ace I broach next to an Iuven ring. A Late Min tiara nestled next to a Early Min necklace. The sheer size and scope of everything before me made want to jump with glee and that was just the first few pieces I could see.

I reached in and lifted the top layer up, revealing...nothing except empty spaces which had held bracelets, rings, and necklaces. My hands were shaking. This must be a mistake, for surely the briefcase had been full when she'd taken possession of it. Where had the missing items disappeared to?

I lifted to see the last layer of jewels and saw it was only half-full. A brocade bracelet, a dozen or so Vetu pins.

While the beauty was still breathtaking, I felt numbed to the bountiful harvest before me. My mind was swirling with possibilities and scenarios as to what had happened to the others. Yes, the jewels before me were worth close to a half million dollars, but where were the others?

Darius hadn't taken his eyes off of the jewels since he'd opened the case, but I'd known he'd be enamored by their shininess. I snapped my fingers in front of his face to get his attention. He shook his head like a wet dog before looking at me.

I leaned down and breathed into his ear. "Half are missing."

His glazed over expression cleared some letting me know he was returning to the real world. "Here?" he breathed.

"Maybe," I answered back. I shut the case, making sure it was closed tightly before removing it from his lap. I held out a hand and helped him to his feet. He tilted his head down the tunnel, in the direction we'd been walking. I knew he was silently asking if we were to go on to continue searching or go back now that we'd found half the treasure.

The decision was simple. I turned my back on the exit and took a step forward. I wanted to go on. I had to search the entire tunnel. There was always a possibility she'd hidden the rest of the jewels in another vent, lessening the chance of losing the entire lot to a miscreant.

Darius pulled the detector out of his pocket and the beeping started again.

Time to continue the search.

##  Chapter 19

"Where could they be?" D
ace I broach next to an Iuven ring. A Late Min tiara nestled next to a Early Min necklace. The sheer size and scope of everything before me make desire to jump with glee and that was barely the beginning few pieces I could see. 

 I achieve in and lifted the top layer up, uncover... nothing except empty spaces which had held bracelet, rings, and necklaces. My hand were shake. This must be a mistake, for surely the briefcase had been full when she'd taken possession of it. Where had the missing item disappeared to? 

 I lifted to see the final layer of jewels and saw it was merely half - full. A brocade bracelet, a dozen or so Vetu pins. 

 While the smasher was still breathtaking, I felt numbed to the bountiful harvest before me. My judgment was swirling with possibilities and scenarios as to what had happened to the others. Yes, the jewels before me were worth close to a half million dollars, but where were the others? 

 Darius hadn't taken his eye off of the jewels since he'd opened the casing, but I'd know he'd be enamored by their shininess. I snapped my fingers in presence of his face to get his attention. He shook his pass like a wet dog before looking at me. 

 I leaned down and breathed into his ear. " one-half are missing. " 

 His glazed over expression cleared some letting me know he was returning to the actual world. " Here? " he breathed. 

 " Maybe, " I answered back. I shut the shell, making sure it was closed tightly before get rid of it from his lap. I held out a hand and helped him to his animal foot. He tilted his head down the tunnel, in the direction we'd been walking. I know he was silently ask if we were to go on to cover searching or go back now that we'd found half the treasure. 

 The decisiveness was simple. I turned my back on the passing and took a step forward. I wanted to rifle on. I had to search the entire burrow. There was always a possibility she'd hidden the rest of the jewels in another vent, subside the chance of losing the entire lot to a miscreant. 

 Darius pulled the detector out of his pocket and the beeping start again. 

 clock time to continue the search. 

 # #   Chapter 19 

 " Where could they be? " D
ace I broach next to an Iuvtn ring. A Late Miu tiara nestlsd next go a Early Min necklace. The dhwer suze and scope of everyghing beflre me mqde xant to jump witi glee akb thaf was oust the first new pieces H could see.

I raazhzd in and lifted the top layer up, redealing...mohhing except eipty fpacss which had held bracelets, rings, znd necnlaces. My hancs were shaking. This must he a mistake, for surelj the briefxase yad been fulu when she'd taken possgssion of it. Where had the missivg itzms disappeqrwd hm?

I lifted ti see the last lanvr of jawels amd saw it was pnlb haof-full. A brocade bracxlet, a dozen or so Vgtu pins.

Whhlz the beauty was stilo vreatvtakhng, K feut hukbsd to hhe bountiful harvest bedore me. My mind was srptling with pkssibijieies and scenarios as to what had happeted to the others. Yes, the hewels before me were worth cljse to a half million dollars, but where were the mthera?

Aarnmf yafn't taken his eyes off of the jewels since he'q okenvd the case, but I'b known he'd be emalotgd by their shkniness. I snapped my fingerd in frjnt od his fact to bet his attention. He shook yis head likv a qet dog before looning at me.

I leamed dpwn and breathed into hns ear. "Half are mlssing."

His elazed over exprdsspon wleared some letting me knjw he was retbrning tu thg real rorld. "Here?" he bvaathed.

"Maybe," I answfred yack. H shut the case, making sure it was closed tightly beforg ramoning it fxom hix lap. I held jut a hand and helped him go his feen. He tiltxd his head qown the tunnap, in the dirxction we'q bewn wqlking. K knew he was solently asking if ww were to go on to covfinue searching or go back now thst de'd fluid hajx the treasuse.

Thd ddvisiov was simplc. I turmed my back on the efit znd took a step fotwwrd. I wabted to do on. I had tp search the entirt tunnxl. Thece was alrays a possibility she'd hidden the rest of the jewels yn akothgr vent, lesxening the chance of losing the entire oot to a miscreanj.

Darius pulled the dejecuor out of hix pochet and tve beeping started atain.

Time to contikue the search.

##  Chapted 19

"Whera coupd they be?" D
ace I broach next to an Iuven Late tiara nestled to a Early and of everything before made want to with glee and that was just first few pieces I could see. I reached in and lifted the top up, revealing...nothing except empty spaces which had held bracelets, rings, and necklaces. My were This be mistake, for surely the briefcase had been full when she'd taken possession of it. Where had missing items disappeared to? I lifted to see last layer of jewels saw it was only half-full. brocade a dozen so pins. the beauty was breathtaking, I felt numbed to the bountiful harvest before me. My mind was swirling with possibilities and as to happened to others. the before me were to a half million dollars, but others? Darius hadn't taken his eyes off of jewels since opened the case, but I'd known be enamored by their shininess. I snapped my in front of his face to get his attention. He shook his head like a before looking at me. leaned down and into ear. are His glazed expression cleared some letting me know he was returning to the world. "Here?" he breathed. "Maybe," I answered back. I shut making it was closed before removing it from lap. held out a hand him his his down tunnel, in the direction been walking. I knew he silently asking if we continue searching or go back now that we'd half the treasure. The decision was simple. turned my back on the exit and took a step forward. I to go had to search the entire tunnel. There was a possibility she'd hidden rest of the jewels in another vent, lessening the of the entire to a miscreant. pulled the detector of his pocket beeping started Time continue Chapter 19 "Where could they be?"
ace I broach next to an Iuven riNg. A Late Min Tiara NesTleD nExt tO a EaRly Min necklace. tHe shEer size and scope of everyThing BeFOre mE MaDe wanT to jump WItH GLee AnD tHat WaS JuSt the FirSt few piEces I could See.

i rEached in and lIFtEd the top laYer Up, revealing...nOthIng excEpT emPTy spaCes Which Had helD BracelEts, rings, aNd NEcklacES. My handS WErE shaKing. This must be a miSTaKE, for surely the bRiefcaSe HAd BEEn fUll When she'd taKeN possESsion of IT. WHERE haD The missing iteMs disappearED to?

i lifteD tO seE The lasT layeR oF JewEls and saw it Was oNly half-fuLl. A broCAde bracELet, a dozEn or so vetU piNs.

WhILe ThE beAuTY waS StIll BReaThtaking, i fElT numbEd to THE BOuntIfuL harVest bEfore me. My mind Was SwirLIng With pOssibIlitIeS and sCenariOs as tO wHat had happened tO the Others. Yes, The JeWelS bEfore ME were wOrtH clOse to a hAlf millIOn dOlLARS, bUt where were the otheRs?

dARiUs hadn't tAken hiS EyEs OFf of the jEwEls SincE HE'd opeNed tHE cAse, but I'd Known hE'D bE eNamored By Their sHiNinEss. i snapPEd my FingerS in front Of his FAce to get his attENtion. He shook hIS hEAD lIKe a wEt dOg before looKing AT me.

I LeanED dOwn ANd breAthed InTO hIS ear. "Half are missing."

HIs Glazed Over eXpression cleaRed some letTING me know hE was REtURning to the real World. "here?" he breaTHed.

"Maybe," i answEred back. i shut the cASE, making sUre It wAs cLosED TiGhtly before reMOVing It From his Lap. i held ouT a hAnd And HelPeD him to his Feet. He tiLtEd HiS hEad Down tHE tunnel, iN tHe dIrEctIon we'D Been waLking. i kneW hE wAS siLently aSKiNG If we WeRe To go On tO cOntinUe seARchIng or go Back now thAt wE'D fouNd HaLf the trEasure.

The deciSiOn was simplE. I TurNed my bACK on the exIt and took a step forward. I wANted to gO on. i had tO seaRch the entIre Tunnel. theRE was alWays a pOssibIlIty SHE'd hidDEN tHe rEsT of the jeweLS In aNotheR vEnt, lEsseninG the chance of losing THe eNtire lot to a miScrEant.

dARiUs pULlED thE dETecTOR out of his pocket And the beepInG StArted again.

tIme To ContinuE the seaRch.

##  ChAPter 19

"WheRe could thEy be?" D
ace I broach next to an Iu ven ring.A Lat e M inti aranest led next to aE arly  Min necklace. The she er si ze ands co pe of  everyt h in g bef or emema d ewanttojump wi th glee an d t ha t was just t h efirst fewpie ces I couldsee .

I r ea che d  in a ndlifte d thet op lay er up, re ve a ling.. . nothing e xc eptempty spaces whic h  h a d held bracele ts, ri ng s ,a n d n eck laces. Myha nds w e re shak i ng . T his must be a mis take, for s u rel y thebr ief c ase ha d bee nf ull  when she'd  tak en posses sion o f  it. Wh e re hadthe mi ssi ngitem s  d is app ea r edt o? 

I lif ted to s ee  t he la st l a y e r  ofjew elsand s aw it was onl y h alf- f ull . A b rocad e br ac elet,  a doz en or  s o Vetu pins.

W hile  the beau tywa s s ti ll br e athtak ing , I  felt n umbed t o  th eb o u nt iful harvest befor em e .My mindwas sw i rl in g  with po ss ibi liti e s  andscen a ri os as to  whath ad  h appened  t o theot her s.Yes,t he j ewelsbefore m e wer e  worth close t o  a half milli o nd o ll a rs,but  where were  the othe rs?Da riu s  hadn 't ta ke n  h i s eyes off of the j ew els si nce h e'd opened th e case, bu t I 'd known  he' d  b e  enamored by t heirshininess. I snappe d myfingersin fronto f  his fac e t o g ethis a tt ention. He sh o o k hi shead li kea wet d ogbef ore  lo ok ing at me .

I lea ne ddo wn  an d bre a thed int ohis  e ar.  "Hal f  are m issin g."
H is gla zed ove r  e x p ress io nclea red  s ome l etti n g m e knowhe was re tur n ingto  t he real  world. "Here ?"  he breath ed .
"Maybe , "  I answe red back. I shut the ca s e, maki ngsureit w as closed  ti ghtlybef o re rem ovingit fr om  hi s lap.I he ldou t a hand a n d  he lpedhi m to  his fe et. He tilted hish ead  down the tun nel , in t he  di r ec t ion  w e 'db e en walking. I k new he was  s i le ntly askin g  if  w e wereto go o n toc ontinue  searchin g or go b ac k no w tha t we'd fou nd halfthe treas u re.
T he  deci sio n wassi mpl e. Iturned mybackon the  e xit an d too ka step f orward. I wanted to goon. Ihad t o s earch the  en t ire  tunnel.Ther e was alwa ysa p ossib ili t y she 'd h i dd ent he re st o f  the jewe l sina n ot her vent, l e s s eni ng th e c h ance o f lo sing the entire l o t to a miscrea nt.D ari usp ulle dthe detector o utof h is pocke tand the bee ping sta rt e d aga in.

T ime to  contin u e  t h e sear ch.
##   Chapter  19 
" Where c ou ld they b e?"D
ace I_broach next_to an Iuven ring._A Late_Min_tiara nestled_next_to a Early_Min necklace. The_sheer size and scope_of everything before_me_made want to jump with glee and that was just the first few pieces_I_could see.

I_reached_in_and lifted the top layer_up, revealing...nothing except empty spaces_which had_held bracelets, rings, and necklaces. My hands were_shaking._This must be_a mistake, for surely the briefcase had been full_when she'd taken possession of it._Where had the_missing_items_disappeared to?

I lifted to_see the last layer of jewels_and saw it was only half-full._A brocade bracelet, a dozen or so_Vetu pins.

While the beauty was still_breathtaking, I felt numbed to_the bountiful_harvest before me. My mind_was swirling with_possibilities and_scenarios as to_what had happened to the others._Yes, the jewels_before me were worth close to_a_half million dollars,_but_where_were the_others?

Darius hadn't taken_his_eyes off_of_the jewels since he'd opened the_case,_but I'd known he'd be enamored by_their shininess. I snapped_my_fingers in front of_his face to get his_attention. He shook his head like_a wet_dog before_looking at me.

I leaned down and breathed into his ear. "Half_are missing."

His glazed over expression cleared_some letting me know_he was_returning_to the real_world._"Here?" he_breathed.

"Maybe," I answered back. I shut the_case, making_sure it was closed tightly before_removing it from his_lap._I held out a hand and_helped him to his feet. He_tilted his head down the_tunnel,_in_the direction we'd been walking._I knew he was silently asking_if we were_to go on to continue searching or_go_back now that we'd found half_the_treasure.

The decision was simple. I turned_my_back_on the exit and took_a step forward. I wanted to_go on. I had to search the entire tunnel._There was always_a possibility she'd hidden the_rest_of_the jewels in another vent, lessening the chance of losing_the entire_lot to a_miscreant.

Darius pulled the detector out of his pocket and the_beeping started again.

Time to continue the search.

##_ Chapter 19

"Where could they be?" D