Chapter 8 

Richard looked older than Daniel remembered.

He carried no weapon.

Only a lantern.

“I knew you’d find this place.”

Daniel was furious.

“You knew everything.”

“No.”

Richard shook his head.

“I knew enough to be afraid.”

Clara stepped forward.

“Were you the fourth man?”

Richard looked at the photograph.

“Yes.”

Daniel felt his stomach drop.

“You were there with our fathers?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

Richard sat on an old wooden beam.

“Your grandfather found the gold in 1931.”

Daniel frowned.

“That was impossible.”

“Not the same gold.”

Richard explained.

The original gold shipment had indeed been stolen.

But the men who found it discovered something more valuable among the company’s records.

Proof that the theft had been arranged by powerful men.

People were murdered to keep the secret.

Elias Cole discovered it.

He hid the documents.

Decades later, Thomas found his father’s notes.

Samuel had found the same trail.

The two men joined forces.

Richard helped them.

“But why the treasure?” Daniel asked.

Richard smiled sadly.

“Because everyone was looking for gold.”

“And you used that.”

“Yes.”

They created a false trail.

Maps.

Legends.

Hidden coins.

Everything designed to make treasure hunters chase the wrong thing.

Meanwhile, Thomas and Samuel searched for the original evidence.

Daniel looked at the photograph.

“Why was your face scratched out?”

Richard looked away.

“Because someone found out I was helping them.”

“Who?”

Richard didn’t answer.

Clara suddenly realized something.

“The man at the diner.”

Richard nodded.

“Walter works for them.”

“Who?”

Richard’s face hardened.

“The descendants of the men who stole the gold.”

Daniel asked:

“Where are my father and Clara’s father?”

Richard’s eyes lowered.

“That’s the part I never learned.”