand him.

  “Get me the information I need and you’ll see your son.” Wright pulled the door closed. He turned to Chang. “Once they tell us where the emerald is located, the Winters can be the next candidates for the new poison. After Max, of course.”

  He and Chang disappeared down the hallway.

  Noah bit his lip. He had to rescue his parents, or they would all die. But how? He had to get rid of the guard, Paul.

  Noah raised his head and looked around. He was alone. Besides the couch, the living room had floor-to-ceiling bookcases, a square coffee table, end tables, and planters that contained bamboo trees. Could he use one of the planters to knock Paul out?

  Noah examined a planter. It was made out of thick pottery. He tried to pull the bamboo tree out of the planter, but he couldn’t. His eyes roved around the room where his gaze fell on a ceramic lamp with a round marble base sitting on one of the end tables. He picked it up, feeling its weight. That marble base was heavy, but he could lift it.

  This should do the trick, he thought.

  Noah unplugged the lamp, ripped off the lampshade, and lugged the lamp to the door of the room where his parents were held. He hefted the lamp up, resting it on his shoulder like a baseball bat. He ignored the pain in his shoulder as he knocked on the door.

  Paul’s low voice filtered out through the crack under the door. “Don’t move while I answer the door.”

  Footsteps clunked on the floor. Noah took a deep breath and braced himself.

  “Yeah?” Paul said when he opened the door.

  Noah raised the lamp up as high as he could. Paul stuck his head out the door and Noah swung the lamp. The heavy marble end smashed into the side of Paul’s head.

  “Argh!” he groaned, slumping to the floor. A trickle of blood oozed out of a cut on his forehead. He kicked a foot out and then lay still.

  Noah dropped the lamp. It hit the floor with a thump. Noah jumped over Paul and into the room. His mom was sitting at a table, holding a piece of paper. His dad sat next to her, his jaw open in disbelief.

  “Noah!” they both shouted, leaping to their feet.

  Noah ran into their arms. “Mom! Dad!” he cried. They huddled together for a moment, too happy to say anything.

  “How did you –” his mom began, but lost her voice. She hugged Noah again. “You’re all wet! Look at your cheek.” She brushed a hand over the bruise from Dave’s wrench. “What happened?”

  “Mom, I’m fine,” Noah said.

  “He is,” Frank agreed as he collected himself. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Where are Wright and the others?” Riley asked Noah.

  “They went to the north end of the island,” Noah said. “I don’t know if anyone else is around.”

  Frank crossed to the door and peeked out. “The coast is clear.”

  “Let’s go,” Noah said.

  Frank held up a hand. He bent down and placed a finger on Paul’s neck. “He’s still breathing, just knocked out cold.” He grabbed Paul’s legs and pulled him into the room.

  “Come on,” Frank waved for Noah to follow him.

  “Wait.” Riley hurried to the table and rifled through maps, books, and papers. “Here we go.” She held up the spyglass with the etched-glass end pieces attached to it. “No sense leaving this with Wright.”

/>   “Good idea,” Frank said. He pushed her and Noah out the door, pulled it shut and made sure it locked.

  They ran out through the living room, down a hallway, and into a large foyer.

  “Hold on a second.” Frank pointed to a phone on a credenza next to the front door. He picked up the receiver and dialed. “Anthony. Yes, yes, we’re fine. I’ll explain later. Get the Explorer and head out to Copper Key. Don’t worry, we’ll find you, just get out here as fast as you can!”

  “What are we going to do?” Noah whispered as they crept out the front door.

  “Let’s see if there’s a boat we can take,” Frank said. “Hurry up.”

  They ran down a stone path, past a gazebo to a dock where two sleek boats were moored. Frank hopped into a two-seater 388 Slingshot powerboat.

  “I’ll see if I can disable this so they can’t follow us,” he said. “Riley,” he gestured at the other boat, a dark blue and white Donzi powerboat. “Get that started.”

  Riley jumped into the Donzi, tucking the spyglass in her arm. She sat behind the wheel and fired up the engine. Noah followed her, but leaned over the side to watch Frank in the other boat.

  Frank opened a hatch, exposing the engine. “I need something to cut the fuel line.”

  Noah felt in his pocket. He’d forgotten all about the knife he’d taken from Dave ‘The Wrench’ Dixon. “Here,” he said, pulling out the knife and tossing it to his dad.

  Frank raised his eyebrows in surprise as he caught the knife. He flicked open the blade and cut the fuel line. Dark liquid dripped out of the tiny tube.

  “That ought to do it,” he said. He leaped over the side of the Slingshot and into the Donzi.

  Noah looked up. Off to the north, another Slingshot speedboat bounded over the water, speeding toward them like a rocket. “They’re back!” he hollered.

  “Get the line,” Frank pointed at the rope line that tied the Donzi to the dock. Noah grabbed the rope and freed the boat. “Go!” Frank yelled to Riley.

  Riley pushed the accelerator and the boat vaulted away from the dock.

  The Slingshot was about thirty feet from them. Wright was at the wheel. Chang stood in a half-crouch, ready for action.

  Frank gestured wildly at Riley. “Try to outrun them.”

  Riley sped up, but the Slingshot veered at them. The other boat had momentum and quickly barreled down on the Donzi. Riley yanked the wheel to the right. Wright’s boat glanced off the Donzi’s side. The spyglass fell to the bottom of the boat and rolled around wildly on the floor.

  “Get it!” she yelled at Noah.

  Noah scrambled after the spyglass, but it spun away from him. He crawled after it, finally snatching it up. He sat back in a chair and held on tightly to the spyglass.

  As the two boats clanged together, Chang hurdled over the side of the Slingshot and landed right in front of them. He wavered for a moment, trying to catch his balance. Frank sprung at Chang and hit him in the face. Chang merely shook his head, as if he’d been smacked with a flyswatter. He took a step forward.

  “Is that the best you have?” he snarled at Frank.

  Frank raised his fist and swung at Chang again. This time, Chang grabbed Frank’s fist, crushing it in his own hand.

  “Ah!” Frank grimaced. He backed away, staggering as the boat rocked in the choppy waves. Then he fell to his knees.

  The Donzi picked up speed as Noah’s mom revved the engine. Behind it, Wright’s Slingshot kept pace with the Donzi.

  Chang advanced on Frank. He hauled Frank to his feet. Frank grappled with Chang, both faltering with the wobbly motion of the boat. Frank managed to push Chang back a foot. Noah saw his opportunity. He dove to the bottom of the boat behind Chang. Riley glanced back and saw where Noah was. She jerked the wheel, which caused Chang to stumble. He backed up and bumped heavily into Noah. Noah pushed sideways and Chang’s feet flew into the air. He lurched back, grabbing onto Frank’s shirt, and pulled Frank with him as he tumbled over the side of the boat.

  “Dad!” Noah shouted. He dropped the spyglass on the floor.

  Riley glanced over her shoulder again. “Frank!” She cut the power to the boat.

  Frank threw out an arm and clung to the side of the boat, his feet dragging in the water behind him. Frank’s shirt ripped where Chang had grabbed hold, and Chang fell into the water. He kicked about, flailing violently in the wake of the boat. Wright nearly ran him over as he pursued the Donzi.

  Noah grabbed Frank by the back of his jeans and helped him crawl into the boat.

  “Keep going!” Frank yelled at Riley. She accelerated and the Donzi whizzed through the water. “Where’s the spyglass?”

  Noah looked around frantically.

  “There it is.” He seized the spyglass from under a chair.

  “Don’t let go of it!” Frank ordered him. “Stay in the bottom of the boat where you’re safe.”

  Noah hunkered down on his knees, still high enough where he could watch what was happening.

  Behind them, Wright had circled his boat around and stopped for Chang. The Slingshot had lost distance, but Wright was not giving up, and the Slingshot slowly gained on the Donzi.

  Noah, Frank, and Riley all gazed ahead, searching for the Explorer. Noah turned and looked back. Wright’s boat was getting closer.

  “Come on,” Riley muttered to the Donzi, her hands gripping the wheel tightly.

  The Donzi cut through the water, jarring them as it hit wave after wave. Noah glanced back again. The Slingshot drew nearer. What would happen if Wright overtook them? Noah thought about Wright and the vial of poison. He shuddered.

  “Frank, I can’t go any faster,” Riley shouted.

  “We’ll have to lose them somehow,” Frank hollered back.

  “We won’t make it!” Riley gritted her teeth.

  And then they saw the Explorer.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  THE FLOUR SIFTER

  The Explorer approached on the horizon and its horn sounded loudly. Nearby Noah spotted a police cruiser.

  “It’s Chief Burton!” Noah jumped up and down and waved his hands.

  Behind them, Wright’s boat slowed down.

  “They see the police,” Frank said. “Wright’s giving up.”

  Wright made a U-turn and sped off, vanishing from view.

  Riley guided the Donzi up to the Explorer. The police cruiser drew up alongside both. The Explorer’s engine stopped.

  Anthony bounded out of the cabin. “You’re all right!” he shouted joyfully.

  Riley killed the Donzi’s engine. “We’re fine, thanks to Noah.”

  Anthony helped Noah climb from the Donzi to the Explorer. Riley almost fell into the water as she followed Noah.

  “After all we’ve been through, I almost take a dunk into the ocean!” she laughed as she dropped into a seat.

  Chief Burton emerged from the cabin of the police cruiser. Detective Shaw appeared behind him. Both had stern looks on their faces.

  “Noah, what in the world were you thinking?” Chief Burton said. “Anthony told us all about your plans to meet the kidnappers without the police, and that you had disappeared.” He shook his head. “We searched all around Marquesas Keys but couldn’t find you. I can’t tell you all how relieved I am to see you.”

  “Isaiah Wright kidnapped us,” Noah blurted out.

  Chief Burton wrinkled his brow. “What happened?” he asked Frank, who was still in the Donzi.

  “After we left the station the other night, we headed back to our house,” Frank said. “On the way home, I saw an accident on the road. It looked like a motorcycle had crashed and a man was lying in the road. I figured he was hurt, so I got out to help. But someone jumped me from behind. Whoever it was put a rag to my face and that’s all I remember.”

  “Someone did the same to me,” Riley said. “I was just getting out of the car myself when someone covered my nose with a rag.”

  “Probably chloroform,” Chief Burton said. “Simple to do.”
/>   “Next thing we know, we’re tied up in a room,” Frank continued. “We didn’t know what happened to the car or Noah. Then a man we didn’t recognize took us to a room filled with books and maps, like a large library. He gave us the spyglass, and told us to figure out where the De La Rosa Emerald was hidden.”

  “We just made up the location,” Riley interrupted. “We still haven’t figured out what the map really says.”

  Frank nodded. “We had to stall for time until we could figure out a way to escape.”

  “But then he captured Noah and threatened to hurt him,” Riley said.

  “Who?” Chief Burton frowned.

  “Isaiah Wright,” Noah replied.

  “And how did Isaiah Wright get a hold of you?” Chief Burton asked Noah. He leaned his knees against the side of the boat and put his hands on his hips. “Why didn’t you and Anthony let the police handle things? You could’ve been killed.”

  “We’d like to know that, too,” Riley said. “We were too busy getting away from Wright to hear what happened to you.”

  “I’m sorry,” Noah said to Chief Burton. “I didn’t think that a stand-in would fool the kidnappers, so Anthony and I decided we would go by ourselves.”

  Then Noah turned to his parents. His words tumbled over each other as he explained all that had occurred since his parents’ disappearance.

  “That’s quite a story,” Chief Burton said when Noah finished. He stared off on the horizon. “Isaiah Wright’s behind all this.”

  “Yes,” Noah said.

  Chief Burton pursed his lips. “That man’s a billionaire. He’s involved in all kinds of philanthropic endeavors. He’s odd, no doubt, but I never would’ve thought he’d be capable of this.”

  “He is,” Frank said.

  Chief Burton sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “You all need to come into the station and make a statement,” he said.

  “We can’t do that right now,” Frank replied.

  “What?” Detective Shaw glared at Frank. “Do you want to let that man get away with kidnapping?”

  “Of course not,” Frank snapped. “But I – “

  “Frank, I’m your friend and neighbor, but I’m also Chief of Police,” Chief Burton interrupted. “You have to make an official report about what happened.”