Chapter Thirteen
After reading Dad’s journal, I’d had a feeling the painting was a clue, but I never thought it’d be something like this. What I really didn’t understand was if Aristede disappeared and never met up with Jean or Sebastien again, how had something so important to the Grimaults ended up in my living room?
“How did these kids get our ancestor’s painting?” Garret asked, reading my mind.
“I’m not sure,” Morgan said, “but they’re obviously special.” He smiled at Holly and me. “Consider yourselves my guests of honor. You’ll be coming with us on our search.”
“You want to take them with us to find the fortune?” Trent asked.
“No, I want them to take us to the painting.” Morgan’s cheerful expression was instantly replaced by a sinister and intimidating look. “Now, where is it?”
“We left it at the park, but we don’t know how to get back there,” I said. “We’ve been lost for days.”
“Then we better get started. Boys, get your knives, fill the canteens with water, and grab some bread.” Morgan gathered the maps and placed them in his pocket.
Holly whispered, “Why are we helping them?”
“Because they’re going to take us back to the park. Then we might be able to get help, like the police or someone who’d take care of these guys, so we can find the Granville fortune.”
“You don’t really think they’re going to let us go when we find the painting, do you? And what if the painting isn’t even there? Mom may have found it by now.”
“What other choice do we have? Besides, the walk back through the forest will give us time to think of a better idea.”
I raised my head and saw Edward coming toward us.
“My dad says you’re traveling with me,” he said. “Don’t get any ideas of making a run for it. You’ll never make it through this forest without our protection.” It sounded more like a warning than a threat.
“We know,” I said. “We won’t try to escape.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
My eyes darted in every direction as I followed Edward. Around each turn, I expected to see the wolves or bears Holly had created earlier, but the forest was quiet. I started thinking the journey home was going to be easy—until I saw the stream. The current was even rougher than I remembered.
“I forgot about the stream,” Holly said. “We’ll never get across it without our rope.”
“I don’t think we can swim across this, Dad,” Garret said. “The current is too strong, and the water is full of jagged rocks.”
Morgan stood at the water’s edge. “You say you crossed this stream on your way into the forest?” he asked me, keeping his eyes glued to the stream in front of him.
“Answer him!” Garret said, shoving me hard on the back.
I stumbled forward, but Noelle caught me by the arm before I fell. A spark shocked us both as we touched and she immediately let go. “We draped a rope over a tree branch to swing across the water,” I said.
“Where’s the rope?” Morgan asked, finally turning toward me.
“We left it hanging on the tree, but this isn’t where we crossed the stream,” I answered.
Morgan furrowed his brow. After what seemed like a lifetime of silence, he finally spoke. “The only way to cross is by using the rocks to our advantage.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.
“The rocks are close enough together that we should be able to jump from one to another to get across the water.”
“What if we fall in? That current will pull us out to who knows where!” Holly’s voice trembled.
But either Morgan didn’t hear her or he just didn’t care because he waved his arm and said, “Come on! We’re wasting time.”
“Wait!” I protested. “The three of us aren’t as tall as you guys. Our legs aren’t long enough to jump across those rocks.”
“Move!” Garret said, pushing me toward the stream.
“It’ll be fine. Edward says they’ve done stuff like this before,” Noelle said in a low voice as she marched past me. How could she be so trusting?
The thieves began crossing the river in pairs. Edward and Noelle crossed the stream first with Edward leading the way. Once Edward safely jumped onto the first rock, he turned and extended his arm to Noelle who joined him. They continued like this to the other side of the stream.
Holly and I were each paired with a thief to cross the stream. I went before her with Garret. I didn’t like the idea of being separated from Holly, but after watching some of these guys struggle to get across the stream, I realized being paired with a long-legged thief was our only chance to safely cross the rough water. I slipped once, but Garret grabbed my arm and pulled me onto the rock. Trent insisted he could cross the water alone, and no one had any objection to him trying. He stumbled a little, but he made it safely to the other side.
The last pair to cross was Holly and Morgan. I had a feeling Morgan wasn’t crossing last in order to make sure everyone made it safely. He probably didn’t want to risk his own life trying to see if his plan would work. Some father he was.
Holly stood at the water’s edge. “I’m not going. If I slip, he’ll probably just save himself.”
“You can’t stay behind,” I shouted.
Holly huffed but gave in, refusing to grab Morgan’s hand as she jumped from rock to rock. She leaped and fell belly down onto each rock. She was getting pretty banged up, but I couldn’t blame her for not wanting to put her life in Morgan’s hands.
Holly and Morgan reached the final rock, and I noticed the land was farther away than Holly could jump on her own. “You’re going to have to let him help you!” I yelled.
“I’m not going to make it! This rock is too narrow and pointy. I can’t get any kind of running start. The stupid thing looks like a shark’s fin.”
“No!” I yelled. I watched in horror as the rock beneath Holly’s feet transformed into a gray shark.
Holly splashed into the water, and the shark turned in her direction, its jaws wide open.
The current was strong, and it pulled Holly downstream. I got down on the ground and reached for her, but she was too far away.
“Move!” Morgan said, pushing me aside. He drew his knife from his belt and hit the shark between the eyes. The knife didn’t harm the rock shark, but the creature kept attacking it instead of going for Holly.
“Help!” Holly yelled.
I stared in terror at the jagged rock in her path. Before I could do anything, Edward rushed past Morgan. He reached out and grabbed Holly by the back of her shirt. I rushed over and helped him pull Holly out of the water.
I put my arm around her shoulders. “Are you okay?” I could barely get the words out. I’d almost lost my sister.
“I think so,” Holly said through chattering teeth.
“Let’s continue,” Morgan said. “It’s getting dark, and we need to find a safe place to rest for the night.” He walked over to Holly and me, extended a hand to each of us, and pulled us to our feet. He removed his jacket and handed it to Holly. “Put this on. You must be freezing in those wet clothes.”
“Th-thanks,” Holly said, taking the coat. She gave me a puzzled look, and I shrugged.
I didn’t know what to make of Morgan’s kind gesture. In a way, it made me more nervous than when he was being cruel.