By Michelle Gonzaba
Everyone could use a little extra money, but how far would you go for millions of dollars? For Station 118 and the city of Los Angeles, it seems like there’s much that could stop them from finding that kind of payday.
Hollis Harcourt, a famous author, has died and left behind a treasure chest worth five million dollars. He has also left a poem filled with clues to the location of said treasure. Instantly, the residents of Los Angeles go completely nuts.
From a woman with a tree branch through her shoulder to a man stuck underneath a bear statue, local authorities have their hands full with emergencies and accidents. But while Athena thinks the city has gone crazy, Buck and Taylor team up to find the money. Eddie quickly joins their team. Chim and Hen aren’t too far behind; they decide to study the clues on their own.
Bobby, who rarely shows his goofy side, secretly conducts his own search for the treasure. Rationally thinking Athena can’t believe her husband would waste his time on that nonsense, but he does have some legit reasons. They could travel, buy a new house, and even retire if he found the money. Athena lets him know she isn’t the retiring type, but it doesn’t deter Bobby from his treasure hunt.
Athena is later called to the late author’s house. Harcourt’s assistant, Jeremiah, called 911 to report a possible break in. To everyone’s shock, the perpetrator is Hollis Harcourt himself!
Unsurprisingly, Harcourt is a total jerk. Jeremiah is furious that he faked his death and, along with Athena, demands to know why he did it. His reason? Writer’s block. Needing some inspiration for his yet-to-be-released book, Harcourt (may or may not have) buried the treasure and released the poem so treasure hunters could give him ideas for a possible ending. He foolishly asks Athena to keep his secret, but she has no desire to let people keep hurting themselves for a treasure that may not even exist.
Bummed out by the news, Station 118 mopes around and talks about the money they’ll never see. However, Buck still believes the money is somewhere in LA and stealthily continues his quest.
While Bobby sadly starts to throw out his treasure hunt-themed whiteboard, Athena analyzes the clue-laden poem for the first time. Even though she can’t stand the author or his scheme, she quickly figures out where the treasure is buried. She and Bobby rush to the location but find out they aren’t the only ones who finally understood the clues. Buck, Eddie, Taylor, Chim, and Hen fight with Bobby and Athena over who gets to keep the money. After they decide to split the fortune seven ways (Taylor’s camera man demanded a piece of the pie), they start to search the grounds for the chest. Unfortunately, someone else has beaten them to the money.
Station 118’s probie, who isn’t given a name, has already dug up Harcourt’s treasures. Once he gets it open, they find it completely empty. Furious, the group heads to Harcourt’s house for some answers. When they arrive, they discover his front door wide open. Once again, Athena must search the author’s house. Without much effort, she finds Harcourt (really, actually) dead on the floor.
After watching the security footage, the police discover there was no foul play. A woman, angry about the treasure hunt, entered his house and destroyed his valuables. Luckily for her, she can’t be blamed for his heart attack. Yes, she may have let him die by not completing her 911 call, but the police can’t prove anthing.
While the crew discusses their treasure hunting ordeal, Athena and Taylor figure out the truth about the five million dollars. It existed, Athena claims, but was discovered long before they figured out its location. Harcourt’s angry assistant, Jeremiah, went back to the chest and took the money after his boss admitted to faking his death. Taylor investigates Athena’s claim and discovers Jeremiah has chartered a plane to the Maldives. Sounds like the perfect place to hide away and chill with a few million bucks. It looks like Athena and Bobby will have to delay their honeymoon for a little while longer.
