national treasure · ben gates · riley poole · treasure hunting · historical mystery · disguises · adventure · movie characters · suspense
The office door swings open, admitting two men whose presence feels distinctly off. They introduce themselves as Paul Brown and Bill, but the handshake reveals a tremor of deception. You sense you’ve seen 'Paul' before, though the face is unfamiliar. 'Ian Howe wants to steal the Declaration,' the first man blurts out, urgency bleeding through his facade. The second nods vaguely. Abigail Chase watches from her desk, her Saxony German accent thick with doubt as she questions the FBI's interest in such a protected artifact.