The Mysterious Document

By Loretta B. Staley

A strange paper thrust into a shoppong bag.
Handsome and mysterious Arabs and an amorous romance.
A simple vacation in the dazzling city of Las Vegas turns into a frightening, yet exciting, adventure as three young women seek, and eventually find, the answers top many questions
Who was in the blue van and why are they stalking the thre young women?
What was the secret of the garden? and more

• Language: English
• Publisher: Loretta B. Staley
• Release date: Sep 29, 2010

Loretta B. Staley

Loretta Barnes Staley was born and raised in Evanston, Wyoming, a small town in Southwestern Wyoming. She was the sixth child in a family of nine children; all talented in the arts, especially music.Loretta was writing poems, songs and short stories by the age of twelve.Throughout a busy life of “ranching”, then, later on, managing a motel that she and her husband purchased, raising three children, and helping with grandchildren, she continued (when she could find time) to “dabble” at writing.Many of her stories of adventure and mystery were inspired by her own experiences. Others were inspired by the interesting and strange lives of various people she knew as they traveled through her life.Now most of her time is spent writing and she has been encouraged by her friends and family to seek publication of her work -- some of it recent and some from long ago.Hoping that a few will read, and perhaps enjoy, some of her stories, she has done just that.This is just one of the many novels written by this author.All of her writings are considered “acceptable” for young adult and teen reading.A note from the editorLoretta passed away in 2006. Since then her family has continued to publish and promote the stories she loved so much to tell.Thanks for reading Moms books. We hope you enjoy them all!contact info: [e-mail]

Book preview

THE MYSTERIOUS DOCUMENT

Copyright © Dec, 1990

by

Loretta B. Staley

Published by Lynn Staley at Smashwords

INTRODUCTION

THE MYSTERIOUS DOCUMENT is a tale of intrigue, romance murder, and adventure in the beautiful, entrancing city of Las Vegas and in the merciless desert that surrounds it.

The novel is absolute fiction and any resemblance to actual persons or incidents is purely coincidental.

****

by

Loretta Barnes Staley

In memory of Floyd, my husband, who was

my loving companion for over fifty years,

and who encouraged me even though I often

ignored him to spend my time writing.

Thanks to Audrey and Marva

my honest editors,

LOVE ALWAYS

Loretta

THE MYSTERIOUS DOCUMENT

by Loretta B. Staley

CHAPTER I

The whole incident was, bizarre (and frightening) from the beginning to the end ...and it all had started out so innocently.

The three young women had planned on this trip to Las Vegas for a long time. It was their first venture into the new and exciting world they had only heard about, until now, and they had faithfully saved every penny they could spare toward this fantastic vacation so they could afford to see every floor show and visit every casino along the famous strip,(and perhaps fulfill that dream of winning tons of money).

They were having a great time shopping for souvenirs and taking in the sights; laughing and joking as they strolled along the boulevard ... then Libby was in the accident. That’s when everything bizarre began to happen.

It was early in the evening and the whole area was lit up by a dazzling display of signs and by the hundreds of lights that blinked and sparkled around the front of every elegant building that lined the busy street.

The side-walks were teeming with people who were walking around, enjoying the warm, balmy air and gazing in wonderment at the fantastic sights around them. The streets buzzed busily as an assortment of limousines, cars, buses, and motorcycles made their way up to the stop-lights, squealed to a stop, then charged forward again as soon as the light turned green.

Across the street a grand display of twinkling lights beckoned with their tantalizing promise of great fun and surprises.

Let’s go to that fancy casino over there! Libby, the enthusiastic and impulsive one of the group, suggested, pointing across the street.

Okay, Sally agreed, but how do you cross through that heavy stream of traffic?

Easy! Libby laughed. See all those people up there waiting for the light to change? We’ll just go up there and go across with them!

Without waiting for her friends, Libby hurried ahead to join the crowds as they rushed across the street, but, just as she reached the curb, the light changed and all of the cars began lurching forward; the drivers anxious to get to their planned destinations.

Someone screamed a warning, but it was too late. Libby had already stepped out into the street.

A long, black limousine came careening around the corner and the young woman saw something large and shiny hurling toward her. A screeching sound of tires skidding along the pavement resounded above the frantic screams of the crowd as a big, chrome bumper smacked against Libby’s leg and sent her tumbling to the ground. She was lucky, however, that the large machine had been able to stop before it hit her very hard.

Feeling mostly frightened and only slightly bruised, Libby started scrambling to her feet, noticing that her few little purchases had been scattered on the ground and her shopping bag was almost under the front wheel of the car.

Just as she stepped toward the bag, still wobbling a little, the dazed young woman saw the car door open and a flutter of bright, flowing robes came hurrying toward her.

Firm hands grabbed her, steadying her, and Libby found herself gazing into a handsome, dark-toned face. She saw the worried concern in the man’s black, flashing eyes, then she noticed the turban wrapped around his head.

Must be an Arab Sheik the thought passed through her mind as she struggled to clear her head.

Are you badly hurt? the young man asked in fluent English.

No, no, Libby answered. Just my knee feels bruised and ... She glanced down at her palm, which was scratched and starting to bleed, I hurt my hand a little; she finished lamely.

Just then another man climbed from the limousine. He was dressed the same as the first and his silken robes gently billowed around him as he quickly strode toward the injured woman. The man, whose face was partially hidden by a jet-black, short-cropped beard, started speaking rapidly in a foreign language and the other answered him in a seemingly defiant tone.

The two men spoke together for a moment then the second man turned and stared at Libby with dark piercing eyes then whirled around and marched back to the limousine.

The first man, who seemed much younger than the second one, began gathering up the few small items that had scattered on the ground. He moved quickly, but gracefully, as he stuffed everything into the shopping bag from which all of it had tumbled. A quick smile flashed across his face as he handed the bag to the young woman who stood as if petrified with awe.

The bearded man suddenly returned and slapped a small box on the hood of the sleek, shiny car. For a moment he gazed firmly at Libby from under heavy, black brows that arched menacingly over his deep, penetrating eyes, then his attention turned to the box, which had been firmly tied shut with a piece of string. He deftly untied the string and lifted the lid.

Libby stared, unbelieving, at the contents. There were stacks and stacks of money; all sorted into little bundles and fastened together by white paper bands.

The younger man picked up one of the bundles and thrust it into the slightly battered victim’s hands.

We’re sorry, he said. This should compensate for your trouble and injuries. It is a thousand dollars.

Libby gasped in astonishment. No, no! she objected, handing the money back. I don’t want any money.

Take it! he said firmly, thrusting the money down into her shopping bag. As he leaned forward his face was close to hers and their eyes locked for a moment. A strange, tingling thrill ran down Libby’s back and the emotion startled her.

The older man barked something in their own language and hustled the other one back to the limousine.

It all happened so quickly and in such a strange way that the crowd had just stood gaping in wonder.

As the big, black sedan drove away Babs ran over and hugged her friend. Over her shoulder Libby saw the handsome, dark-skinned man peering out from above the opaque glass of a partially opened rear-window.

Are you all right? Babs asked, her big blue eyes showing her concern.

Sure she is Sally tried to assure everyone. Wait over there on that seat and I’ll go get the car.

Sally’s car was a second-hand station-wagon that she had fixed up, special for this trip, with a place in the back with a make-shift bed in case they couldn’t find a place to stay (or didn’t have enough money for hotel rooms and other frivolities toward the end of their journey).

Sally was the one who looked after the others and, everyone knew, she was the one to do just that. She didn’t look very big or tough and anyone who didn’t know her was often fooled by her pretty face and slim, trim body. She was a gym teacher at home; well trained in the martial arts and self-defense. She had even taught her two friends the basics in protecting themselves.

You don’t need to get the car, Libby told her. You could have a wreck your own self in this traffic. Anyway, in the time it would take you to go to the parking lot and back we can walk to our hotel. I don’t feel that bad.

After fussing about it for a moment Libby’s friends helped her as she limped across the busy street, to their hotel, and into the elevator.

I can’t believe it! the crippled girl told her friends. They gave me a thousand dollars!

You’ve gotta be kidding! Sally exclaimed

No, I’m sure that one guy put a packet of money in my sack ---- unless my mind was tricking me.

Libby reached down into the shopping bag and brought out the packet of money.

Wow! Babs exploded. Don’t wave it around. Somebody will rob you! Put it back until we get to our room. Somebody in the hall might see it and follow us.

Oh, Babs, you are so dramatic! Libby laughed as she tucked the money into her purse.

Safely in their room they spread the money on the bed.

There really is a thousand dollars here! Babs giggled like a school-girl. In fifty dollar bills!

That isn’t very much to some people, Sally remarked sagely. I’ll bet some of those gamblers down there are tossing lots more than that away without a single care.

Libby was busy sorting out the money and making three stacks.

What are you doing, playing games? Sally teased.

No, I’m dividing it between us. Three hundred for each of us and a hundred to go into our general fund.

You don’t need to do that. You’re the one that got hurt.

I’m not hurt that bad, Libby grinned, and I want us all to have a good time. We’re like the ‘Three Musketeers’, remember? Remember our slogan, ‘one for all and all for one’?

But this is different, Babs interceded.

No it isn’t. Now don’t hurt my feelings. Take the money and have a good time. We have our travelers checks for emergencies so don’t feel guilty about spending a little bit just for fun.

Okay, Sally grinned. Let’s go down and put some of it in the slot-machines.

Wait, said Babs, the worrier, Let’s not take it all with us. Hide it in different places.

I’ll hide mine in my bra. Sally laughed. I’d like to see anybody try to take it from me!

You two gals go ahead. Libby suggested. I think I’ll soak my poor bones in a hot tub for a while.

Libby laid back in the warm water and thought about her strange experience. She couldn’t forget the handsome face that had almost touched hers and the strange thrill she had felt at the stranger’s nearness. Also, she knew she would never forget the other man’s dark piercing eyes, but she couldn’t decide if that penetrating gaze had seemed friendly or not.

Well, she decided, he was the one who brought out the money so he must have been friendly.

Standing in front of the mirror, wrapped in just a towel, the young woman studied her features.

Not bad, she decided as her light brown hair tumbled around her face. and those green eyes don’t look bad with my long, darker-brown lashes. She dropped the towel and admired her young, firm body. Hey, let’s not get vain here! she scolded herself as she picked up her warm robe and tied the sash snugly around her waist.

Just for something to do until her friends returned, Libby decided to take the little souvenirs out of the bag and look them over. After they were all sitting on the desk, and the young shopper had decided her purchases hadn’t been too bad, she noticed a piece was broken off the little unicorn. As she peaked down into the sack, looking for the missing piece, she saw an envelope. It was deep tan with something written on the front in some type of foreign language.

With shaking hands she opened the envelope, carefully removed a crisp, tan paper and unfolded it. It was some kind of document, written in a beautiful script, but, of course, in that same strange language. On the top, right corner was a large, gold seal and, at the bottom, was what looked like a series of signatures, followed by a smaller seal that was stamped right into the fragile paper with an elaborately scrawled signature written across it.

Libby had a strange premonition that something was going on that she would rather not know about and she wondered what to do about the strange document. Had it been put in her bag by accident or on purpose? Maybe she would see the stranger again somewhere and could return it to him. Deciding to wait and see what developed, she stuffed the envelope into her large shoulder-bag and tossed the purse on the bed.

When her friends returned, later in the evening, they were laughing and talking about how Babs had bet on a number on a big wheel; one almost like the one on a game on TV, and how she had insisted the arrow pointed right on her number. The man running the wheel insisted that the arrow was just over the mark from the number she had picked, but Babs was adamant. Frustrated by her firm insistence, and afraid she was going to make a big scene, he finally buzzed for one of the floor-men.

In the meantime Babs had even walked around behind the counter and pointed with her finger, but when she really got close, she could see that the arrow actually was across the line into the other space; as the man had said.

By then a crowd had gathered. When Babs, embarrassed and red-faced, backed down and admitted her mistake, the manager insisted she take the money anyway because, he said, she had made an honest mistake and that the arrow did look like it was on her number from back where she had been standing.

But I’m sure he thought we were running a racket, the young woman fretted. I don’t know if I can go back in there again.

Don’t be silly Sally scolded. Things like that happen all the time.

Engrossed in the humor of the story, Libby forgot all about the brown envelope and its contents and never mentioned it to the others. They decided that, since they were flush with money, they could afford to eat in the big, fancy dining room instead of the cheaper area they had been eating in before.

They could see why the food cost more in there (and that was evident by the prices on the menu). Large, elaborate, crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling; sparkling and shimmering in glory as they hovered over the tables and spread their glow on the glistening, crystal vases that, loaded with fresh fragrant flowers, decorated the center of each table. The tables were set up with white, spotless, linen cloths and matching napkins that were each beautifully monogrammed in one corner. The heavy silverware was delicately engraved with the same monogram; the initials of the grand hotel in which they were now sitting.

Just as they settled down to their dinner Libby looked up to see four men wending their way to a table in a far corner. They were all dressed in luxurious satin or silk robes; each with a silken turban wound around his head.

Look, Babs exclaimed. There’s more Arabs.

We’re not sure they’re Arabs, Sally reminded her. We don’t know anything about the style or customs of any of those foreign countries.

I know, Babs argued, but I’ve seen pictures of Sheiks and they look like that.

The foreigners must have sensed they were being talked about for they turned and gazed directly at the three girls.

Libby took a sharp breath. There was the young, handsome man who had picked her up and, trailing right behind him, was the bearded man with the piercing eyes and heavy eye-brows!

She suddenly remembered the strange paper in the purse that she kept safely on her lap. She gripped the bag firmly, raised