Arcadias was struck by surrealism. He had a houseful of hostages tied up inside, and outside a crooked policeman talked to him in a conversational tone, oblivious to a giant moth flying kamikaze missions near his head. The moth was attracted to an overhead security light. It flew drunkenly, crashing into the bulb and ceiling. This night is too bizarre even for a Twilight Zone episode, Arcadias thought.

“I’m waiting for a reply, Arcadias.”

“The doorbell rang and Iris answered the door. When she did the old man barged his way in. And then later the doorbell rang again and Damien answered it. He and the lawyer talked, and in the course of talking the lawyer saw Damien’s gun. Damien thought it wise to not let him go.”

“There is a lawyer here too?”

Arcadias nodded. “The Rafters are adopting a child. The lawyer brought a document over for them to sign. It’s a fluke thing he came here tonight, same way with the old man.”

Barrett placed his hands on his hips. “You said this would be easy. The treasure was simply waiting for you to recover it. And now you have hostages.”

“Look, Josiah, I feel your disappointment. This expedition has become an ordeal, an exasperating trial. But I will find the treasure. We’ve unearthed evidence that proves the treasure is here. I just need more time. And that’s where you come in. Report back in and say the old man is safe and sound and headed back to his house. No one knows what is going on inside this house but you. Everything can still work out. You’ll get your share.”

Barrett’s face grew red. “All you initially asked me to do was to take any calls this side of town and run interference. But now you’re asking much more, Arcadias. You’re asking me to look the other way, to ignore the fact you’re holding several hostages. The stakes are so much higher now. I don’t think I want any part of this.”

“I need you, Josiah. Without you we’ll never pull this off.”

“You’re asking too much. The situation has gotten out of hand. Even I have scruples.”

Arcadias cocked his head. “Since when did you acquire principles?” He’d known Josiah Barrett for a long time. They graduated high school together, and had kept in touch off and on through the years. If Arcadias knew one thing about Barrett, it was that there wasn’t an honest cell in his plump body.

“Look, I’ve been a bad cop throughout my career. I’ve taken numerous bribes over the years to look the other way. But this crime you’re committing is so much more serious. I’m walking away and washing my hands. You are on your own, Arcadias. Good luck on finding the treasure. If you do find it you can keep my share,” Barrett said. He turned and headed for the steps.

“You can’t just pretend this night never happened, Josiah,” Arcadias said gently, his right hand finding his Glock 19. His fingers wrapped around the grip. He racked the slide.

“I’ll give you two more hours to find your gold and clear out. And then I’m bringing the heat,” Barrett said over his shoulder as he reached the first step.

Arcadias followed after Barrett. “I can’t let you go, Josiah.”

Officer Barrett stopped in his tracks and turned around. He looked at the Glock in Arcadias’s hand. “So you’re going to shoot me? That would be a stupid move. The feds and every police department in the nation would mobilize to hunt you down. You wouldn’t stand a chance, Arcadias. Now be a smart guy and take my offer. It’s the best you’re going to get.” Barrett turned and started down the steps.

Arcadias pulled the trigger. The Glock roared over and over and over again. Josiah Barrett’s body crumpled, pitching headfirst down the steps, coming to a rest in a bloody heap.

His body numb and hands shaking, Arcadias reentered the house. He shuffled into the parlor, still holding the Glock in his right hand, its smoking muzzle warm from shooting three rounds into Josiah Barrett’s back and side.

He felt their eyes, accusing and judgmental, fearfully track his every move. No one said anything, wary of the Glock and the death residing in its clip. Arcadias stopped in the middle of the parlor. He stood on rubbery legs, his stomach queasy.

Complete and utter silence rested heavy on the room. But then the silence exploded. A German cuckoo clock hanging on the wall came to life. A door opened on the clock and the bird flew out, its loud and annoying call deafening compared to the prior silence.

Arcadias looked at the cuckoo bird. Maybe I’m losing it. Maybe I’m as crazy as the cuckoo bird.

The cuckoo bird went back inside its compartment. The antique clock gonged loudly, signaling the ten pm hour. And all fell silent once more.

Chapter 32

When he heard the gunshots, Rafter’s worst fears sprang to life.

It took only an instant for Arcadias to plunge a little deeper into madness, diving headlong into an angry world where violence swallows up reason and civility. Fueled by desperation and fear, Arcadias shot and killed a cop.

And if he shoots a policeman, he’ll shoot us too, Rafter thought.

Damien looked at his brother in stunned disbelief. “Did you just do what I think you did? Did you just kill a cop, Arcadias?”

“It was Josiah. And he wanted out. If I had let him go he would’ve radioed for help,” Arcadias said in a soft and distant voice.

Damien shoved his hand into a jean pocket and pulled out his truck keys. “We need to cut our losses and leave now. Forget about the treasure, Arcadias. It’s not in the cards. If we leave now we might make it to Mexico before dawn.”

“No! We’re almost there. The treasure is right under our noses.”

Ned sat up in his chair a little straighter. “I’ve seen a lot of stupid people in my time, but you just may be the dumbest, Arcadias,” he said.

Arcadias looked at Damien. “Do you have any duct tape in your tool bucket?”

Damien nodded.

“Good, I’m going to shut this old man up. I’m tired of his mouth.”

“You don’t need to do that, Arcadias,” Rafter said calmly. “Ned will be quiet from here on out, won’t you Ned?”

Ned shrugged and glared at Arcadias. “I guess I’ve said enough. He knows what I think of him.”

“Okay, but one more word out of you and I’m taping your mouth. Got it?”

Ned stared at the floor and said nothing.

Arcadias stalked over to Ned. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t hear your answer.”

Ned looked up and grinned, showing a mouthful of coffee-stained dentures. “What is it you want? First you say ‘not another word’ and now you want me talk. Make up your mind,” Ned said.

Rafter studied Arcadias closely. The ex-history professor seemed to grow more unstable with each passing minute. And Ned seemed intent on pushing Arcadias completely over the edge. “He won’t be a problem anymore, Arcadias. I’ll take responsibility for him.”

Arcadias looked at Rafter; his ash-colored eyes fumed. Rage encompassed him like an ill-fitting suit. Fury leached out his every pore.

“Take a deep breath, Arcadias. Don’t make this any worse than it is. You’ve committed enough crimes for one evening. Do what you came here for and leave. Don’t harm anyone else,” Rafter said.

“You’re one to talk, Rafter. You shot an arrow into Colette and now you’re preaching to me about committing crimes?”

Keith Jepson snorted. “I’m sure Jon shot the bow in self-defense. Which as the homeowner, he has the right to do so. Louisiana is a Stand Your Ground state. Jon doesn’t have the duty to retreat before protecting himself from an intruder. He has the right to use deadly force.”

“We’re not intruders. We paid for all the rooms. We’re guests,” Arcadias argued.

“Some guest you are, Arcadias. You’ll have four kidnapping charges and a capital murder charge hanging over you. You’re going to be a guest on death row before long,” Annie said, piping in.