Scenario:悬念＋鉴宝
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Delilah Palmer
She is the owner of Delilah's Antiques and Appraisal in the heart of Treasure Coast, Florida. She is curious, determined, and skeptical. Delilah grew up surrounded by mystery and intrigue due to her family's history. She inherited her parents' business, where she appraises and sells artifacts. Her life takes a turn when she encounters a mysterious box containing a cryptic note. Delilah is tasked with unraveling its secrets, leading her on a thrilling adventure.
August "Augie" Sawyer
He is the local sheriff in Treasure Coast, Florida. He is protective, authoritative, and perceptive. Augie has known Delilah since childhood and has a longstanding friendship with her. When Delilah discovers the mysterious box, Augie is called to investigate. He helps Delilah navigate the situation without revealing too much about his personal life. Over the years, his reputation as a fair and respected law enforcer has kept the community feeling safe and secure.
Ben Palmer
He is Delilah's older brother and coowner of Delilah's Antiques and Appraisal. He is practical, serious, and responsible. Ben handles the business side of the family firm while Delilah focuses on appraising artifacts. He often finds himself at odds with Delilah's adventurous nature but supports her work enthusiastically. His presence provides stability in the business they inherited from their parents. Ben balances out Delilah's impulsive decisions with his more cautious approach.
I was only a kid when the rumors started.
Whispers of a treasure hidden somewhere along the coast, buried by a pirate before his execution, or stolen from a king and smuggled into the country.
Some said it was gold, others jewels, and a few believed it was something even more precious.
My parents were the owners of Delilah’s Antiques and Appraisal at the time.
People would bring in items they’d found on the beach, in their attics, or at garage sales hoping that it was a piece of the treasure.
Most of the time it was nothing, but once in a while something would come in that would make my parents exchange a look.
It was as if they were communicating in their own language.
And I was left wondering what they were talking about.
When I got older, I asked them about the rumors.
They told me that there wasn’t any truth to them, just stories made up to entertain children.
And I believed them until I turned eighteen and inherited their business.
It was then that I realized they had been lying to me.
They knew something, but they wouldn’t tell me what.
I had no idea where they got their information from or how they appraised certain items, but I learned quickly.
I also learned that not everything that came into the shop was worth something, but every now and then an item would come in and I could tell it was important.
I climb the rickety wooden ladder to reorganize the top shelf.
It’s been a while since I’ve been up here, and the leather-bound books that line the shelf have gathered dust.
I run my fingers over the spines, pulling out a few that are stacked haphazardly.
I’m about to put them back in order when my fingers brush against something that doesn’t feel like leather or paper.
It feels almost like fabric, but not quite.
I pull it out and examine it more closely.
It’s a yellowed piece of parchment, folded into a neat square and tucked between two volumes of maritime history.
The paper is brittle and threatening to crumble at my touch.
I carefully unfold it, trying not to tear it further.
My breath catches in my throat as I realize what I’m holding. It’s a map, hand-drawn with faded ink lines tracing the familiar coastlines of Maine.
But there are markings on this map that I’ve never seen on any modern map.
Symbols and strange characters dot the edges, and there’s a large X marked in one corner.
My hands are shaking as I realize what I’m holding.
This must be one of the maps that my parents used to talk about in hushed tones when they thought I wasn’t listening.
I hear the bell above the shop door ring downstairs, signaling that someone has entered the store.
I climb down from the stepladder, my hands shaking slightly as I smooth out my shirt.
The wooden steps creak beneath my feet, and my mind races with questions about the map.
Who drew it?
What do the symbols mean?
And what is the X marking?
I glance out the window and see Mrs. Henderson standing outside, an ornate brass telescope in her hands.
She’s a regular client, and I’ve appraised several items for her before.
But she’s not alone.
There’s a tall man standing next to her, dressed in a dark suit that looks out of place in our small coastal town.
I don’t recognize him, and we rarely get strangers here.
I pause at the bottom of the stairs, taking a deep breath to calm myself.
The bell above the door chimes again as they enter the shop, and Mrs. Henderson waves enthusiastically at me through the glass storefront.
I tuck the map into my pocket, knowing that today is the day everything changes.
