Read Online Crown's Vengeance, The by Andrew Clawson - Free Book Online

was focused on the drawer itself.
    “Look, you can see where this was nailed on.”
    He noted the tiny piece of metal that protruded from the damaged decoration.
    “And here, you can see the wood behind this decoration is a single piece,” Erika noted. “There’s no way these things could move.”
    Parker didn’t respond, a swell of anger growing inside his chest. He was sweaty, pissed off, and slightly hung over. The last thing he needed was to be caught breaking Paul Revere’s furniture.
    “This is a waste of time. Let’s get out of here before an employee calls the cops.”
    Erika slid the broken drawer back in, the silver triangle attached once again.
    “Stop being a baby. We only have two more.”
    He opened his mouth to protest, but Erika laid a hand on his forearm, her eyes wide, pleading.
    “Please?”
    “Fine, but after this, we’re out of here. This is supposed to be a vacation.”
    The next to last drawer did not yield either, and Parker began to think they’d be on their way. As he slid the fifth drawer back into the bureau, Erika gasped.
    “Parker, this one moved.”
    He peered at the drawer in her hands.
    “Give it to me.”
    With the drawer now bathed in sunlight, Parker studied the centuries-old piece. Right away, he saw it. The triangular design had shifted. Years of sun and dirt had dulled the drawer’s polish, but where the silver arrow had been, the wood was bright where it had been protected from the elements.
    Erika’s eyes flashed. “Push the triangles together.”
    For a moment, the designs held fast, stuck like all the others. Parker redoubled his efforts and was rewarded as the two arrow-shaped decorations jerked closer to each other by several inches.
    “Damn, this thing is tough to move. The arrows are stuck.”
    She smacked his arm. “Stop making excuses and push harder.”
    Her face was alight with anticipation as he squeezed, certain the wood was going to splinter apart in his hands. Just as his arms were about to give out, the arrows shot together with a terrible clatter. The unexpected movement sent the drawer flying from his grasp, and he could only watch as it tumbled to the floor with a tremendous crash.
    “We need to get out of here.”
    “Not before we see what’s inside.”
    There were no visible changes other than the arrows, which now sat inches apart. Erika ran her fingers around the interior, probing the polished wood. “I don’t feel any hinges inside. Those arrows had to have done something.”
    With a gentle touch, she lifted the drawer and turned it upside down. On the bottom, a previously invisible panel had retracted to reveal a slender leather pouch, secured to the underside. Before they could speak, the door behind them creaked open.
     

Chapter 11
    An elderly man walked through the door.
    “Is everything all right in here?”
    Parker said nothing as the man tottered their way, a kind look on his wizened features.
    “I’m glad you’re here, sir.” Erika pushed Parker aside, holding the drawer in front of her like a peace offering. “When we came in here, this drawer was sitting on the ground. I almost tripped over it.”
    The frail old man ran one hand through a thick shock of snowy white hair atop his wrinkled forehead.
    “Where, uh, where did you say you found it?”
    “Right here.” She gestured emphatically at the ground. “We were walking through, and oh my, it was just sitting there. I don’t know what to do.” Before the old man could respond, she said, “Oh my goodness, would you look at that. I found where it goes.”
    Just as the bespectacled man reached for it, Erika turned around and slid the drawer back into its proper slot.
    “It must have fallen out. You can’t be too careful.”
    “Yes, I suppose you can’t.”
    Bewildered, the old man nodded slowly as he spoke.
    “Do you work here?”
    Erika flashed a megawatt smile his way. She grabbed Parker’s arm and slid closer to the poor guy, so close they nearly touched the