He should have thrown it back. That was the smart move. But he couldn’t.
With trembling fingers, Elias undid the latches on the black case. They snapped open with a loud crack in the quiet morning air.
He lifted the lid.
He didn’t find nuclear codes or weapons. He found clear, vacuum-sealed bags. Inside the bags were stacks of what looked like metal plates.
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He pulled one bag out. It was heavy. He sliced the plastic open with his pocket knife and a gold coin slid out into his palm.
It was a Double Eagle gold coin. But it wasn’t just one. There were hundreds of them.
Beneath the coins was a leather-bound logbook. Elias opened it to the first page. The handwriting was rushed, frantic. It detailed a “side cargo” that a crew member had hidden away before a ship went down.
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