True Treasure: Real - Life History Mystery

by Lisa Grace

  Della shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know. I always take Dramamine before boat trips. I don’t want to find out if I’m the kind of person who does or not.”

  “Got an extra patch? It’s been a while for me. I want to make sure I can get off a clear shot if I have to. Julian’s only got one leg left, I’d hate to shoot it out from under him.”

  Della groaned. “I don’t think I can take the bad jokes. Not a whole week of them.”

  “Did you bring a gun?”

  “Three. I traveled light.”

  Della pulled a travel bag onto the bed and began packing. “I’m nuts. This trip is nuts. You’re nuts.”

  “And the island is nuts. Cocos mean coconuts.” Ray came over and hugged Della. “I’m glad you decided to join the club.” He kissed her, then said, “Caño can mean cane or grey hair, or white hair, from old Spanish.”

  “Great, because thinking about everything that can go wrong, I'm getting grey hair.”

  Ray looked at Della's sleek chestnut hair and held up one stray. “Actually, yours is a beautiful shade of silver. I wouldn’t let one or two silver hairs steer you clear of all the fun.”

  “You’re incorrigible.”

  “Thank you. That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me since we got here.”

  Della turned around and returned Ray’s hug. “I’m sorry. Thanks for the adventure.”

  Ray laughed. “That’s more like it. Let’s go spy on the kids and the bad guys.”

  Della laughed, then took a deep breath. “Right.” She picked up one of her guns, slammed in an ammo clip, then checked the safety before tucking it daintily into her purse.

  ***

  Down at the docks, Ray rented a boat without a driver. Della climbed onboard with two canvas bags. She looked like a beautiful movie actress ready for a shoot on the water. She wore a big oversized floppy hat, oversized sunglasses, and a sheer cover up covering a fitted one piece suit.

  All the men at the docks had their eyes on Della. She cut a pretty picture. Ray purposely over choked the engine so it didn’t start. After waiting five minutes he tried again. Ray took off from the dock inexpertly almost falling in the water as he cast off with the ropes. One of the captains who’d been watching chuckled and shook his head. They looked like tourists out for a leisurely trip on the water, just the opposite of what they really were.

  Once out, Ray hit it full throttle. He called his buddies over the radio and found their location. Ray drove around the island of Cocos and spied three boats. One in the water, one up by the shore, and another on the far side. Della had her binoculars out.

  “The one by the shore,” she said.

  They could see the people, and none were Keiko or Julian. The empty boat had to be it.

  He decided to scope out the far side of the third island. Ray cut the throttle once they were in place then took out his binoculars.

  “Do you see a name on it?”

  “Mar Estrella.”

  Ray cut the engine. He went to the cooler and then popped the top on a Coke.

  Della took off her cover, and sprayed on some sunscreen. “Can you get my back?”

  “Oh, I’ve got your back,” Ray said as he sprayed it on. Della lifted the lid on the cooler and took out a sparkling water. She went to lie on the deck and pretended to read a book, while keeping an eye on the Mar Estrella.

  Ray sat back and kicked his feet back, “Boy today would be a perfect fishing day. No fishing within five miles of the islands though.”

  Della said, “Take a nap. I can handle the first watch.”

  “Great. I think I will.”

  ***

  Two hours later, Della spoke up. “Ray, they’re back.”

  Ray stretched before sitting in the captain’s chair. “Ready? We’ll head to the next island ahead of them so it doesn’t look like we’re following.”

  Della said, “Sure,” got up, and went to sit beneath the bimini next to Ray on the extra wide seat. Ray started the boat and pushed the throttle forward. He circled around the far side of the island and headed straight for the next one, Caño.

  They circled the island and parked sideways quite a ways off the main beach, almost out of sight. The captain of Keiko and Julian’s boat motored up, jumped off then pulled the boat very close to the shore. He anchored it off the front while Julian set the anchor off the back. The captain and Julian carried supplies ashore, then set up a tent.

  As Julian and the captain were setting up the tent, Ray called his crew on the sailboat, “Kids are on island two for the night. Keep an eye out.”

  “We got ‘em in sight,” came back the response over the radio.

  Ray turned to Della, “Hungry?”

  Della answered, “Starving.”

  Ray started the boat and headed towards the mainland. “Okay, let’s grab something to eat and see if anyone talks to el cap-i-tan.”

  ***

  Back at the dock, Della went to the tiki bar and ordered a spritzer for the both of them. Ray went to check in the boat with the rental company.

  “I’m starving. What’s good to eat?” she asked the bartender. He pointed at a board above his head.

  Della smiled at the man sitting on the other end of the bar, then looked up at the board. She casually looked over her shoulder back towards Ray and the boat, indicating to the bartender he would pay.

  Ray came over. “How about fries and a burger?”

  “I was thinking plantains.”

  “Well, don't expect me to share my burger.”

  “Just one bite.”

  “That's what you say every time. Bartender, two burgers. One with fries and one with plantains.”

  The barkeep nodded and yelled out to the kitchen.

  Ray and Della kept up the light banter while pretending not to notice every person within the area as they kept eyes on everyone within sight.

  ***

  When the captain of the Mar Estrella pulled up, the lone man sitting at the end of the bar stood up and went out to the docks to speak to him. He spoke to the captain. The captain gestured and nodded, and went about tying the boat up to the dock. He nodded again, and the man looked both ways then towards Ray at the bar. Ray threw a French fry to the seagulls and Della slapped at his hand. “Don't feed the gulls! We'll have birds pooping all over the place!”

  The man smiled at Ray after seeing Della slap at his hand. Ray shrugged. He turned back to the bar to finish his food. After eating, Ray and Della took a cab back to the hotel.

  Once there, Ray called his buddies on the boat.

  “Yeah. One of the Del Costas talked to the captain. They have their eye on Keiko and Julian. Be careful.”

  “The guy at the bar was one of the gang people. I recognized him from the photo.” Della stated.

  “Yeah. Fun and games are over. I’ll alert the guys on the sailboat and I'll call Julian and let him know.”

  “He’ll know you’re here and spying on him.”

  “I’m sure he half suspected. I would anyway.”

  Ray called. “No answer. Might be a solar flare interrupting the signal. I’ll send him a text. I’m sure he’ll check his messages.”

  “He’s aware of the possibility of danger.”

  “Yeah, but he’s got a blind spot now. If Keiko weren’t involved, I think he’d be more alert.”

  “He’s got the dossiers you gave him.”

  “Yeah, but he’s in love. Will he notice the things he should? The boy’s on his honeymoon after all.”

  “If they find nothing, they should be fine.”

  “True. And what are the chances they’d be lucky enough to find the treasure they’re looking for?" Ray looked at Della, “You’re not answering.”

  “Well if it really is the map, the guy was a map maker, plus Julian and Keiko seem to be very good at what they do...”

  “So you think they will find it.”

  “If it’s still there, yes.”

  Ray sighed, “Yeah, me too.”
/>   “Just great.”

  “You’ve got your gun loaded and plenty of ammo?”

  “Gun? Come on, You saw me pack three, and plenty of clips. Don’t insult a lady.”

  Ray grinned. “Sorry. I’m used to checking and re-checking. You know, the old ‘measure twice cut once’ philosophy applied to the art of gun preparedness.”

  “I haven’t read that book yet,” Della smirked.

  “Let’s rest. I want to be prepared for when we get the call.”

  ***

  Bennett Graham and Mary

  The storm passed after taking its time over two full days. Other than the lost anchor line, the ship pulled through. Bennett sent a group of men with the carpenters to seal and bury the final hiding place of the treasure. In a chest near the top, he placed a letter wrapped in oiled cloth. The letter contained an explanation of the plight of him and his men finding the pirated broken ship on the shoals during the middle of the survey. He explained why the treasure was buried. He also put a plea for the treasure to be turned over to the King of England to decide its fate.

  He sat down and drew out a proper survey of the island naming it Caño, and labeled it carefully with the coordinates he had taken of the treasure with his sextant on the night before. He thought for a moment. After considering the possibility of the map falling into the wrong hands, he did something he’d never done before. He carefully wrote over the name Caño and changed it Cocos by scratching out the unnecessary parts and adding an ‘s’. Only a trained navigator or surveyor would be able to read the map. They would go by the coordinates and not the name. If anyone glanced at the map, and went to Cocos, they would be digging on the wrong island. For safe keeping, he put the map behind the picture Mary had drawn of him. He’d had the carpenters build a small proper frame for the canvas, and the one of Mary with her flowers.

  When he met with the King once he was home in England, he would present him the map with the location. It was time to leave the treasure and strike out on finishing the survey.

  The next day they left the cove for good and moved down the coast, surveying the rugged terrain and marking the shallows, hidden reefs, shoals and other notable landmarks. They passed three more islands during the survey, but saw no more of the pirates. This far down the coast, they were too far outside the shipping lanes for the pirates to rob, and consequently it would take too long to go to and from their prey to make it worth their while to travel this far off the shipping routes. Another week of sketching and painting for Mary, and then it would be time to head back to port, and traverse the more dangerous parts of the coast further north.

  “I have half a mind to leave you at port, and finish the rest of the journey, then come back for you when it has been accomplished,” Bennett said to Mary.

  “Absolutely not! I will not step off this ship if that is truly your intention. We will soon be parted for your voyages in the future, and it is silly to contemplate having more time apart. I have faith in the fighting talents of those aboard to keep us safe.”

  Bennett gave in. He did not want to start his marriage off on the wrong foot, and if Mary was not safe on his ship with him in command, then yes, she would not be safe anywhere on this earth.

  ***

  The day they pulled into port Mary sent a letter to her parents explaining her situation. Magdela had died of an illness at sea. She and the captain had fallen in love and they had been married. Mary begged for their forgiveness and invited them to the ship to meet her husband. She insisted they bring the priest to seal their marriage before God. Mary knew this would be a shock to her parents, and it was possible they may not forgive her or accept Captain Graham as her husband. She prayed they would have mercy, but in truth she spent a restless night waiting for their response.

  The letter she had left for them on her pillow had explained the King had commanded her to come on the voyage. While her parents were not beholden to the King of England, she knew they held him in high regard. She hoped it was high enough esteem to forgive her for her adventure and choice of husband. She knew her father's fondest wish would have been to marry her off to one of the other wealthy hacienda owners, but her father knew she had not found one male in the vicinity to her liking.

  She waited the next day until she saw a young boy deliver a message to the guard on the dock. She nervously waited for it to be relayed to Bennett.

  Soon there was a knock on the outer door.

  Bennett walked in. “A letter from your parents has arrived.”

  Mary paced, “Please read it. I am too nervous to do it on my own. I think I am going to be sick.”

  Bennett broke the seal and read the letter quietly. He smiled and said, “Everything is fine. They will be here at two o’clock for tea, all though they state they prefer coffee.” Bennett then read the letter aloud.

  Dearest daughter,

  God has answered our prayer that you are safe and whole. We are sorry to hear of the passing of Magdela. Her going to the Lord at such a time is tragic, but under the circumstances, we will approve of your union. We had higher hopes for your future as every parent does, but if God sees fit you be a Captain's wife, it is not for us to disagree with a matter that is already settled to your satisfaction.

  We will come calling with Father John this afternoon at two for tea to have him bless your marriage. We prefer coffee if the Captain drinks it.

  Love your Maman and Papa.

  Mary felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Everything would be fine now. Mama and Papa knew. They were bringing Father John to bless them too. She couldn't really expect more. They were resigned to her marriage and would let her remain in the family. It was enough.

  Mary hugged Bennett. “Thank you. Thank you!”

  “For what?”

  “You must have done something for them to write so kindly a letter.”

  “How did you know?”

  “Because it is in your nature.”

  “I did. I sent them the picture you painted of yourself with the bouquet. I wanted them to know how happy you were, and I apologized for taking you away from them.”

  “But the picture was for you!”

  “You will paint me another, won’t you?”

  “Yes, of course I will.”

  “I would rather have you than a painting of you and I am sure your parents feel the same way. It was a small price to pay for them to see how happy you are.”

  “Thank you, Bennett.”

  “You are most welcome, my love.” Bennett took Mary into his arms and gave her a kiss. Mary pulled back, “I have to dress, and do my hair. And order a proper tea from the cook. Oh dear, the priest will do the blessing, do we need anything special for him?”

  “In my experience a donation to the church is usually sufficient,” Bennett said dryly adding, “and a donation of wine for sacraments would most likely be appreciated also.”

  “Bennett, do not be so cynical.”

  “Perhaps with a large enough donation we can have him bless the ship also.”

  “What a wonderful idea.”

  Bennett cocked his head and grinned at Mary, “I cannot tell if you are being humorous back with me.”

  Mary giggled. “Are you Catholic, Bennett?”

  “Today, I will be for your sake. But tomorrow, I go back to the Church of England.”

  “Thank you, Bennett. It will mean so much to Papa and Mama.”

  Mary asked, “Do you attend services?”

  “On a ship we read from the Bible. We pray to God directly. There is no time to seek out a spiritual human leader in times of battle. There is only time for a man to talk directly to the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit.”

  “I like to talk to Him myself too. I would rather not go through a person.”

  Bennett nodded. “I will be what you need me to be to keep your priest and parents happy. You never feel closer to God than when you are fighting a strong storm at sea. You can feel God's wrath in the wind and His fury in the waves beneath your feet. The wo
od is the only thing preventing you from sinking to its watery depths. I imagine I will someday be taken by the sea.”

  “Do not talk like that! Please do not tempt God, Bennett.”

  Bennett laughed. “Our future has been decided, and we are just going where the winds take us.”

  “You do not believe we can change our destiny? That our choices affect the outcome of our lives?”

  Bennett was silent for a moment. “No. I do not believe we can change the outcome of our lives. Somewhere in the scriptures I read what was, is, and what is, will always be.”

  Mary laid out a dress from the wardrobe upon the bed, “I do believe I can change the outcome of my life. What if I had not boarded this vessel? I never would have met you.”

  Graham ran his hand along his jaw, “But you did. You came aboard of your own free will. And if you had the choice to make a thousand times, you would have always made the choice.”

  Mary shook her head, “I am sorry, but I cannot believe it.”

  Bennett said, “We will have to agree to disagree. I do not see how it matters to us, as we found each other, and love each other, for now, and forever." Bennett looked at Mary with a mischievous look on his face, "Of course, with your way of belief, we might not have been.”

  Mary gave Bennett an exasperated look to which he answered with a look of his own, raised eyebrows, and a teasing smile.

  Mary stepped into her green gown, the one she’d worn on her second meeting of Bennett, the day she felt she’d fallen in love with him, and then on the day she’d received his proposal.

  “Are you superstitious my dear?” Bennett asked as he worked at buttoning her up.

  “You cannot deny wonderful events have occurred when I wear this gown.”

  “So where is your faith in God then?”

  “I have it. But if I can weigh the meeting today in our favor, I will.”

  ***

  There was a knock at the door.

  Bennett looked over at Mary who was still arranging her hair in the mirror. Her image in the glass nodded at him indicating she was fine to be seen.

  He said, “Come in.”

  Charles opened it, “Sir, ma’am, Mrs. Graham’s parents are here. They brought a priest.” Charles whispered the last part as if it were a dirty secret.