The Case of the Washed-Up Treasure: The Grounded Detective, #2

By Marcus Williams

Will these kid detectives finally give a grieving family the answers they've waited decades to receive?

A fun adventure appropriate for all ages.

 

Daniel just can't seem to stay out of trouble. On a family outing to the beach, he wanders away and stumbles across an old bank box washed-up on shore and buried in the sand. Determined to solve the mystery and return the box's treasures to their rightful owner, Daniel and his friends embark on a thrilling journey that leads them to uncover ancient secrets beyond their wildest imagination.  Don't miss out on this must-read adventure filled with friendship, courage, and unexpected surprises.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Williams & Co Publishing LLC
• Release date: Feb 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9781959759201

Marcus Williams

Marcus has written thousands of pages of law enforcement reports describing the details of cyber crimes, sexual assaults, drug trafficking, and murders during his career as a federal agent. He now uses all of that "practice" to tell stories that excite, entertain, and engage. While life doesn't always have a happy ending, there is always hope found in family, friendships, and kindness. He and his family have lived all over the world and love exploring and making friends wherever they find themselves: from California's high desert, to Sicily's historical marvels, to the beaches of the mid-Atlantic coast, to the rain soaked forests of Washington, to the base Mt Fuji, and to the majestic Rocky Mountains. The world is full of mystery and untold stories.

Book preview

Chapter 1

C ome on, Daniel. Everyone is waiting for you, Daniel’s mom yelled from the door leading out to the garage.

Coming, Daniel replied from upstairs in his bedroom.

Daniel’s mom waited for a few seconds before yelling again. If you were actually coming, you’d be here by now. Let’s go. We’re going to be late.

Daniel sat on his knees in his closet. He was rummaging through a tub he had pulled down from the closet shelf. The tub contained a collection of old toys and sports gear. He was looking for the snorkel and mask he had gotten on their trip to California last summer.

Come on, come on, where are you? he mumbled as he threw everything out of the tub and onto the closet floor. I know you’re in here somewhere.

His dad pulled the car out of the garage and honked the horn. Daniel could feel himself growing anxious. If he didn’t hurry up, he would get in trouble, and then the entire trip to Whidbey Island would be miserable.

Ah ha! he cried as he triumphantly pulled out the mask and connected snorkel from the bottom of the tub. It had been wrapped inside one of his old soccer jerseys. He ran down the stairs, forgetting to turn off his closet light.

What took you so long? his mom asked as soon as he rounded the corner.

Daniel held up the mask and grinned sheepishly. It was at the bottom of the tub, he explained.

His mom rolled her eyes and sighed. Grab your shoes and jacket and let’s go. Your sister does not like having to sit in her car seat to wait for you. And Grandma and Grandpa are probably already halfway there by now.

Sorry, mom, he said. Daniel grabbed his flip flops from his cubby next to the door and raced barefoot out to the car.

He opened the door on his side of the minivan and found his younger brother, Henry, sitting triumphantly in his seat, all belted in and ready to go.

That’s my seat, Daniel said. Move over.

Losers, weepers, Henry said and stuck out his tongue.

But I always sit there, Daniel growled. And that’s not even what that means.

Daniel, get in the car, his dad said sternly.

But, Dad…

Now, his dad ordered. Daniel recognized that voice and knew it was not worth arguing. He rounded the front of the car and climbed in on the other side. He moved to the back where Henry usually sat. Daniel sometimes got car sick, especially when he was in the back.

If I get sick, I’m puking all over your head, he whispered to Henry.

Mom, Daniel said he was going to puke on my head, Henry whined.

No I didn’t, Daniel protested.

Stop it, both of you. We are going to have a fun day at the beach with no fighting or arguing. Is that understood?

Yes, mom, they both replied.

Good, she said. 

His dad reached up and pushed the button to close the garage door and turned in his seat to back out of the driveway.

Did you remember the metal detector, Dad? Daniel asked,

His dad nodded. It’s in the back.

Nice! Daniel was excited to try out the detector on the beach. Maybe he would find treasure.

I’m hung’y, Daniel’s little sister Autumn said. She was almost three.

Daniel, could you grab some fruit snacks from the bag of food in the back, please? his mom asked.

Daniel had to unbuckle his seatbelt to reach over the back seat. He felt his stomach lurch as his dad turned the car around to drive down their long driveway. He hurriedly grabbed the snack and faced the front. He hoped he wouldn’t get car sick.

Daniel and his family lived in an old house built by his great-great-great grandpa on his mom’s side. The house was set back away from the road and was surrounded by tall western cedar trees so that it felt like it was all alone in the middle of a forest. Daniel’s best friends, Ricky and Charlie, lived on either side of him. Their houses were also old and built by Daniel’s ancestors. The houses were known in town as the Washington Trio because his grandpa’s last name was Washington.   

Daniel’s dad pulled out onto the main road leading towards town and the highway.

Chapter 2

When they got to Deception Pass, Daniel scooted over in his seat to look out of the car window. A long bridge connected the mainland to Whidbey Island, and it was a long way down from the bridge to the Puget Sound below. He tried to find the beach along the coastline at the base of the bridge where they were going for the day. It was an uncommonly clear and sunny day, and many people were walking across the bridge on the sidewalk bordering the railing. People were taking pictures and pointing at objects down below.

They crossed over the bridge, and Daniel’s dad turned into the state park. He wound down through the trees, passing campgrounds and walking trails until they arrived at the beach parking lot. He found a parking space at the front of the lot right next to the picnic area. 

Grandma and Grandpa! Henry shouted as they pulled to a stop.

Sure enough, their grandparents were sitting at one of the picnic tables playing a game of cards. They both stood and waved when Henry and Daniel jumped out of the car and rushed out to give them each a big hug.

Did you bring your chocolate chip cookies? Daniel asked his grandma. She always made them when they came over to visit. They would eat them and watch the golfers pass by on the course behind the house. 

Of course I did, she replied. I also cut up a big juicy watermelon and made some potato salad.

Yum, Henry said.

Boys, why don’t you help get everything out of the car so we can eat? Daniel’s Dad said. He carried Autumn, who was barefoot, from the car to the picnic table, where he fought to put her shoes back on. She always took them off in the car, even if it was just for a short trip to the store.

Okay, Dad, Daniel said. He opened the back hatch and tried to lift the big cooler, but it was too heavy for him to do by himself.

Need some help, buddy? his grandpa asked.

Yeah, thanks.

Daniel took one handle and his grandpa took the other. They carried the heavy cooler over to the picnic table, where his dad helped them heft it up onto the table. Henry brought over a couple of bags of chips and dropped them on the ground next to the table before running off to explore the beach.

Pick those up, please, Daniel’s mom said. They don’t belong on the ground. 

But Mom, Henry did that.

Just pick them up Daniel.

Is that all? his grandpa asked.

Just a bag of paper plates and utensils, Dad, she replied.

I’ll get it, Daniel volunteered.

Daniel’s grandpa taught him a new card game while his parents got their picnic lunch ready to eat. After finally winning a round, Daniel’s mom asked him to gather up his brother and sister for lunch. As they were eating, Daniel told his grandpa about the metal detector and his plans to search for treasure on the beach after they ate.

I don’t want you going too far, Daniel’s mom said. You need to stay in sight of the table.

Daniel sighed. She was always treating him like a little kid. Apparently, she could tell what he was thinking.

I know you’re older, but if you wander far away, your brother and sister will want to wander as well, and they’re too young. Got it?

Yes, Mom, he replied. Whatever, he mumbled.

What was that? she asked.

Nothing.

I’m serious. No wandering away.

I got it, Mom, he grumbled.

When they finished eating, Daniel got the metal detector out of the car along with the new batteries that his dad had purchased the night before. He worked on getting the batteries installed and then adjusted the detector to its shortest length. It had a half-round brace that rested on his forearm and a rubber grip further down to hold on to. The arm brace was made for an adult, so it didn’t help much. Daniel found that if he held the detector far enough out in front of him, he could sweep it back and forth without hitting the ground. 

He stepped away from the picnic table and turned the knob. The device emitted a squealing noise before settling into more of a hum. He swept it across the pebbles.

Do you know how to use that thing? his grandpa asked.

Yes, he replied, although he didn’t really understand what all of the knobs and needles meant.

Different metals will return a different frequency, his grandpa explained. So you will hear a slightly different sound and see the needle move to a different spot.

His grandpa came over and pointed to the needle on the face of the detector. See that right there? It shows you that if the needle moves to there, it is probably copper. And if it goes there, it is probably lead.

What about gold? Daniel asked.

Right there, his grandpa replied, pointing. 

Daniel looked closer and found that the metals were actually labeled in small print on the dial. Thanks, Grandpa.

No problem, kiddo. Now go and make me rich.

I will!

Just then, Henry came running back to the picnic table from where he had been playing on the beach. He grabbed the metal detector, almost pulling it out of Daniel’s hands.

My turn, he yelled.

Daniel wrenched the detector back, pulling Henry with it. Henry stumbled and fell into Daniel, causing them both to crash to the ground. Henry began to cry and held his knee.

Oww, you hurt me, he cried.

No I didn’t. You tried to steal the metal detector out of my hands.

It’s my turn!

I haven’t even had a turn yet, Daniel retorted.

Moooom, Henry wailed.

I’m right here, Henry, she said as she helped him to his feet, leaving Daniel sitting on his bottom on the ground. Your knee is bleeding, she said.

But I wanna use the metal ‘tector, Henry cried.

It’s Daniel’s turn first. We don’t grab things from other people, Henry.

She looked over at Daniel and squinted her eyes. He could tell she was ready to just take the metal detector away from everyone if it caused any more fuss. 

Daniel stood up and brushed himself off. He looked over the metal detector. Everything seemed to be fine; nothing was broken.

"Can I