CHAPTER 12

Dad clapped his hands and rubbed them together the way he did when it was time to pull in the lines on the boat and shove off. “Okay, Kidds, we have work to do.”

I raised my hand. “Um, I thought we were supposed to be on our summer vacation.”

“We were,” said Mom, glancing at her watch. “For thirty-six hours.”

“You’re counting the flight from Florence?”

“They served you soft drinks and snacks, didn’t they?”

“Yeah, but—”

Mom went on. “Do you have soft drinks and snacks every day?”

“No. Only on vacation.”

“I rest my case,” she said with a smile.

Dad turned to Mom with one of those looks that says a lot without saying anything. “Sue?”

Mom just nodded, “I agree, Thomas.”

“I’ll leave tonight.”

Time for me to raise my hand again. “Um, what are you guys talking about?”

“Your father needs to take off,” said Mom.

“Again?” said Beck. “We just found him, like, two weeks ago.”

“This totally bites,” added Tommy.

“Indeed it does,” said Dad. “But I think these clues from the art thieves who call themselves the Enlightened Ones will eventually lead us to the biggest treasure ever, anywhere, at any time—their top secret lair of stolen treasure!”