Lee saw the look of love pass between Gretchen and Sherlock. “Yeah. He did a great job of training you, but I promise you won’t need protection from me again.”
“I bet Lee could add a few new things to your training,” Sam said from where he sat next to Penelope, their hands entwined.
Jordan looked interested. “We can discuss.”
“Only if you teach me too,” Lara piped up.
Darcy groaned in playful protest.
Dot clapped her hands together. “Now that everyone is here, we can debrief. Take a seat.”
Everyone obeyed her call and Lee took a moment to compose himself. Nhiari slipped her arm around his waist. “Feeling better now?”
He nodded, blinking back the tears. “You have the best friends.”
“They’re yours now too. Come on.” She pulled him to the table, and they sat in the remaining seats at the middle of the table.
Dot sat at one end next to Oliver, and Brandon sat at the other. “I think I’ve got the full story about what went down last night, but feel free to add details I might have missed,” Dot said.
As Dot outlined the events, Amy dished up and everyone ate her delicious roast lamb dinner.
“Today Brandon accompanied the treasure to Perth with some of the Organised Crime team and it’s been delivered to the museum to assess.” Dot gestured for Brandon to take up the story.
“There was an armoured car waiting to meet the plane,” Brandon said. “We transferred the treasure and took it straight to the museum. Oliver’s boss was pretty gobsmacked to see the quality and quantity of it.”
“Do we get to keep it?” Lara demanded.
Brandon smiled. “No, La La.”
Her shoulders slumped, and she pouted. “But we found it. Lilian wanted us to have it.”
Brandon reached to the floor and placed a small bag on the table. “He gave permission for us each to keep one coin.” He got to his feet and gave each person at the table one of the silver coins. When he handed one to Lee, Lee’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
Brandon nodded. “You helped by not letting Lucas take it.”
The coin was cool and rough and Lee squeezed it, not quite believing he was included.
“He knows what we went through because of this treasure,” Brandon continued. “He gave us a choice; we can take a finder’s fee, or jewels from the treasure to the value of the finder’s fee.”
“How much?” Darcy asked.
Brandon glanced around the table.
“Spit it out, Bran!” Georgie yelled.
“He estimates the treasure is worth about fifty million in today’s money.” Brandon smirked at Georgie’s sound of frustration. “And in cases like these, the finder’s fee is about five percent.”
“That’s two point five million,” Tess said.
Brandon nodded.
“Holy shit!” Georgie cried.
“We’re rich!” Lara yelled.
Brandon held up a hand. “Hold up. We still have to decide.”
“I don’t need jewels,” Amy said.
