Free Legend of the Book Keeper by Daniel Blackaby Page A

know. Nothing is making sense. But it doesn’t matter; I think we’ve lost him. Let’s get inside somewhere before we’re seen again.” They turned to enter the hotel directly in front of them. Cody glanced up to see the large flashing sign above the doorway. It read: Treasure Island Hotel. Cody grinned.
    Dunstan would be pleased.

A Mystery Solved
     
    U nmoving, Jade stared down at the hectic city street; the sea of lights extended far into the distance from her fifteenth floor window. She breathed slowly and intentionally, still trying to calm her racing heart. They had waited for several minutes in the lobby as a precautionary measure, but eventually felt confident they had lost their mystery pursuer.
    Cody sprawled out on one of the two single beds and greedily unwrapped a granola bar. “Hey, Jade, heads up.” She reached up and snatched the flying granola bar that Cody had propelled her way. “When’s the last time we had a bite to eat?” An answer came in the form of her growling stomach. Ripping open the wrapping she stuffed a large bite into her mouth.
    Cody ungracefully crammed in his third granola bar, chocolate chips spraying out like debris from a volcanic eruption. “So, what . . . do you . . . figure we . . . should do . . . next?” he mumbled between bites.
    Jade pulled out the ruby pocket watch and set it on the desk. As it had before, the short red hand still pointed up at eleven-forty. Snapping the bli nds closed to ensure their privacy, she walked over to her own bed and plopped down, sinking into the blankets, “Well, what do we know so far?” She began in a diplomatic tone, “First off, whatever this pocket watch is, it obviously wants us to head north. To where? I’m not sure. Then there’s the issue with our British friend, Dunstan. Perhaps he simply was a jolly, lonely old man. But my gut tells me that there was more to his visit than meets the eye. I don’t think its coincidence that he shows up in Havenwood on the very day that the city experiences its first murder in decades. Speaking of which, that brings us to Wesley’s riddle, which I am sure is the key to of all this.”
    Cody sat up. “Don’t forget the gigantic demon-pig creature that tried to bite your face off.” They both involuntarily shuddered. Where was the creature now? Was it still hunting them? Was it close? Cody laid Wesley’s letter beside the pocket watch. Somehow the two objects were interconnected, but neither knew how.
    “Well, now that we are safe from any strange British interruptions, maybe you should try reading the letter out loud again. It can’t hurt.” Cody was depleted of hope, but couldn’t think of a better alternative, so he began reading the riddle slowly:
Fifty-three, less four, until the rite does write, Iron décor, future war, hides passage out of sight, Deep contrite, prevents invite, now precious yore, Must leave Tonight.
     
    As he finished, he looked up to Jade, his face defeated. Her deep green eyes were an inferno. She ran her hand through her thick black hair. “It can’t be . . . ” her voice trailed off, deep in thought.
    “What can’t be? What are you talking about Jade?” he questioned. Jade looked up, a wide smile on her face. “It’s been in front of us the whole time . . . Dunstan was right . . . ”
    Cody couldn’t contain himself any longer; he grabbed Jade with both his arms and gave her a shake. “Dunstan was right about what? Snap out of it, girl! What are you going on about?”
    Jade grabbed Cody’s arms on her shoulders and looked up at him. “The riddle, the clues. It all makes perfect sense. Dunstan was right; he said we have to step back and look at what wasn’t obvious, and by doing so, that’s what would become obvious. It’s worked! It’s so obvious now.” She was shivering as she did whenever she was consumed with excitement. “I’ve just figured out the location of the passage way.”

     
    The front desk receptionist at the Treasure