“Who knows,” shrugged Richard. There were probably a hundred roads Andy could’ve gone to. A thousand places he could be hiding at. “I’ll pour over his journal some more tonigh’. Hopefully by tomorrow we’ll have a be’er idea on where to go from here.”
Shaking his head, a sheepish smile curled on the young soldier’s lips. “Aye, I know, I know. Pretendin’ to be literally two of Scotland’s most famous pirates, groundbreakin’ I know; but, you’d be surprised how often we used to play tha’ game when we were wee lads. Got into trouble a lot for it as well ‘cause of trackin’ mud into the home, or ‘cause we lost track of time and came home past dinner.” And every single time Andy would somehow take the brunt of their father’s anger for the two of them. Even then, he was possibly the bravest man Richard had ever known. “I suppose ever since I got a wee bit of an adventurer’s soul in me, eh?” he remarked thoughtfully, before downing the rest of his drink. “Or at least I though’ I did.– I dunno’, Jones. Frankly, this is one adventure tha’s turnin’ out to be too much for me to handle.” That was probably the most candid the young private had ever been with the professor.
Richard’s contemplations were cut short, however, when he noticed something, or rather somebody, peculiar. Based on the reflection of a mirror hanging behind the bar’s counter, Richard noticed that same bellhop he had bumped into some minutes ago. Just when the Scotsman’s suspicions had been re-ignited, he noticed the bellhop school one of the two men, who had just settled at a nearby table, a quick nod before heading down towards the nearby lifts. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Something definitely wasn’t right.
“Stay here. Keep the key close by. I’m gonna check somethin’ out,” whispered Richard, giving Indy a quick pat on the shoulder, before making his way out of the dining area without another word.
Just as Richard had suspected. Laying low, the Scotsman noticed the peculiar bellhop enter his and Jones’s room. This man was obviously after the journal, or the key, or both. To go in there with his knapsack would be moronic, as far as he was concerned. Noticing a nearby, ‘out-of-order’ dumbwaiter, Richard stuffed his back into the defunct lift, before quietly making his way to the room.
With his pistol at the ready, the Scotsman snuck past the door. The place was completely dark. Bathed in shadows, as the curtains had been drawn. Unfortunately, the young soldier’s training seemed to have slipped his mind. He was too busy trying to eye what was beyond his nose, he didn’t even stop think what, or who, could be lurking behind him.
Indy was about to finish his drink and order another one when his companion suddenly stood up. A quizzical brow was risen, but he only gave the other man a nod of his head. The key – that weird looking sapphire eye – was safely tucked in his shirt’s chest pocket. No one would lay their hands on it, not as long as Indiana Jones was alive.
Mayhew’s lowered voice should have been enough to tell him that something was wrong, but Indy shrugged it off and finished his drink instead. When he set the glass down, however, his gaze met that of another man. It was the way he was quickly glancing away, though, that had Indy perk up. Not only were those two men in the booth behind him watching the archaeologist, but they were also wearing suits. Black suits.
Now, that wouldn’t have been all too suspicious – if it weren’t for the fact that they were in Argentina and the temperatures simply didn’t allow such an attire. It didn’t seem like he and Richard were getting any break...
With a sigh he turned his glass around on the counter, then Indy stood up and walked out of the bar as if he was completley oblivious to the two men. He took the stairs up to the next level, then turned right through the hallway, away from their own room, then turned right once again, hiding around the corner.
As soon as he heard the footsteps come closer, Indy got in position - and the second the first nose came around the corner, he extended his hand. The movme was so quick, the stranger had no chance avoiding the fist. It connected with his nose with a crunching noise, the man groaning in pain, then Indy took care of the other one, lifting his arm fast enough to block a hit and kicking him in the knee. Due to the man bending down in pain, Indy had free reign and punched him in the face with both hands entwined to one fist. Next, he knocked the first man out with his elbow.
While Indy was lucky and the men hadn’t drawn their guns, Richard didn’t seem to be kissed by Fortuna - the man that had hidden in the bathroom upon hearing the room’s door open, stepped out quietly and drew his gun, aiming it at Richard’s head.
“Where is the journal?”
