Searching For Treasure - By L.C. Davenport Page 0,55

home."

Dana was quick to the defense. "But Oscar told us that first night that he believed the stories about Roan Davis to be just that. Stories. And in spite of everything, I'm not convinced they're still not."

"What is this about a letter?" Noah asked.

Oscar spoke up. "According to legend, Davis was supposed to have left a letter leaving clues to where he had hidden his treasure."

"And Austin said he had found this letter, although I didn't see it," Dana said.

"According to what he told my partner,”the inspector said,“he found it hidden inside of an old picture frame he bought at a nearby garage sale. So if he had directions to the treasure, why did he need everyone to leave?"

Jack spoke up. "My guess is that beyond the location of the castle, he hadn't been able to figure out the clues. So he needed to hunt. And there were just too many people around to hunt the way he wanted to. And with all of us at least playing like we were looking for treasure, too, he probably felt like time was against him."

"So stage an accident, everyone goes home or to the hospital and he is free to look around," Inspector Wilcox said.

Dana shrugged. "That's what he said, too."

"But the accident didn't happen the way he planned. Which leads me to,”the inspector glanced at his notes, he shook his head in disbelief, "dancing chickens?"

"I'm afraid that's my fault, too,”declared Oscar. His friends protested loudly. "No, I was the one who told stories not only of treasure but of ghosts as well. Austin obviously decided to use-"

"Oh, balls!" Rose stated hotly. Josie looked at her in surprise and giggled. "Hogwash. Horse puckey. Nothing makes me madder than someone trying to take the blame for what some other ignoramus tries to pull. None of this is your fault, Oscar. This is all Austin and Brett. Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-damn-dumb."

"By the way" said Dana, "Austin said that Brett was waiting in the car. Did you find him?"

"Yes, yes," the inspector said impatiently. "We have him in custody, too. Now-"

"So, what did he have to say?" Grace asked the inspector. "I always thought he had a shifty look."

"He admitted to everything except he claims he never played a part in trying to hurt anyone."

Henry snorted. "Oh, yeah, he's Simon pure."

"Please let me get back to the subject," the inspector said.

"Austin was just stupid, man," Noah jeered. "Trying to scare people with phony ghosts. We see scarier stuff on TV."

"Well, Noah, I was pretty scared last night," Dana said.

"And I thought that poltergeist looked pretty realistic,”breathed Grace.

"Yeah, but, scary is one thing and scary enough to leave in the middle of the night is another. He's read too many books, or something," Noah said.

"People, please!"

Everyone fell silent. "Yes, Inspector Wilcox?" Oscar asked. "You had a question?"

The inspector sighed. "I thought I did."

Dana leaned forward. "Inspector Wilcox, you said that Austin told you about the letter. Did he tell you how he had been getting back into the castle?"

The inspector again looked at his notes. "Yes, he said that the letter told of a secret door."

Oscar was stunned. "What? I have never come across any references to a secret door in all of my research."

"According to Austin, the door is in the back of the castle and was originally used as a way to sneak out for nighttime romps with female servants. Austin said it is directly in line with the ruins of some servant quarters."

"I saw those from Josie's bedroom," remembered Dana. "The door must be directly below."

"Austin said that according to the letter, this was the door Roan Davis used to come and go as he committed his crimes. The letter claimed that Davis found it by accident."

"Maybe,”suggested Jack, "The reason you never found any reference to it, was because it was secret. The master of the castle might not have wanted his wife to know about his nocturnal activities. But women are notoriously nosy. If he had written it down somewhere, she would have found out about it." Every set of female eyes in the room glared at him. "Well, am I lying?"

"So,”Dana mused, "if Roan Davis was so forthcoming with all of this information, why didn't he just say where the treasure is?"

Jack looked at her thoughtfully. "I know that look, D. You have a theory."

"It was the way the note in the fireplace safe was worded. 'Find the lock for this key and the laugh is on me.' I think there is