The B Girls

Aftermath





"You'll need to make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon," the ER doctor said as he smoothed the last of the ace bandage into place. "This arm will probably require surgery." He wrote something on a prescription pad and handed the sheet to Jane. "No driving. And if I may offer a suggestion, no more caving without a guide." He looked around to include Lucy and Mae in this last instruction.

"Don't worry I think our Indiana Jones days are over," Jane said.

"You're good to go," he said.

Jane thanked him and he left the three of them alone.

They were all wearing scrubs generously donated by the hospital after having their scrapes, cuts, gunshots and broken limbs seen to.

The tally wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Jane's arm was the worst of it.

Lucy's wound was superficial and Mae escaped with a few bruises and scrapes.

"So?" Jane said. "Did you get it? Did Leonard give you the jar?"

Lucy held up the jar. "Unopened. Ready to go upstairs to Belle's room to see what we have?"

"The ranger just handed it over?" Jane was beyond shocked. She would have sworn he'd make them hire lawyers and jump through hundreds of hoops to get the documents.

"He doesn't know," Lucy said. "I found it in Dawson's SUV before the cavalry arrived. But I doubt Ranger Leonard will have the nerve to give us any trouble."

"After Dawson admitted what he'd done," Mae said.

"Let's get upstairs before we get into details," Lucy said. "Belle's waiting on us."

"Is she okay?" Jane asked.

Lucy nodded. "Dehydrated and tired. They're keeping her overnight but she should be fine."



###



Belle smiled when they walked into the room. "Did you bring it?"

"Yep." Lucy put the jar on the bed at Belle's feet. "Should we open it here?"

"Hell yes," Belle said. "We should get the first peek."

Lucy dug through the one pack they still had with them for a pocket knife. The jar was sealed with wax and she had to dig it out to get the lid free.

"I'm going to be so pissed if we find hundred year old preserved peaches in there," Jane said.

"Don't even think it," Lucy said as the lid popped free.

They all held their breath as Lucy took the first look. "Old paper."

"Hallelujah," Mae said.

"Well?" Jane said. "Get it out. Let's see what we've got."

"I'm not sure I should," Lucy said. "What if I damage something?"

"Someone has to get them out," Belle said. "It might as well be us."

Lucy wheeled the bed-table over so they could lay the documents flat. She carefully eased the papers out of the jar and unrolled them. They were still folded in half and she very gently slid her finger in the middle and opened them.

The one on top was printed rather than handwritten.

"In Congress, July 4th 1776," Lucy read. "A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America."

"This has to be a Dunlap Broadside," Mae said.

"Holy Independence!" Jane said. "We really found it."

"But what's the rest?" Mae said.

Lucy carefully moved the Broadside revealing the next page.

The same words appeared at the top of the page, handwritten.

"Oh my God," Lucy said. "It's true. This is the final draft of the Declaration of Independence."

There were three pages. The last one held the signatures of John Hancock and Charles Thomson.

"I can't believe it," Mae said. "I don't think I ever really believed it was possible."

"I never doubted it," Belle said. "I'm just sorry I missed the finale in the cave."

Jane screwed her face up into a wry smile. "Oh yeah, you missed a real good time."

"Had to have been better than where I was."

"What the hell was Dawson up to?" Jane asked. "Did he talk to the cops?"

"He was babbling all the way to the hospital. Apparently he panicked when his wife's medical bills started piling up. He made a shady deal with some guys who make their living tracking down antiquities and selling them on the black market. They advanced him some money against his promise to deliver the Declaration," Lucy said.

"When Perry and I didn't work as fast as he wanted, he decided to put some pressure on me," Belle said. "Of course I didn't know what he was up to when he called and asked if I'd come to his house on Cooper Lake. He said he was worried about Perry and wanted to talk to me about what progress we were making in finding the Declaration."

"What'd he do? Knock you out?" Mae said.

"No. I think he put some kind of date rape drug in the tea he offered me. I remember not feeling well and then nothing until I woke up in the dark. He'd locked me in that damn closet."

"Well, he'll be spending a lot more time locked up," Lucy said. "I just feel sorry for his wife. Apparently she's in the final stages of ovarian cancer."

"Poor woman. I guess she didn't know what he was up to," Mae said.

"No. And she's pretty devastated that he threw his life away trying to save her when the doctors told them months ago there was nothing more they could do," Lucy said.

"I guess he really loves her," Mae said.

"Yes. I plan to talk to the authorities and ask them to go easy on him. I'm sure the stress of her illness and the fear of losing her made him a little crazy," Belle said.

"Sucks we can't just hate him," Jane said.

"I don't know," Lucy said. "It kind of restores my faith in men. His methods sucked but his motives were good. I mean, come on wouldn't you like to have a man care that much about you?"

"I'm just glad it's over and we're all more or less in one piece," Mae said.

"But we're not done yet," Jane said.

"Of course we're done," Lucy said. "We found the Declaration and rescued Belle. What else do you think we need to do?"

"Make good on our pact," Jane said. "About the future."

"Well, I don't think I'll have any trouble finding the courage to negotiate a few changes in my marriage," Mae said. "As for what else, I haven't decided yet. I know I said I was thinking of going back to work but I don't really want to leave my house and my kids for a job--at least not yet."

"What about you" Lucy asked Jane.

"I think I'll try my hand at art. Maybe open a little gallery for my stuff and a few other local artists I've had my eye on for a while. And you?"

A new voice joined the discussion. "So, you ladies were artifact hunting in my wilderness area again."

Jane looked up to see Ranger Leonard standing in the doorway. "Well shit."

Lucy leaned down to Aunt Belle and lowered her voice. "I'd love to stay and moderate this debate but I have something I need to do. You can handle them, can't you?"

Belle nodded. "Of course. Just leave them to me."

"I'm taking your Cherokee but I'll be back to pick you up in the morning."

"Don't worry about a thing," Belle said.

Lucy straightened. "I expect all of you to play nice. I have to leave."

"But you didn't answer my question," Jane said.

"I'm going to deal with my future right now," Lucy said.

Ranger Leonard frowned. "Where do you think you're going?"

"It's personal. So, if you're not going to arrest me now I'll be on my way," Lucy said.

"I know where to find you if I need to."

Lucy left without giving the ranger another thought. Belle would have him straightened out in no time.

The Cherokee was in the lot where she'd parked after following the ambulance from Dawson's house.

She made the drive back to Atlanta in good time, riding a wave of residual adrenalin.

Gary had given her his new address, "In case of emergency."

Well, this qualified.

She worked her way through Camden Estates, marveling at Gary's display of sheer stupidity. Most men planned for divorce by hiding assets (or so she'd heard) but Gary seemed to be intent on flaunting his. Lucy was guessing his lawyer wasn't a happy camper.

Gary's brand new McMansion overlooked the ninth hole of the Camden Estates "award winning" golf course.

He was welcome to it.

She rang the front doorbell, not surprised to hear some pretentious deep toned chimes echo inside.

Gary's eyes widened when he saw Lucy standing on his doorstep. "Jesus Christ, you look like some homeless person. Are you armed? Should I call the cops?"

"No and no. I've had a hard day," Lucy said.

"Why are you here?"

"I want you to call your lawyer first thing in the morning and tell him I'll sign whatever settlement agreement you've worked out. I don't want to have an ugly fight. I just want it over with."

Gary frowned. "What's the catch? Why are you being so cooperative?"

"No catch. I was angry when you left."

"You shot up the study!"

Lucy shrugged. "I was entitled to a temper tantrum. But that's not the point. I was angry and I was hurt and worst of all I was afraid. I haven't had to give serious thought to my future for a long time. I was afraid I wouldn't know what to do on my own without you or Ryan. I felt incompetent."

She took a deep breath. "The last few days I found out I'm very competent and courageous and tough and smart and I have some really wonderful people in my life. I'm ready to move on into the future and I don't want to drag out the past."

Gary didn't look like he understood a word of what she was trying to say. But it didn't matter because he had a gleam in his eye that indicated he thought he was about to put one over on her.

She could care less as long as the divorce was finalized as soon as legally possible.

"I'll call George first thing in the morning."

"Good, have him call me on my cell and we'll work out a time."

She turned and started down the steps but Gary's voice stopped her. "Lucy? You're different and I don't just mean the clothes and the fact that you look like you had a fight with a bear. You remind me of the woman I married. I'm starting to think maybe I was a little hasty with this divorce."

Lucy looked him over trying to decide if some of what she said had sunk in, or if he was hoping for a farewell f*ck.

Damn! Maybe some of her words had penetrated that thick skull of his. "No Gar, you aren't being hasty. I told you, I'm ready to put this behind me. I have a whole new, unknown, future in front of me and I can't wait."