James Alden decided they would eat dinner that night in the kitchen rather than on the front porch, where they might be seen.
As they all quietly ate their meals, Tom read the latest article about John Finneyâs treasure in a paper called the Atlantic Informer. The picture of Benny that Meredith Baker had taken on the beach was still the only one the newspapers had, so they kept running it over and over again.
âSays here John Finneyâs treasure is probably worth more than ten million dollars,â he announced. He stroked his chin and added, âI wonder who made up that number?â
Violet, who was looking down at another paper while cutting her steak, said, âThis one says itâs worth only four million.â
âMine says six,â Benny chimed in through a mouthful of mashed potatoes.
âMine says six, too,â Jessie added. Her newspaper was the same one that ran the first story and picture a few days before.
Tom said, âMaybe it is six.â
Henry shook his head. âI donât know. This one here says twelve.â
Tom whistled. âWow, twelve million dollars. Thatâs quite a high price to put on a treasure no oneâs even seen in nearly two hundred years.â
All the wild stories surrounding the map and the treasure had become so silly that neither Tom nor the Aldens could take them seriously anymore.
âHey, Benny, according to this story, youâre eleven,â Violet said, giggling. âI didnât know you were older than me!â
Grandfather said in a grumpy voice, âAnd the Atlantic Informer thinks youâre from California.â
âThe next one will say Iâm from Mars!â Benny told them, and everyone, including Grandfather, broke out into laughter.
When things settled down, Grandfather said, âWe really will have to do something soon, before the situation gets any worse.â
âLike what?â Henry asked.
âLike either you try to find the treasure or you let Winston Walker have the last piece of the map,â suggested Grandfather.
âI . . . I donât like that second idea,â Benny said.
âI donât, either,â said Jessie. Violet and Henry nodded in agreement.
âThen youâve got to find the treasure without that missing piece,â said Grandfather. âAnd thatâs not going to be very eââ
The front doorbell rang. Tom got up to answer it. He knew it couldnât be one of the guests because they all had keys.
The man Tom found on his front porch was so tall and muscular that he almost looked like a giant. A tiny blue knapsack was slung over his shoulder.
âCan I help you?â Tom asked.
âIs this the house where the boy who found the old bottle is staying?â the man asked.
âCan I ask what your interest in the boy is?â Tom wanted to know.
âMy nameâs Jack Ford. I used to work for Winston Walker,â said the man. âI was with him in Brazil when he found the third piece of the map. I have a feeling youâd like to know what it looks like.â
Tom just stood there, speechless. Then he invited Jack Ford inside.
They all went into Tomâs study. Jack sat in the comfortable chair by the fireplace, his knapsack lying beside him like a sleeping dog.
âFirst of all, you should know that Winston Walker is a bit crazy. Heâs obsessed with that treasure,â Jack began.
âObsessed?â Benny repeated, not sure what the word meant.
âHe thinks about it all the time,â Jack said, pointing to his own head. âItâs like the only thing in the world that he cares about.â
âOh . . . yeah,â Benny said. âWe already noticed that. â
âWhy were you in Brazil with him?â Henry asked.
âI was a digger, which means I was good with a shovel,â said Jack. âIâd been all around the world doing that kind of work. But working for Winston
Learning to Kill: Stories