The Case of the Vanishing Scroll

By J. D. Howard

When an ancient scroll of the biblical book of Esther vanishes from the museum, police accuse Sam's friend Dr. DiGenio of the crime. Sam doesn't believe the charge against him and leads his friends on a mission to discover the truth. Together, they uncover a shadowy world as they find one clue after another. Every step on the trail takes them deeper into danger. Will their adventure mean the end for Sam and his friends?

jdhowardauthor.com

"While this family-friendly book reminds me of the fun of a Hardy Boys mystery, J.D. Howard also weaves a spiritual thread into the narrative that doesn't slow down the action. The Italian setting comes alive as the story unfolds. A great book for boys or anyone who enjoys a tightly plotted, action-packed mystery."

Sharon Dunn, award-winning author of The Ruby Taylor Mysteries

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781490807843

J. D. Howard

J.D. Howard grew up in northern Texas. The Southern Magi is his first novel within the Divine Histories series. He currently lives and works in St. Louis, Missouri.

Book preview

THE CASE OF

The

Vanishing

Scroll

J. D. Howard

29137.png

Copyright © 2013 J. D. Howard.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1-[phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The following images are used under license from Shutterstock.com:

Abstract Background—Blue Color

© Ratana21, 2013

Illustrated Silhouette of a Young Boy Climbing Into a Tunnel or Tube

© Robert Adrian Hillman, 2013

Egyptian Find

© clesimo, 2013

Italy Map on a White Background

© Nuno Andre, 2013

Rose Wind—3d Render

© Sashkin, 2013

Luxury Motor Yacht Boat 2

© madonmac, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0783-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0782-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0784-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013916451

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/29/2013

Contents

Acknowledgments

The Letter

A Hidden Box

At the Museum

Paradiso di Cioccolata

An Ancient Scroll

Amico

The Unveiling

Dark Evidence

Intruder

A Forgotten Clue

New Places

Arturo’s

A Rainy Night

Into the Den of the Fox

Le Meridien

Danger at the Festival

The Coin and the Ring

Sarah Discovers

What’s in the Crate?

The White Feather

Dr. DiGenio in Court

On the Move

Into the Darkness

No Way Out

A Desperate Message

Far From Home

To the Sea!

Rendezvous

Moment of Truth

Into the Breeze

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank his family, friends and the local kids who read the manuscript and offered feedback.

He is also grateful to his sister Kimm, the ABBA foundation and Connie Chamberlain for their help in production.

The author appreciates professionals such as Sharon Dunn who guided him through the revision process. Many thanks to Shannon Barefield for her invaluable input.

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The Letter

Antonio? Sam stood at the dark shaft, peering in. Are you in there? A clattering sound emerged from the blackness. Antonio?

Sam Dixon raised a penlight and crept forward among the stones. As the shadows swallowed him up, a chill washed over him. He reached for the wall of the cave, sinking his hand into a mop of slimy, wet moss. Yuck!

The penlight flickered. Had he found the den of a wild boar? His breathing quickened at the thought of a charge by that animal, with those tusks. Sam bent to pick up a rock for self-defense. Antonio?

The penlight faltered and went out. As Sam fumbled with it, he heard a scraping sound. When he stopped to listen, he could hear only the steady dripping of water. In the thick darkness, he couldn’t even see the penlight in his hand. He would have to feel his way back.

Turning to go, Sam twisted his foot against a stone and stumbled to the ground, dropping the penlight and his weapon into the void. He froze when he heard a low moaning sound behind him. Something touched his shoulder.

Get away! Sam cried, raising his arms.

A screech came and Sam felt his legs being pinned to the ground.

Stop! He kicked and kicked and reached for a rock.

The pressure disappeared, and in the darkness, Antonio laughed. I got you!

Argh! Sam took a swing but couldn’t see him. You!

I did hear something back there, Antonio said in his strong Italian accent. Let’s get out of here.

Sam paused to catch his breath and let the thumping of his heart subside. As he rose to follow the older boy, he brushed his hand against something soft, on the floor of the passage. The object felt like paper on his fingertips, and it made a crinkling sound when he bent it. At one end, he felt something lumpy.

Hey, I found something, said Sam, but Antonio was already heading out of the cave.

After a glance down the passageway, Sam walked toward a faint light and Antonio’s barely visible figure ahead of him.

Outside in the brightness of the day, Sam studied the clean white envelope he held in his hands. Strange symbols, like something he had seen in his brother’s math book, decorated the paper. He glanced around the woods to see if anyone was around who might have dropped the letter, but they were alone.

May I see? Antonio took the paper out of the envelope, unfolded it and then tossed up his hands. I can’t read this. It’s in Greek. He found a necklace tucked inside and turned it back and forth in the sunlight. I know the symbol. The Roman fasces.

Sam eyed the engraving on the silver pendant, an ax bound together with a bundle of wooden rods. A red stone graced the center.

It’s from early times, said Antonio, tapping the symbol on the necklace.

Sam and Antonio glanced up when a rumble of thunder echoed through the forest. A massive gray cloud crawled across the sky.

Sam’s cell phone beeped with a text message: Dinnertime.

Storm clouds gathered as they descended the hill, and a light sprinkle fell on them through the leaves. As they emerged from the woods onto the street, the rain increased, giving the asphalt a darkness and shine. They ran to Sam’s house through the mix of rain and sun.

Bushes and trees surrounded the one-story bungalow. By the time they set foot on the stone walkway that led to the front door, they were soaking wet and out of breath.

A car pulled up to the curb, windshield wipers sweeping wildly. Mike emerged from the passenger side.

I have to show you this! Sam clutched the envelope as his brother came toward them, holding a work apron above his head to protect him from the downpour.

Are you hanging out with my little brother again? Mike said to Antonio. He’s only eleven.

"Hey, amico. Friend. Somebody has to have fun around here."

Mike had met Antonio playing soccer at the park and offered to help him with school next year if Antonio would show him a few soccer moves. Sam thought Mike was lucky to make a new friend so soon after their move to Italy. Sam hadn’t been so fortunate.

The porch light came on as Sam’s mom opened the door. Antonio, do you want to stay for dinner?

"Si. I just need to call Papa." Antonio pulled out his phone.

Sam, please set the table.

He stuffed the envelope into his back pocket. He would tell his mom about this later.

As Sam finished putting out silverware, the front door opened and his dad came in, his windbreaker wet with rain. After hanging the jacket up, Mark Dixon sat in his chair at the head of the table and breathed a big sigh.

Everyone took a seat, and after Sam’s dad prayed, they passed the food around.

This is good, Signora Dixon, said Antonio between bites.

Thank you. The boys have been asking for fried chicken since we left the states.

Sam missed a lot of things from the states, like root beer and Little League baseball and playing video games at his friend’s house. His parents couldn’t afford a game console right now, so he spent a lot of time outside. At least he liked that.

After dinner, Sam, Mike, and Antonio went to Mike’s room to examine the contents of the envelope. Mike sat at a table underneath the poster of a snowboarder taking a big jump in the Alps—a present from Antonio, who loved snowboarding.

Mike turned on a desk lamp and searched for the name of the symbol on the Internet. Fasces. A sign of Roman authority, he mumbled. Strength of unity. One alone is weak, together they are strong.

Antonio pointed at the screen. What are the examples?

The Mercury dime, from before World War II, Mike said, adjusting his reading glasses. I have one.

He retrieved a book from the shelf and removed a coin from the plastic pages. When Sam got his turn to look, he raised and lowered a magnifying glass until the details on the coin came into focus. The symbol of the rods tied together with an ax stood out clearly on the back of the dime. Sam slipped the coin back into its spot in the coin book. Mike, what are the symbols on the envelope?

Greek letters, said his older brother. Dr. DiGenio is coming over for dinner tomorrow. I’ll bet he can read them for us. Mike exited the Web site. I want to see this cave.

I’ll come over after I do my chores in the morning, said Antonio, with a flashlight.

Sam followed the two fifteen-year-olds to the entryway, where Antonio said, Ciao, goodbye, and disappeared into the night.

Sam’s room had once been a storage area. His parents said he could share a room with Mike, but Sam wanted this nook for himself. On one wall, he had tacked up a poster of an Italian band. At the foot of his bed stood a bookshelf with a picture of his Little League team in San Diego. Next to the picture sat the baseball that his whole team had signed before he left.

Sam stared at the photo, remembering his friends. He had tried to reach Noah by video chat on Mike’s computer, but he was at summer camp. Sam had texted Emilio a few times, but it wasn’t the same as going to a Padres baseball game together. Sam dragged a pushpin off the bookshelf and pressed it slowly into the wall on a loose corner of the poster.

He retrieved a metal box from under his bed and put the necklace inside with his collection of things from past adventures. The twirled shell of