Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas by Jonathan W. Stokes Page A

I’ve known you guys almost all my life. We were raised on 86th Street. We’re ‘86ers,’ and this is it. This could be our last adventure together.”
    Eddie and Raj digested this.
    â€œI’m in,” said Raj. “Survival camp is one thing. But now I’ll finally get the chance to test my skills in the wild. Besides, when an 86er calls a Code Blue, you help them no matter what.” These were words Raj lived by. He placed his hand into the center of the group.
    â€œAddison, how much gold did you say there was?” asked Eddie.
    â€œMore than you can spend in a lifetime.”
    â€œWe’ll see about that.” Eddie set his hand on top of Raj’s. “I’m in, too.”
    â€œMe three,” said Molly. “I guess we’re going to Colombia.”
    Addison joined his hand in the circle. “To the Incan treasure.”

Chapter Six

A Journey Abroad

    A DDISON AND HIS TEAM strode through the glittering international airport. Bright morning sunlight flooded the floor-to-ceiling windows of the terminal. “Keep moving quickly,” said Addison. “We don’t know if the police are looking for us here.”
    Addison was ten weeks shy of his thirteenth birthday. He wasn’t sure if he was legally old enough to fly without an adult. He was about to find out.
    The group kept their heads down as they waved their passports and boarding passes before the guard at the security line. They were almost through the X-ray machines before a security guard called to them. “Hey, aren’t you guys a little young to be traveling alone?”
    â€œIt’s okay,” said Addison, confidently cocking a thumb at Molly. “She’s with us.”
    The guard nodded and ushered them through.
    Molly hurried to keep pace with Addison as they crossed the concourse. “Do you really think we can pull this off and catch up with Ragar?” she whispered.
    â€œWe’ve got to,” Addison replied. “We’re Uncle N and Aunt D’s only chance. But we have two huge advantages over every treasure hunter who’s come before us. One: We have the first Incan clue.”
    â€œAnd two?”
    â€œWe’re Cookes, Molly. This is in our blood. We were born for this.”
    Crossing the skywalk to their terminal, Addison thought his whole team looked a bit on the nervous side. He secretly wondered if he was biting off more than he could chew, but he quickly banished such thoughts from his mind. If his friends were going to risk all to help him find his aunt and uncle, the least he could do was make sure they enjoyed themselves. It just required leadership.
    Addison read the seat assignments on their plane tickets. “These seats are coach. I really prefer first class.”
    â€œThat costs a fortune,” said Molly.
    â€œNot if you ask nicely,” Addison responded. He marched up to the imposing doors of the exclusive Ambassador’s Club, plucked the frequent-flyer card from his uncle’swallet, and swiped it through the card reader. The great doors swung open, and the team followed him inside.
    Classical music hummed pleasantly throughout the lounge. Leather upholstered couches lined the walls. Business people in expensive suits sipped coffee and discussed the price of stocks.
    An imperious hostess stood at the check-in counter, frowning down at Addison.
    Addison flashed his uncle’s frequent-flyer card and his most winning smile. “Beautiful morning, isn’t it?”
    The hostess checked the frequent-flyer card and examined Addison from head to toe. His hair was neatly parted beneath his Ivy cap, and his school tie was knotted cleanly in a half Windsor.
    â€œWelcome to the Ambassador’s Club, Mr. Cooke,” said the hostess uncertainly.
    Addison quickly read the name tag on her blazer. “Thank you, Nancy. How full is the seven a.m. flight to Bogotá?”
    â€œI’d be happy to check that.”