EPILOGUE
Two days had passed since Townsend, Peri, Chauncey, and Auntie Mick left for Grand Turk with the prisoner and the bodies of James, Mulee, Remy, and Samuel.
That morning Jac had awakened early and slipped outside before anyone was up. He was expecting Peri back that afternoon so he decided to take a swim. His body ached from the adventure of the previous week, and he needed to work the kinks out.
Abi and Mandrago sat on the beach while Jac was swimming, “Dad, what’s involved in dividing the treasure?” Abi asked. Mandrago had insisted she call him Dad.
“There is a lot of red tape. Peri will contact the local government to inform them of the find and file claims on behalf of you and Chauncey. Then Peri, along with a government representative—usually an archeologist—will return to the site and begin the tedious task of photographing and cataloging the individual pieces. All the treasure will be held pending publication to notify potential claimants in accordance with the law. If there are other claimants, they can file a petition showing proof of their rights to the treasure. Once the time period ends for filing, all claims will be investigated, and the findings will be given to the court of jurisdiction. Escrow will close, and the government and the successful claimants will be awarded shares according to the substantive proof of their right. The government will get the greater share based on the law. Their rights emanate from the fact that the treasure was found either on land or in the sea within the confines of their defined territory.”
“What are they going to do with Remy’s body?”
“Townsend, Chauncey, and Auntie Mick will make arrangements for the bodies to be sent home,” Mandrago said. “Remy’s body might wind up buried here in a pauper’s cemetery or in the ocean. Depends on his relatives. His brother could petition for his body to be sent to Virginia. Townsend will file all the necessary paperwork and assist Chauncey and Auntie Mick in making arrangements for James and Mulee’s bodies to be returned to Jamaica. Townsend will also make arrangements for the others.”
“We don’t have to stay here until the court rules. Do we?”
“No. It will take months to figure out. You and Chauncey will be notified once the investigation is completed and a determination of your rights has been made.”
“Good. Jac and I need some time—to see if we can have a life together.”
“Look, Doc,” said Mandrago, “my boy loves you very much. You both have dealt with the past, so don’t let it be a barrier to your happiness. I can see you love him very much.”
“I never stopped loving him.”
Jac stood on the stairway and listened for a minute before revealing his presence. “I love you too, Abi.”
They heard the sound of air being thrashed by blades, and they climbed up on deck to look up in the sky. The helicopter was approaching the island.
Roni had told them everything she knew about the woman who had Reg’s child. She didn’t know much, but was able to remember her name. If she had married as suspected, maybe through a search of state records in California, she could be found.
“I’ve made up my mind. The only way I can get closure is to share whatever I receive with Reg’s child,” Abi said. She now knew why Reg had treated her the way he did. Reg was a proud man who had never failed at anything he tried. Except, in his mind, he had failed at marriage.
“It’s your call,” Jac said. “You can do anything you want.”
After Peri and Townsend left for Grand Turk, Jac called the FBI office in Washington DC and spoke to his friend, Senior Special Agent Mike Reese. He spent an hour on the phone telling him everything that had transpired to date.
“Sounds like Remy got what he deserved. And don’t worry, Jac. I’ll inform the sheriff in Virginia of Remy’s brother’s involvement. I’ll talk to my boss about opening a RICO investigation into Remy’s businesses.”
“Thanks, Mike. I’ll be sure to have Inspector Townsend contact you and send you a copy of his report.”
When the helicopter landed, Jac and Abi went ashore to meet Peri and Townsend.
Abi gave each of them a hug. “Where are Auntie Mick and Chauncey?”
“They wanted to accompany James’s body back to Jamaica,” Peri said. “But they will be back in a few days. Chauncey said she wants to spend some time with her new sister.”
“I do too.”
“Did you and Peri meet with the government officials?”
“Yes. They’re coming here by boat, and will be here tomorrow,” Peri said.
“The Tortola police found Kincaid’s body floating offshore on Tortola. His neck had been snapped,” Townsend said.
“I hope he is burning in hell!” Abi said.
“Mulee’s man—the one Mandrago and Michael captured—told me that Remy and Mulee killed Kincaid. It was right after he returned to the hotel after leaving Mulee in Auntie Mick’s house.”
“I talked to my FBI contact,” said Jac to Townsend. “He’s calling the sheriff in Virginia to take care of Remy’s brother. And, he is recommending they open an investigation into Remy’s racketeering. Can you call him and send him a copy of your report?”
“Absolutely, I’ll send him the whole package, including photographs.”
“Okay, guys,” Peri said, “enough about business. We have the night to ourselves before the archeologist arrives.” He smiled. “I brought back the makings of a feast. So let’s get to the Adventurer so I can perform some culinary magic.”
“I’ve been craving a nice juicy hamburger,” Jac said.
Everyone laughed at the startled expression on Peri’s face.
Three days later, Jac, Abi, and Mandrago took the helicopter to Grand Turk and picked up Chauncey and Auntie Mick at the airport. Then, for the next two days, everyone worked helping Peri and the archeologist photograph and catalog the treasure.
On their last day on the island, Mandrago, Michael, Roni, and Auntie Mick went fishing and caught several snappers and a twenty-pound wahoo.
It was a beautiful, balmy day under a powder-blue sky without clouds. Peri decided to prepare the food on the beach. Auntie Mick and Roni lit torches they found on the Adventurer and lined them in a circle for an island luau.
Peri prepared the fish with wild herbs and edible flowers he found on the island. Besides the vegetables and fruit he had brought back from Grand Turk, he found pineapple, and Roni and Michael pick several coconuts that were full of milk. Before sunset they feasted on the gourmet fare he’d prepared.
After dinner everyone sat in a circle while Jac, Peri, Abi, and Chauncey told the story of the search for the treasure to the archeologist. Abi and Chauncey then gave the archeologist copies of the maps made by Anne Bonney and Mary Read when they buried the treasure. The original maps and Chauncey’s family Bible would be donated to the museum in Kingston, Jamaica.
The sun was ending its long journey across the sky. The sounds of sea birds calling as they scurried across the sky, blended with the green sweet fragrance of the jungle and sea, air was intoxicating.
Walking barefooted at the water’s edge, Jac and Abi stopped to watch the sunset. Jac reached out and took Abi into his arms. “This is where we start our future,” he said. “Our dark clouds are gone.”
“Our future …” Abi stood up on her tiptoes and kissed Jac on the lips.
A moment later they watched the last remnant of the sun disappearing into the sea. And suddenly a bright green flash lit up the sky.
Abi saw it first—an apparition: Two women in a small boat rowing away from the island.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robert James Glider holds bachelor’s and law degrees, and was a senior vice president in a large corporation. Now semi-retired, he is an adventurer and explorer who enjoys traveling throughout the Caribbean, Hawaii, and South America to conduct research for his novels. Glider, his wife and daughter reside in Florida wher
e they sail, snorkel, and dive. Golden Legacy is the second novel in the series of Jacsen Kidd adventures. His first book, Golden Conspiracy, can be found online. A third book is underway to complete the series.
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