The tower : A New start

Hidden Treasures

Sapphire sat, two days later, unpacking the duffel she almost always carried with her. Her plan is to replace the clothes inside with fresh ones.  She had noticed how small the duffel really was early on when she was on her way to Luna Bay where she now resided and planned to purchase a new one so she could get rid of this ridiculously small duffel. It definitely looked bigger than it was.  However, she never got around to ordering a new one and was now trying to stuff a  week's worth of clothes in this one just in case she needed to amscray, without much luck. “What is with this d**n bag!” She thought in disgust as she started to throw it aside only to hear a clack as if something was still inside, “How weird.” 

Perplexed, Sapphire started to examine the bag all over again.  She had intended to look at the bag at the cabin after the car hit the house. She had all but forgotten about it then. Now Sapphire was looking over the bag as she wandered back into the library mumbling to herself. She thoroughly examined every pocket, her hands gently grazing the seams feeling for any difference between them.  She had already shaken the bag out to make sure there wasn’t anything left inside the bag, but it was empty. Finished with the smaller pockets she began checking the main and largest pocket of the bag, gently feeling each of the seams for something different or unusual. Suddenly she let out a squeak of surprise. “There!” she gasped as she distinctly felt the difference in the back bottom seam compared to the other seams. That back seam was much thicker and didn’t seem as well tacked down as the front bottom seam. The side bottom seams were loose, but still about as thick as the front seam, however the back seam was the odd one out. She again ran her fingers along that back bottom seam again and found what felt like snap closures. 

“What was going on here?” She thought perplexed as she gently tugged on the closures which gave easily and opened another secret pocket. A false bottom! That explained the strange lack of room in the bag. By now Alex had made his way over to her desk intrigued by her discovery, daytrading completely forgotten for the moment. Sapphire gazed into the pocket curiously to find cheesecloth wrapped around something. She gently tugged the item out of the pocket and realized she held a box in her hand. The box wrapped in cheesecloth was slightly smaller than the pocket it had been in, but big enough that nothing else would fit in the pocket. It seemed the duffel bag had been somehow designed around the mysterious box.

Alex cleared his throat and shifted nervously drawing Sapphire out of her thoughts. “Maybe we should call the Marshalls just in case?” he suggested. Sapphire could see his concern and knew he was right to be concerned. Neither of them knew how this box got into the bag or who put it there. Nor did they know what was inside the box. She was nervous, too. For all she knew The Butcher could have planted it and the box could hold some horrible surprise for her within its walls. Her hands shook as she fiddled with the cheesecloth, debating whether to call the Marshalls or not. The only thing she knew for certain was that the box had been placed in the duffel on purpose.

Just as she reached for her phone, a subtle scent wafted up to her. It was familiar, perfume perhaps. Suddenly, a memory surfaced of her grandmother. The scent...it was the perfume her Mammow (southern for grandmother) wore all the time. This was her Mammow’s doing. A small sad smile lit Sapphire's face and she said, “It’s from my Grandparents. They were determined to see that I got my inheritance no matter what. They must have put this together while I was in the hospital. Mammow must’ve somehow figured out what was happening and known I might never see them again”

Alex fingered the cheesecloth wrapped around the box in Sapphire’s hands, doubt lingering in his mind. For all they knew The Butcher could have done this. He loved mind games. What better way to torture her than to let her believe her grandparents left a secret box. Then when she opened it only to find some horror inside. He would do something like that, Alex was certain, just to make sure she knew he was still out there and coming for her. The Butcher thrived on the terror he elicited from his victims. After a lengthy, heavy silence, Alex asked, “You’re sure of this?” He relaxed visibly when she nodded. 

“I’d know her perfume anywhere.” she glanced at him, “The marshals told me that Mammow, my grandmother, insisted I have a bag of clothes and necessities at the hospital, This bag. They never figured out how she got into my room without giving anything away, but she did. Even with all the police around my room. I suspect she may have told them that the bag was for my mother, who never left my side. I do know the Marshals spoke to my family privately. They explained to my family that for the safety of everyone it had to appear as if I had succumbed to my injuries. My family was told they’d have to bury me and that we’d most likely never see each other again or at least until after the Butcher was caught. I was never told what exactly they told my family. Instead I got the washed and dried version. I believe my family intentionally left the bag behind because the Marshals insisted I take the bag, going so far as to tell me they were under orders to see to it that the bag never left my side.”  Sapphire explained. “The Marshals assured me everything was very convincing and I was safe. They also assured me my family would be safe as well. I believe that if my family believed it would keep me safe they would have agreed to any course of action.”

Alex regarded her carefully as he thought about what she’d just said. It made sense to him. It was the perfect way to get something important to her without drawing attention to what was going on and keep her safe. A last goodbye one could call it. “I know if one of my family was in danger I’d agree to and do anything to protect them. Your grandparents are very clever. Shall we see what they left you?” He asked as he again closed the windows, blinds and all, then locked the library door.  Sapphire nodded and proceeded to unwrap the box. As she worked, her hands shook with the enormity of what her Mammow and Papaw had done for her.  

The cheesecloth slid away to reveal an intricately and ornately carved box covered in ancient glyphs from top to bottom. Both Sapphire and Alex gaped at the box for a time, unable to speak. It was, for lack of better words, beautiful. The Glyphs themselves were similar to both Egyptian Hieroglyphs and Meso-American Pictographs, yet distinctly different. The box itself appeared to be very, very old, yet well cared for. Rather ancient to be exact. Sapphire traced the glyphs reverently as she thought about this same box being passed down from generation to generation. Alex was amazed at how well preserved the box was. Truly the box itself was a great treasure. It was secured with a leather cord which Sapphire carefully untied, fearing it would break from sheer age alone. She was surprised to notice it was soft and pliable as if it was new which she figured it would have to be replaced after a while as even leather won’t last forever.

When she finished untying the leather cord, Sapphire reverently lifted the lid and gasped at what she saw. She was so startled she nearly dropped the beautiful box.  Several stacks of bills sat neatly atop an envelope addressed to her. She removed the money and with Alex’s help once he retrieved his jaw from the floor counted it. He whistled. “$50,000 dollars in cash!” She croaked, unable to believe her eyes.

“In cash.” Alex repeated as he glanced at her, hardly able to believe his own eyes. Sapphire quickly grabbed an envelope and filled it with the cash. She was now glad they’d locked up the house earlier. “Where in God’s name did her Mammow and Papaw get this kind of money and had they lost their minds hiding it in a box in a duffel? It could have been stolen or lost!” she thought as she desperately tried to compose herself. Once the cash was in the envelope, she glanced at Alex helplessly as she tried to figure out the best place to hide it for the time being.   

Alex grinned and guided her over to a wall of books where he pulled out this worn old book whose name couldn’t even be read. A swath of books still on their respective shelves slid aside revealing a safe. Alex put in the combination and opened the safe, then placed the envelope of money inside and relocked the safe. When he returned the book, the others slid back in place and there was no sign of the safe. It looked again like a regular library.

Sapphire shook her head, Alex had no end to his secrets she was certain of that. She then turned her attention to the letter. It was typed on a plain sheet of paper with the header, Estrim Family Law 42408 Stone Ave. suite 402 Westonville, MN. 55062. The letter itself read:

“Dear Miss Love,

I am addressing this letter to you for reasons you know and understand. You no doubt already know that my client's granddaughter lost her life recently. As she spoke so highly of you to her family, they agreed you would be the best person to trust with her secrets. Secrets that lie in the book beneath this letter. This is a grave responsibility since many lives count on these secrets being kept safe and remaining unknown to the world. If you do not find yourself capable of guarding these secrets you should either destroy the box and its contents or bury it so deep no one will find it. She stipulated that you should receive the $50,000 she had saved over time in her will as well as this box. Everything in this box is now your responsibility. However if anyone asks about these things, you would be wise to avoid any indication you even saw them or know what they are talking about if for no other reason to keep you safe. Please destroy this letter when you’ve finished reading it.

Sincerely,

Roger Estrim, Attorney at Law    

When Sapphire and Alex finished reading the letter they glanced at each other. “Well...that’s one way to keep up appearances.” Alex said hesitantly. 

“Mom always joked that my grandparents watched too much James Bond. Guess she was right”. Sapphire said with half a smile. Unable to think of anything else to say they turned their attention to the book. It was as old as the box with a leather cover, On it written in the Celestial Tongue was a title in gold letters. Was it gold filigree? Or did it just appear to be gold? It was hard to tell. Inside the pages were filled with flowing cursive words written in the Celestial tongue from what appeared to be the Celestial Syllabary to more complicated teachings including what appeared to be astronomy, Science, Math, and more. To Sapphire it seemed as if the book contained the knowledge of the entire world from the beginning of time. It had one note in the front of the book that read: This is a tome of Magick, of knowledge, of a race of people as old as time with powerful gifts. As the reader progresses through these pages more shall be added to continue the gathering of knowledge from one generation to the next. We know more than we realize. 

It too was written in the Celestial tongue and its meaning did not fall on deaf ears. Alex’s book had the same message in it. She glanced at Alex. “A-am I dreaming?” She stammered in shock.

Alex shook his head, “If you’re dreaming then so am I and it”s the same dream. Your Grandparents are amazing. They managed to get you your inheritance and a major family heirloom without so much as another soul suspecting a thing. It’s brilliant!”

Sapphire smiled although she had so much to process. ALex was right that what her grandparents did was just amazing, brilliant even. She never imagined this would happen, that they’d be able to accomplish something like this. She had accepted she’d never get her inheritance because of The Butcher and her subsequent disappearing act, yet here it is. Her Mammow and Papaw were sneaky gits. Then she laughed, really laughed for the first time in a long time. Their gift had one other meaning as well “You will never be forgotten. Always loved.”

Sapphire glanced at the clock. 5:30. Her stomach rumbled in protest. She had forgotten about lunch, and now she was starving. Another loud rumble had her glancing at a sheepish Alex. “Guess that’s our cue for food.” She laughed, “How’s Barbecued Ribs and Roast potatoes sound? The New Barbecue and picnic area is finished and I’ve been dying to try it out.”

“Sounds good.” Alex said practically drooling as they headed out the door. Sapphire had only taken a second to grab the letter. She could dispose of it and cook dinner, too. She had noticed how before she arrived here she could barely look at meat especially after what The Butcher had done. Since she arrived, however, Sapphire found she could eat meat with out feeling like gagging at every bite. Maybe she was finally healing. And then there were the nightmares, a nightly occurrence that dwindled to a couple times a week as of late. She couldn’t explain what the difference was, maybe she just felt safer here, and maybe she was beginning to truly heal. Whatever was happening was a good thing and she didn’t plan on questioning it.  She grabbed the ribs out of the fridge where she had set them to thaw that morning in seasonings and scrubbed the potatoes in the sink.

Meanwhile Alex lit the new barbecue. When Sapphire stepped outside with the ribs he glanced up. “This is an amazing barbecue. Where did you come up with the money for it?” He asked as he started loading the ribs and potatoes on the top of the line grill with burners for pots and an attachment for smoking meats should she and Alex choose to. 

Sapphire smiled, “Actually I’m making payments on this one. I saw it in the catalogue and it felt like it was saying, “I belong in your garden, order me!” So I bought it.” She explained. 

Alex frowned for a moment. “You could have asked me to help with the cost, you know. I should be helping with the repairs since I own this place.” He reminded her softly. 

Sapphire glanced his way, “I didn’t think about that. I just wanted to make this a place you’d enjoy.” She said, “Er, we’d enjoy.” she corrected when he looked at her with a frown.  

Alex shook his head, a smile lighting his eyes, “Well, next time you want to improve something and it’s a little expensive for your purse, share the bill. I don’t mind if it makes the house better.” 

“Alright.” Sapphire agreed not because he was telling her to, but because she felt it would be a good idea to get him involved in fixing up his home. She watched him glance around at the not quite finished garden. He seemed to be noting what needed work as of yet and figuring out the probable cost of the work. But what had her smiling was the look of joy on his face as he returned his gaze to the grill while he turned the ribs. She waited until he removed the food and then placed the letter into the grill and closed it while the paper burned.

“Disposing of the past?” He asked as they sat down to iced tea and dinner. 

“Yeah, it seemed like the best way.” she answered and then took a bite of the ribs. She moaned. The ribs were so good her mouth watered after every bite.Sapphire glance at Alex who looked like he was in paradise as he ate his ribs one slow bite after another. Half an hour later they finished dinner and cleaned up.

“Those were the best ribs I’ve ever tasted.” Alex commented. 

“Me too.” Sapphire agreed, “ Must’ve been the expert grilling that made them so good.”

“Nah, I’m an average at grilling, but I do know it takes talent to spice ribs just right and you got these just right.” Alex countered as they went back inside.

“Not my recipe. In fact it was my Mammow’s recipe. I, on the other hand, couldn't spice a burger without her recipe.” Sapphire shot back.

ALex grinned “Well, If I’m just the average griller and you need recipes to spice meats then lets just say it was a mutual cooperation. My grilling skills and your recipe that made those ribs so finger licking good.”

“My Mammaw's recipe.” Sapphire corrected with a grin, “And agreed.”  By that time they returned to the Library. Alex locked the door again and they both began studying from their Celestial manuscripts working together. The first few chapters were about reading and writing Celestial syllabary and text. Followed by several more chapters on  Celestial history. Sapphire studied and made notes of various things she needed to remember from the book, but after several hours of study her head was spinning and she had to stop. Alex on the other hand had fallen asleep while studying his book.Closing her book and notebook she locked them in her desk drawer. Lord he was handsome when he slept.  Then she walked over to Alex and disturbed him

“Hmm” He moaned and stirred.

“Alex,” she whispered, “It’s late. Let’s get some sleep, we can pick up tomorrow.”

Alex stretched and sat up a bemused look on his face, “Sorry, I must have fallen asleep.” he mumbled as he gathered his book and notebook. He locked them up and unlocked the library door. They both passed out on the cots they still had set up in the Library.