by Alexie Aaron
“Looks like it. But she’s fine now.”
“Do you know what set this off?” Ted asked.
“From what I could hear, she was asked to call Angelo and he was being a jerk on the phone. I think if he were here in person, Mia would have cut his wings off.”
“Good,” Ted said. “I thought maybe it was me that set her off.”
“Well, if it was you, be glad those shrubs were handy,” Cid said, patting him on the back. “Hey, why not take the Mrs. out for drinks and a dinner?”
“Excellent idea. Taco Bell it is,” Ted said with a sly look on his face.
Chapter Three
The sound of a launch approaching the yacht forced Sabine from her sickbed. She walked up the stairs and out onto the deck to watch as the crew helped bring the Zodiac and its passengers safely aboard. It took everything she had to resist moving into the comfort of Patrick’s arms. He and Mason looked a bit defeated, but she wasn’t having any of that.
“I’m sure it’s out there somewhere. We’ve just started looking,” she said, hoping that they would set sail tonight.
Patrick looked at his brother and smiled. He reached in his pack and pulled out the scrap of French navy uniform they had found and offered it to Sabine.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“Proof that the America or another French ship landed on the island. Well, not the ship exactly, but maybe a longboat full of treasure.”
“Where did you find it?”
“At the entrance to a cave not a hundred yards from the place where we landed,” Patrick answered. “We weren’t prepared for the steepness of the cliffs, so it took us a while to make our way to the waterfalls that we saw from the water. We found two caves not fifty feet from the other. Mason and I concentrated on the shallow cave behind the falls while Kevin and Fergus made their way into the second cave. Kevin found this near the entrance to the short deeper cave.”
Sabine looked at the cloth. She knew she had to touch it and tell them whether they were right.
“I don’t know what horrors this could hold,” Patrick began. “But we could save ourselves a lot of time if we knew for sure the treasure made it off the boat.”
She held out her hand, and Patrick handed it to her.
Sabine closed her eyes and held the cloth.
Her hands disappeared and were replaced by a windburned, callused set of man’s hands as he smoothed down the front of his uniform. A man in an elaborate uniform was walking the deck. He was speaking French, a language in which Sabine didn’t know more than a few phrases. She took in the emotions of the event and realized that the strip of cloth had taken her back to the day the ship set sail for the first time.
She opened her eyes and handed it back to Patrick. “All I can tell you is, this came from a sailor who stood on the deck of the America the day it set sail. I’m sorry, I’m out of practice. Mia could tell you more.”
Patrick smiled. “You told us it was from the America. That’s what we were looking for.”
“But Mia could…”
“I don’t need to know the sailor’s life story,” Patrick said, cutting her short.
“I wouldn’t mind knowing how he lost his shirt,” Mason said dryly. “I sense he lost his life with his shirt.”
“Unless he took it off because he was trying to keep it nice,” Patrick offered.
“Honestly, do you hear yourself?” Mason asked.
“Where are Kevin and Fergus?” Sabine asked.
“They wanted to stay on the island and keep searching.”
“That’s not a good place. How could you leave them there?” Sabine asked, her voice tingeing on hysterical.
“They’re dead,” Patrick said. “What harm could befall them?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that Mia wouldn’t leave Stephen behind.”
“Um, not like she could, that guy is stuck to her,” Mason said.
“He’s smitten, but she doesn’t take him for granted,” Sabine said lamely.
“Darling, what’s really going on here?” Patrick asked.
“The island is evil. It’s called Lucifer’s Lip. Nice places don’t get named Lucifer Lip or Hell unless they have a very bad reputation. I can feel the negative vibes from here. It’s making me ill.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think how this could be affecting you. Maybe we should take you back to the nearest island. I hear St. Kitts is a nice place.”
“You’re not dumping me,” Sabine growled.
Patrick was at a loss. He could see the dark circles under her eyes. The sensible thing would be to take her to a safe place and return with a hired team to search the cave, but he feared the possible discovery of what they were doing by other treasure hunters. Gossip flew from island to island. Mason said that there were others waiting to look through the materials he was working with at the museum.
“We’ll move further away from the island for the night. Patrick and Fergus will be fine. It’s not like they can move over the saltwater anyways.”
“Then how do the ghost ships sail?” Sabine asked.
“Ghost ships? Are you talking about the Flying Dutchman?” Patrick asked.
“I’m not sure of the names. But I saw one on the horizon when I was OOBing.”
“Whoa, you OOBed alone?” Mason asked.
“Yes. It was Mia’s suggestion.”
“You’re talking to Mia Cooper?” Patrick asked. “I told you we have to be quiet about where we are and what we’re doing.”
“It’s Mia Martin,” Sabine corrected.
“It’s the Martin part I’m worried about. Her husband can’t keep quiet about anything.”
“I don’t think that’s fair,” Sabine said.
“She’s right. Ted can keep quiet when necessary. He’s just so open and honest otherwise,” Mason commented.
“So, you’re taking advice from Mia…” Patrick prodded.
“I’m in pain. I was frightened. I called her.”
“What did she say…”
“Not much beyond telling me how I could get some relief from the constant onslaught of negativity radiating off that island.”
“How does OOBing do that?” Patrick asked.
“It doesn’t, but it helped me to research how the destructive vibes are getting to me. To show me if they were sent on purpose.”
“Are they?” Patrick asked.
“No. It’s just that it’s a place of evil, and evil naturally has a horrible aura.”
“But it’s so beautiful,” Mason said.
“So is a Venus flytrap,” Sabine said. “You’re not telling me all of it. You’ve seen something.”
“I saw a line of ghosties, courtesy of these glasses. Mason took some pictures, but Kevin said it was a group of ghosts from several different centuries, including this one.”
“People do fall prey to snakes and foul weather. I don’t think if a hurricane set in that anyone would survive long on the island. They’d have to take refuge in the caves, and they are quite a climb,” Mason reasoned.
“There is something else there,” Sabine insisted. “Were you followed by any of the ghosts?”
“Not that we could tell. We took the advice of the locals and kept to the rocks,” Patrick said.
“Why would the rocks protect you from ghosts?” Sabine asked, not expecting an answer. “Unless it acts as an insulator… No, that doesn’t make any sense,” she said, frustrated.
“I’m going to talk to the captain about relocating for the night. There are a couple of friendlier isles that we may want our yacht seen by, just in case Ted’s being chatty on the internet,” Patrick said, looking at his smart phone.
Mason waited until he was gone before speaking, “Sabine, it was Kevin’s suggestion they stay. He hates being on the water and wanted to nose around the island unencumbered by our being there.”
“I see. Sorry, I’m just so nervous. That’s why I get sick. I have all these gifts, but half of them paralyze me.”
“Patrick is stoked that you’re with us. Don’t worry about impressing him. He’s very fond of you. Speaking of, he’s a player, Sabine.”
Sabine smiled. “I know, it’s just nice to have someone to flirt with. It’s been too long,” she said wistfully. “I also know that I’m his second choice.”
“Beg your pardon?”
“His first love is adventure.”
“For a minute there…”
“You thought I was going to say Mia?”
“Well, yes.”
“No. Although Patrick likes a challenge, he won’t cross the line of family,” Sabine said.
“I don’t understand. Ted’s not family.”
Sabine smiled sweetly. “I wasn’t talking about Ted.”
“Me? I’m not in love with Mia,” Mason clarified.
“Do I need to spell it out for you? Stephen Murphy.”
“But he’s dead.”
“Mason, Stephen is only physically dead. His soul is alive, and even though Mia doesn’t want him, Stephen considers Mia his. Patrick wouldn’t cross that line.”
“That’s screwed up. I think we need to find Stephen a ghost girlie to dote on and give the Martins a break.”
“It couldn’t hurt,” Sabine said.
“Are you sure he’s hell-bent on Mia?” Mason said. “They are famous friends.”
“You just have to look at the way he looks at her when she’s not looking.”
“What if she saw the way he looks at her?” Mason asked.
“Mia would slap him upside the head,” Sabine said and laughed. “I think she has several times.”
“How do you know all this?”
“I read emotions better than other things. I’ve made the mistake in the past of just blurting things out. Needless to say, I’m not real popular when I do this.”
“Secrets of the heart need to be kept secret,” Mason said sagely.
“Yes, especially if it would hurt someone else.”
~
Mia sat in the stands and watched Dieter and Mark practice. The Martins had given Lazar a few days off to help the Popovs settle into the farm they purchased. Since Lazar set them straight that he didn’t want to live at the farm with his family right now, they opted to rent an airstream for them to live in until the main building of the hog-raising facility could be renovated to be used as a house and greenhouse. Lazar’s father had already moved the large farm equipment into some of the large outbuildings.
Mia suggested that they consult with Audrey on the best way to make the adjustments the building would need to be considered a home, and Cid volunteered some of his spare time to help draw up building plans so they could get the go-ahead from the county. Presently, Ted and Mia were staying out of anything Popov after finding out that the family didn’t approve of Lazar’s relationship with them.
“We’re notorious,” Ted said, hugging his wife. “Get used to it.”
“As long as it’s we and not just you or me,” Mia said with a giggle.
Mia looked out onto the field and saw how much her adopted son loved what he was doing. She too liked sports, but her diminutive height and oddness had left her on the sidelines when she was in school. Mia thought about how well she was doing learning to fight. She liked the athleticism of it more and more. Mia wondered if she should consider a fencing class, something less barbaric that she could do in her spare time.
She laughed at the thought. “Here I am, thinking about ways to do battle in my spare time.”
“Whatcha doing?” a voice she hadn’t heard in years asked her.
Mia turned and couldn’t believe her eyes. “Whit?”
“The one and only. Come on, give me a hug that will start the gossips up,” he said, pulling her to her feet.
The tall, handsome, former lover of Mia wrapped his strong arms around her and squeezed her hard. Mia pushed him away after enjoying a minute of the embrace.
“Whoa, mister, I’m a married lady,” she said, smiling.
“I heard you’re still with the string bean. Whatcha doing here?”
“My son Dieter is practicing. I thought it was easier to stay and watch the practice than killing time in town.”
“I thought you just had little ones.”
“I thought Tom would have said something. See that tall, black drink of water running into the end zone. That’s my adopted son, Dieter.”
“He’s got good hands,” Whit said. “Mind if I sit and watch with you?”
Mia looked at the nearly deserted stands and said, “Well, it is the only available seat.”
He laughed.
“How are you?” Mia asked.
“I’m well. I had business out this way and thought I’d stop in and watch the practice.”
“Do you miss playing?”
“Yes and no. No, I don’t miss the aching muscles, but yes, I miss the adoration of all my fans.”
Mia shook her head. “I’m sure you have fans. You can’t walk down the street without making the females swoon.”
“I need to hire you as my PR person.”
“Are you still with the Feds?”
“Yes. Actually, I’ve been asked to do a little international work.”
“Aha! You’re investigating Beverly. Is she still ripping off the lords and ladies of the UK?”
“Not that has come to my attention. Actually, I’m working on a disappearance in the Caribbean.”
“Oh my god, Sabine is in the Caribbean.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“We’ve been monitoring the satellite-phone calls coming out of the area where my group of missing persons were heard from last. My team mentioned that two calls came from there just today.”
“To me. Wow, you guys work fast. How’d you know where to find me?”
Whit lifted an eyebrow. “Your phone. Why is she there?”
“How far is this going?” Mia asked.
“Depends on how it impacts my case.”
Mia thought a while. “Sabine is there with two other friends looking for clues on a pirate treasure of all things.”
Whit laughed. “Pirate treasure?”
“Yup.”
“How credible is the information?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. I assumed that Gerald Shem, who is partially financing the endeavor, is just trying to lure Sabine away from raising her triplets full-time and back into business. But her last call bothers me.”
“How so?”
“She said that the island they are presently looking at has so much negative energy flowing off it that it’s making her ill. She’s never had a strong stomach. Evil makes her ill.”
“She wasn’t much of a help in the hollow,” Whit said.
“But she was strong enough to transport Sherry to the MoMA,” Mia reminded him. “Speaking of, is she still there?”
“Don’t know. I haven’t been there in a while.”
Mia watched Whit’s face for any sign he wanted to talk about Sherry.
He didn’t. “Back to the Caribbean. What do you know about the island?”
“Ah, gee. Let me think. It’s called Lucifer’s Lip. It has a very bad reputation. The locals call it Lanfè which means…”
“Hell.”
“You speak French?” Mia asked.
“Spent some time there recently. I’d tell you more, but I’d have to kill you.”
“You could try,” Mia said, her eyes on the field. “But you wouldn’t succeed.”
“You must be talking about your bodyguard Murphy. How is the old fella?”
“He still has my back.”
“How’s Ted handling that?”
“Ask him,” Mia suggested. “If this is your roundabout way of prying into my personal life, let me help you out. I love my husband. He is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. We had two amazing sons together and adopted a third. He supports what I do, and I love him, Whit. Not sort of love. Love, love.”
“Shit,
Mia. You don’t have to rub it in. String bean got lucky.”
“No. I’m the lucky one.”
“He stole you from me.”
Mia thought a moment. “If it makes you feel better to think that, then go for it. What do I care?”
“Ouch, Mia, you’re really being a bitch.”
“Gee, Whitney Pee Pants, I am, aren’t I?” Mia said, standing up. “If you will excuse me, I’m going to relocate to a less ego-laden part of the stands.”
“Wait. I’m sorry. You just bring out the bad in me.”
Mia turned and looked down. “We gave it a shot, and it didn’t work out. Ted didn’t steal me. I’m not anyone’s property to steal. I just realized that you and I weren’t a good match. We each need to be adored and not by each other.”
“You’re probably right,” he conceded.
Dieter sipped on a Gatorade while watching his mother in the stands. Mark walked up.
“Mark, do you have any idea who that guy is?” Dieter asked.
“No. Why?”
“He’s been arguing with my mother for a while now.”
“Want me to go up there?” Mark asked. “The coach told me I was finished for the day. I’m afraid I may be finished for good.”
“Why?”
“This is Varsity. I’m not going to make the team.”
“Then I don’t want to play,” Dieter said.
“But our team needs you. Tell you what, if I don’t make the cut, I’ll try to get the stat position. I’m not going to be the water boy, but keeping the stats sounds like fun.”
“Wouldn’t you rather play?”
“And get pounded by linebackers? No.”
“Martin, start warming up,” the coach called over. “I want to see how good Bentley’s arm is.”
“Yes, sir,” Dieter said. He turned to Mark. “Go up there. I don’t want anybody upsetting my mom.”
Mark smiled. He grabbed his gear and started climbing the stands. He got within earshot and slowed his progress. Mia hadn’t seen him yet.
“I can tell you want something from me, Whit. Just come out with it and save us both a lot of time.”
“I want you to come down to the Caribbean with me.”
