by Kathi Daley
The three of us, along with Blackbeard, headed downstairs to wait. When Blackbeard saw his cage, he flew in through the open door and settled on his perch.
“Close the door, close the door.”
I did as Blackbeard instructed. It appeared he was happy to be home. I gave the colorful bird one of the cookies the deputy had told me about and turned back toward Kyle, who was grinning at the turn of events.
“Looks like we can add a bird to our menagerie.”
“Looks like,” I agreed. “We’ll have to keep an eye on the cats. As long as Blackbeard is in the cage he should be safe, but we’ll need to watch him if we let him out. It sounds like there’s a car in the drive.”
Kyle and I returned to the front of the house, where Doc was speaking to a man who identified himself as working for the local mortuary. Doc showed him to the stairway that led to the attic and then rejoined Kyle and me.
Once Buck’s body had been removed and Deputy Savage had gone, my entourage and I set to making our temporary house into a home while avoiding the attic completely. Doc, Kyle, and Grandpa began to unload the moving van we’d hired while my sisters, Ashley and Gracie, each picked out a bedroom. I decided it was best to call Garrett to let him know what was going on before he heard about it from anyone else.
It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and the air temperature hovered in the mid-eighties. I grabbed a diet soda from the ice chest we’d used for the trip east and headed out onto the deck behind the house, which overlooked a sandy beach and the deep blue sea. As I dialed the phone I braced myself for Garrett’s reaction. I expected him to be saddened by what had occurred, but instead of grief, the emotion I picked up on was anger.
“Dammit. I told Buck that his incessant hunt for the treasure was going to get him killed. The man had a head as thick as his waistline.”
“Treasure?”
“Barkley’s Treasure. Remember, I told you about it when you visited that summer.”
I thought back to my time on the island and tried to remember what Garrett and I had talked about. “The man in the café in town,” I remembered. “He interrupted our lunch to ask you about a map. I wondered what map and you told me a story about a pirate and his treasure. I thought the story was a fairytale. It was real?”
“My dad seemed to think it was real, but there are others who agree with the fairytale theory. The legend of Barkley’s treasure has been around for more than a century, and while many have searched for it, as far as I know, no one has found it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real.”
“So you think Buck was in your attic looking for treasure?”
“I think he was in the attic looking for a map. Chances are he shot off his mouth about the dang thing and someone followed him to the house.”
“So there actually is a map hidden in your attic?”
“Not anymore. My mother destroyed it after my dad died.”
“Why would your mom destroy a map that was supposed to lead to a treasure?”
“She blamed the map for both my grandfather’s and my father’s deaths. Some think that she acted rashly, but I don’t blame her for doing what she did. I’ve seen what greed can do to a person. I tried to tell Buck that the map was long gone, but he thought I was holding out on him.”
“So there’s no map to find.”
“’Fraid not.”
I realized something wasn’t adding up. I thought the resort had been in Garrett’s family for four generations, but based on what he’d just told me it didn’t sound like the men from whom he’d descended had devoted much time to building and running a resort. “If your grandfather and father were treasure hunters, who did you inherit the resort from?”
“My mother, God rest her soul. Unlike my father, who was a dreamer, my mother was a pragmatist. She worked hard to make the resort her father left her profitable while raising me on her own. The resort meant a lot to her, and it means a lot to me. Thank you again for agreeing to oversee the renovations and the sale of the property. I won’t be able to rest until I know the property is in the hands of someone who will maintain the integrity of the lifestyle my family worked so hard to create.”
“It really is a great property, and I agree it would be a shame to tear down the house and cabins to build a high-rise.”
“It would be more than just a shame; it would be a tragedy. Do you know that we have turtles that return to the beach just beyond cabin twelve to nest every year? And the marsh to the west of the property is home to a huge variety of birds and other wildlife that depend on a pristine environment to thrive. There are plenty of islands in the area that cater to people looking for the megaresort experience, but Gull Island has always been a place to escape the insanity of modern-day life and take a step back in time.”
I could tell that Garrett was passionate about his desire to protect the integrity of the land he’d inherited and found I agreed with him. Allowing a developer to come in and build a megaresort would ruin the personality of Gull Island.
“Don’t worry. I’ll find you the perfect buyer,” I promised.
“You should talk to Meg over at the museum. She also runs the local turtle rescue organization. She can provide you with the education you need to take over as the guardian of the turtles who nest on Turtle Beach while you’re occupying the property.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Meg is really something. She’ll talk your ear off, but you won’t find a finer woman anywhere. Saving the turtles is a popular movement on the island. Chances are you’ll run into a chap by the name of Digger on the beach. He’s very active in the rescue movement. Some would say too active.”
“What do you mean?”
“He tends to take his mission to protect the turtles and the eggs to the next level. Been known to run people off with a pellet gun if he finds them disturbing the nests.”
“If I run into him, I’ll tread lightly,” I promised.
I paused and listened as Garrett spoke to someone in the background regarding his physical therapy. Kyle walked into the room with Blackbeard on his shoulder while I waited for Garrett to return to the conversation. “Playing pirate?”
Kyle laughed. “Maybe.”
“Pirate’s treasure, pirate’s treasure.”
“Is that Blackbeard?” Garrett came back on the line.
“Yeah. He’s playing pirate with my friend Kyle.”
Garrett chuckled. “That’s his favorite game, but I thought he was at the veterinarian’s.”
I thought quickly. “He was, but he was homesick, so we decided it was best for him to stay here until you’re recovered enough to have him with you.”
“I’m really happy to hear that. I sure do miss the big guy.”
“I’m sure he misses you as well. Have you had any news on when you might be able to return to Gull Island?”
“The doctors aren’t saying, which is frustrating. Everyone keeps reminding me that I’ve had a serious setback and need to be patient, but between you and me I’m done being patient.”
“Hang in there. I’m sure everyone just wants to make sure that you take the time you need.”
“I guess. As much as I am enjoying chatting with you, the nurse is motioning me to hang up. I’m not a fan of the therapy they have me doing, but I’ve found resisting doesn’t get me anywhere, so I suppose I should say goodbye.”
“If you want to regain your mobility you need to do what the therapist tells you.”
“Yes, Mother. Feel free to call again with any questions you might have about the property.”
“I will. And Garrett, take care. I really would like to see you back to your old self.”
I hung up, and Kyle moved Blackbeard’s cage into the living room, where he could be around the family, while I headed upstairs to see if everyone was getting settled in. The resident’s house was a large
structure that at one time had been used as a lodge. There were ten bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a large common room, a huge kitchen, and a roomy dining area. The girls had picked out a room for me at the back of the house overlooking the beach. It was by far the nicest room in the house, and I was touched they’d saved it for me and one of them hadn’t claimed it. Ashley had taken a room at the end of the hall, and Gracie took the room between the two of us. Both Doc and Grandpa Ben had chosen rooms at the front of the house, and Kyle had decided to bunk in the bedroom off the kitchen downstairs.
“I guess we should have stopped at the grocery store on our way out here,” Kyle commented after he’d returned Blackbeard to his cage and joined me.
“I didn’t want the animals to have to wait in the car. Once we get them settled we can head into town for a bite to eat. I remember there being a diner on the pier that had fabulous food. It was owned by one of the nicest women I’ve ever met. I’m not sure she’s still on the island, but we need to eat and the view is spectacular.”
“Sounds like a good plan. If you want to make me a grocery list, we can take two cars into town and I’ll stop to pick up some essentials after we eat while you finish getting everyone settled.”
“What about the van rental? We’ll need to return it to the dealer in Charleston. I guess I can follow you over with the car.”
“We’ll take care of that in a day or two. Maybe even next week some time. Let’s get everyone settled in first. I have a feeling that both the kids and the animals will be able to begin to relax once we establish some sort of a regular routine.”
“Speaking of the animals, have you seen the cats?”
“I locked them in one of the bedrooms upstairs until we get everything unpacked. I didn’t want them getting out.”
“Good idea. We’ll need to be sure the girls understand that we need to keep the door to Blackbeard’s cage closed to protect him from the resident felines.”
“I already had a talk with them about that very thing,” Kyle assured me. “What did Garrett have to say?”
“He thinks Buck was in the attic looking for a map Garrett claims his mother destroyed years ago after his father died looking for some treasure. According to Garrett, that treasure seems to have invited any number of dreamers to the island, all of them certain they have what it takes to find long-lost gold. It’s Garrett’s opinion that Buck told someone about the map, and that someone followed him to the house and killed him.”
“If the map was destroyed, we know the person who killed Barnes didn’t find it. Do you think they’ll come back around looking for it?”
“I suppose it’s possible, but they’d have to get past three dogs and four cats.”
Kyle laughed. “In spite of our intimidating menagerie I think I’ll have an alarm installed. As far as I’m concerned, the real treasure is the people living in the house and I want to be certain everyone is safe.”
Chapter 2
I’d fallen in love with Gertie Newsome, owner of Gertie’s on the Wharf, the moment I met her when I’d visited as a child. The free spirit with a long gray braid that hung down the back of her bright pink peasant top was a large woman with an equally large personality. She was loud and opinionated and reminded me a lot of Doc, who was one of the most gregarious people I had ever met.
“Come on over here and give me some sugar.” Gertie wrapped me in a bear hug that, due to her ample bosom and my petite stature, threatened to suffocate me. “Garrett told me you were coming to the island for the summer.” Gertie pushed me away slightly. “Just look at you. Ain’t you a sight for sore eyes?”
“I’ve missed you too.” I smiled at her. She was one of the few people I remembered meeting during my time on the island.
“Are these here your youngins?”
I took a step back. “This is Ashley and Gracie. They’re actually my half-sisters, but I’ve been their guardian since my mom died.”
“Come on over here and give Auntie Gertie a hug.” Gertie opened her arms and enveloped both sisters. Gracie, who was eight, seemed to be thrilled with the attention of the unreserved woman, but Ashley, who was eleven and much less comfortable with public displays of affection, looked like she wanted to kick her. I quickly ushered the girls into a booth while Gertie greeted Kyle.
“You certainly have a great location out here on the wharf,” Kyle politely commented as he quickly slid into the booth, I imagined, to avoid his own bear hug.
“Best spot on the island. Best food too. I bet you’re a fish-and-chips kind of guy. I made them fresh with fish caught this morning.”
“Sounds good,” Kyle replied.
“And you.” Gertie smiled at Doc as she placed a hand on his shoulder. “What a fine specimen of a man. Strong and ample. I bet you’re a beef eater. I have a prime rib sandwich with coleslaw that will stick to your ribs.”
I was pretty sure Doc actually blushed as he agreed that he would indeed be interested in the dinner option Gertie had suggested.
Gertie correctly guessed that Grandpa would like the meatloaf, the girls would like grilled cheeses with fries, and I’d like a seafood salad. When she nailed the drink orders as well I was convinced she was some sort of food psychic.
I looked around the room while Gertie assembled our drinks and sent our order to the kitchen. The interior of the café was tastefully decorated with bleached fishing nets hung on walls adorned with items from the sea. The walls were painted a light blue that accentuated the white of the nets and brought a feeling of lightness to the open and airy room. There were windows along three of the walls that looked out over the harbor, which was dotted with colorful boats bobbing to and fro on the gentle waves. The exterior of the building had been set up to accommodate outdoor dining, currently closed due to routine maintenance before the busy summer season kicked off.
“Can I go watch the boats come in?” Gracie asked.
I looked out the window. It didn’t appear that going out onto the deck would be a problem in spite of the fact that it wasn’t set up to serve food.
“I’ll go with her,” Kyle offered.
“I want to come,” Ashley joined in.
“Okay, but only for a few minutes. I’m sure it won’t take too long for us to get our food.”
Doc decided to go with Kyle and the girls and Grandpa announced his intention to go wash up, which left me sitting alone at the table.
“Heard about Buck,” Gertie said after delivering our drinks. “Such a damn shame.”
“That was fast.”
“Island gossip hotline. It’s faster and more dependable than the nightly news.”
“I see. I guess that’s a reliable perk of small-town life. We have a similar network back home in Serenity, but I’m not sure it’s quite as fast as your network.”
“News doesn’t always travel quite that fast, but the woman who answers the phone for the sheriff is a friend of mine. She called me two minutes after you called her to let me know that you’d found a body in the attic. I didn’t find out that it was Buck until after Deputy Savage returned to the office.”
“I guess the news must have come as quite a shock.”
“Not really. Everyone knew that treasure was going to get Buck killed. He was a nice guy. It really is a damn shame everyone was right.”
“Did you know him well?”
Gertie tilted her head as if considering my question. “Buck was one of those sweet old guys who was born and raised on the island but never did amount to anything. He was as nice as nice can be, but he wasn’t carrying a full deck, if you know what I mean. The proprietors in the area sort of adopted him. He never could hold down a job, but we all looked out for him, paying him to sweep up and do other odd jobs.”
“That’s really nice.”
“You know that those of us who make the island our home are like a family.”
I did rem
ember that in spite of the angst I harbored the summer of my visit, those I did let in were some of the nicest people I’d ever met.
“You mentioned that the treasure was most likely responsible for Barnes’s death, but it looked to me like someone killed him.”
Normally I wouldn’t bring up this particular subject in a dining establishment, but it was an off time of day—late for lunch and early for dinner—so, other than whoever was in the kitchen, Gertie and I were the only ones there.
“Buck was an outgoing sort who would more likely than not strike up a conversation with anyone he happened across in the course of his day. While that’s something those of us who knew him well loved about him, he did have a tendency to attract attention from certain individuals he was better off not fraternizing with.”
“Like who?”
“Like tourists who came to the island chasing after the same legend Buck devoted his life to. He had an arsenal of stories at his disposal, some true but most made up. He’d get to sharing his experiences with total strangers who caught the fever after hearing one of Buck’s elaborate tales.”
“And no one tried to stop him from talking?”
“We did. But Buck was a stubborn one, and to be honest, the treasure hunters who visit this area make up a significant percentage of our annual tourism. I guess none of us wanted to squelch Buck’s enthusiasm completely.”
“Can you think of anyone specific who seemed like they could be a threat to Buck?”
Gertie paused. “You thinking of digging around in this?”
“No, not at all. I’m just curious.”
“Uh-huh.” Gertie looked at me doubtfully. “Your daddy was in last summer when he was on the island visiting Garrett. We shared a spot of moonshine while we caught up. He told me that you’d turned into some sort of an amateur detective. Seems like a mysterious death your first day on the island would be something you PI types would be interested in following up on.”
