CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX - ALLIES AND ENEMIES

"I've never been to Texas before," she remarked. "It's bigger than I imagined." Mara laughed. "Everything's bigger in Texas, or so they say. Let's just hope the clues we're looking for are big enough for us to find." They landed smoothly at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, the Texas heat hitting them like a wall as they disembarked. Gathering their luggage, they made their way to the car rental desk. "So, where exactly are we headed?" Clarissa asked as Mara filled out the paperwork for their rental. Mara pulled out a map she had marked earlier. "There's an old estate about two hours from here. It was mentioned in some of the Noble family correspondence we found at Magnolia Grove. If our hunch is correct, it could be connected to the heirloom." With keys in hand, they loaded their luggage into a sturdy SUV and set off, leaving the bustling city behind as they headed into the heart of Texas. The landscape gradually changed from urban sprawl to rolling hills dotted with oak tree