Free Paper Treasure by Anne Stephenson

would have been supremely embarrassing,” said Lisa with a giggle.
    “You’re telling me.”
    Lisa caught her breath. “You can’t retire yet.”
    Puzzled, Charlie looked at her under the street light.
    “The key,” said Lisa. “You’ve got to return it.”
    Charlie pulled the key from his pocket. “Two choices…either we go back to the motel and hand it in, or we toss it in the mailbox.”
    The key felt heavy in his hand.
    “On second thought, let’s hang on to it…we can always return it later….”
     

Chapter Ten
    The Final Clue
     
    “Where’s your girlfriend?” demanded Weirdo. “She dump you?”
    “No, she didn’t dump me.” Charlie entered the room and tossed his sweatshirt on Weirdo’s bed. “As a matter of fact, she’s gone to The Colville Times .”
    “What for?”
    “Remember the papers I told you we found in Reid’s room last night?”
    “I sure do.”
    “Lisa’s going to check the back issues of the Northern Miner for any mention of Mattlin Mining. My mother threw out Grampa’s old copies and I think that’s where he first got the idea…and that’s why he was coming to see you…” Charlie’s voice trailed away.
    Weirdo was going strange on him. He was sitting in his chair by the window grinning from ear to ear like he’d just won the lottery.
    “What’s with you?” Charlie demanded.
    “I thought you’d never ask.” Weirdo actually chuckled, his weathered face filled with glee.
    “What?”
    “After you called this morning,” said Weirdo, “I did a little digging of my own.” He cleared his throat.
    “And?” prompted Charlie.
    “And…” Weirdo paused for an imaginary drum roll. “Mattlin Mining is trading for $20 a share.
    “Twenty dollars a share?” Charlie’s mouth dropped open. “The company offered Reid one hundred shares of Mattlin for every five shares of Treasure Creek!” No wonder Weirdo was giddy. “You’ve got five thousand shares. That’s…$2,000,000!”
    “I know,” beamed Weirdo. “I know.” His head bobbed up and down like a wrinkled old apple. “You’ve got to find those shares of your grampa’s, kid.”
    Charlie closed his eyes. What if Reid already had them? Even worse, what if his grandfather had thrown them out? No, he couldn’t have, otherwise he wouldn’t have had Mrs. Kowalski witness his signature.
    There was a rap on the door, and Lisa poked her head inside. “Here you are. The nurse told me you were in the sunroom.”
    Charlie half-heartedly raised his hand in greeting.
    Lisa checked the corridor, then closed the door behind her. “Listen to this.” She waved a handful of notes at them and launched right into her report.
    “About six months ago, the big mining companies started buying up abandoned mines in Northern Ontario. Treasure Creek is right smack in the idle of the biggest gold rush Northern Ontario has seen in years.”
    “Well,” she demanded, “aren’t you two going to say anything? A little praise, maybe?”
    Weirdo just kept smiling and bobbing his head.
    Charlie was sitting on the edge of the bed looking extremely depressed.
    “Did I miss something?” asked Lisa.
    “Uh, huh. About two million dollars’ worth,” croaked Charlie.
    “What?”
    “Each partner in Treasure Creek has shares worth $2,000,000 in Mattlin Mining stock.”
    “Holy smokes,” said Lisa. “I feel weak.” She plunked herself down in the guest chair. “What are you going to do?”
    “I don’t know,” said Charlie.
    “He’s going to protect what’s rightfully his,” declared Weirdo. He gripped the wheels of his chair and moved to within spitting distance of Charlie’s face. “Where’s your gumption, lad?”
    “Down the toilet.”
    “Well, fish it out. Don’t you want your family’s share?”
    “Of course I do.”
    “Then, think. We’ve got to get the goods on this guy Reid before that deadline Monday night.”
    Weirdo drummed his bony fingers on the arm of his chair. “Even if you don’t have the