Lost Contact (The Bridge Sequence Book One) Nathan Hystad (the reading list book .txt) 📖

“What’s in the box?” My vision blurred, white spots dancing around my periphery. Hunter’s living room had soft leather furniture, and I stumbled toward the rear of the couch.

“He sent it to me, Rex. He loved me and wanted to offer something from his last dig. That’s what I thought all these years.”

“Why didn’t you tell us you had this? Where was it postmarked from?” I asked.

“Paris, which didn’t make sense. Until tonight.”

It did to me. Luis would have mailed the Token to Beverly from one of the drops he was sent on. But the main question was why he’d couriered it in the first place.

I plucked at the ribbon, untying it. The paper came off in a hurry, with no thoughts of salvaging the wrapping as our mother used to do. The wooden box was stylish, dark and hearty, which reminded me of the African blackwood in Hunter’s study. I hadn’t noticed the others piling around, and when I peered up, the entire team was there, waiting from a few steps away. Veronica had tears in her eyes, but Tripp only crossed his arms, jaw clenched. Marcus was smiling, his fist near his chest in anticipation.

The lid was hinged, and I lifted it open. The sixth Token was inside, and I made a noise, a mixture of agony and unabashed joy.

“I kept it with me for the first year, in my backpack, under my pillow, hoping it would connect me to Dad. But after a while, I started to forget him. What he looked like, his smell, the roughness of his palms as he held my hand taking me to the playground. And just like any young girl, I forgot about the gift. I stowed it away in my closet, under piles of dolls, toy oven accessories, and eventually teen magazines and make-up cases.

“When I saw you at Thanksgiving, so adamant on finding his trail again, it made me think of what he’d sent me thirty-five years ago. And I had the box made up with the intention of giving it to you on Christmas morning. I imagined your delight at obtaining it, a connection to Dirk Walker. And then you told me you couldn’t join us. Richard’s texts, and the college president’s calls…”

“What did you say?” I stared at the Token. The symbol was familiar, drawn in the borders of my dad’s journals. It looked like a tree on fire, with the leaves each a flame. “Jessica?”

“She called me a couple of times, asking after you. I think she got your number from Richard, but…”

I had the entire collection of Tokens. “What did she say?”

“She was wondering if I knew where you’d gone. She had some things to discuss, but you weren’t answering her texts, calls, or emails, and she was beginning to worry.”

That didn’t matter. Only the Token she’d given me was important.

“Rex, we did it.” Marcus bumped shoulders with me, and I let him pick up the final Token.

It couldn’t be real. None of it. The last few weeks had been a dream. Hunter was dead, and we were so close. But we still lacked the exact location of the Bridge’s cavern.

“Where’s the information Hunter left us?” I asked.

Tripp nodded toward the hallway. “In the study.”

“Good.” I took the Token from Marcus’ palm and added it to the pile of five. A spark carried through my body, making my toes and fingertips tingle, but it could have been the minor frostbite reminding me of the cold I’d endured a couple days prior.

“There’s something else,” Veronica said. She departed from the room, and returned with Hardy’s journal in her hands. She passed it to me, and I studied the pages. It had been written in the Believers’ alien language, and Hunter had begun to decipher it. There were notes in the corners, sections highlighted and transcribed.

“Did you read it?” I asked.

“Haven’t had an opportunity. We just remembered it,” she said defensively.

“This changes everything, doesn’t it?” Tripp walked closer, and I handed the journal to him.

“We stick to the plan. Head to Portugal, as he suggested. We’ll make our base at his property there and see if we can find the coordinates for this cavern. Estrelas.” I whispered the last word.

“What are you doing?” Marcus asked. “You have that gleam in your eyes.”

“I’m going to see an old friend.” I had my jacket on, and I hesitantly passed Marcus the Tokens. “Watch these for me.”

“You’re not leaving alone,” Tripp said, reaching for his own jacket near the exit.

I stopped him from putting it on. “No way. You’re staying with my sister and her family. Richard’s my friend.” I questioned my trust in the man, with his recent actions. Sending Beverly cryptic messages saying he could help me. If he knew anything in regard to my father’s disappearance, why had he never shared the details with me before?

“I’ll join you,” Veronica said, and she was out the door faster than I could deny her. To be honest, it was a relief.

“Don’t go unarmed,” Tripp said, and I nodded, knowing there was a gun under my seat in the rental. He tossed me my keys from the island, and I glanced at Beverly.

There was one more thing I had to know. “Did the Token come with a note?”

Bev wiped away her tears and smiled at my question. “I’ll never forget it. Be the light that shines like a star. I love you, Beverly Jane Walker.”

The words from my father echoed in my head. “He adored you,” I told her, and turned to Tripp. “Find out what the journal says, and whatever breadcrumbs Madison left behind. I want to be off first thing in the morning.”

Marcus nodded to me, and I glanced at the stack of Tokens in his grip. I hated to leave them but didn’t want to risk bringing the entire collection into the open.

“Who is this guy?” Veronica asked as we climbed into the rental.

“A friend of my dad’s. He’s been… a mentor to me,” I said, and