by MJ Miller
“I guess it had to be June, we always started after Labor Day and finished in June.”
“That narrows it down. Saturday or Sunday?”
“It was a Friday, actually, now that I think about it. School was out so dad wasn’t working…” Luce’s voice trailed off.
Andy pulled out his phone and started tapping on the screen rapidly.
“June 10th was a Friday that year.” He said it quietly as he looked up from his phone.
“Today’s the 10th,” Luce said just as quietly. “Creepy or coincidence, detective?” She meant to ask it lightly, but they both knew it wasn’t a light question.
Andy stood and reached to pull Luce up. “Let’s go in. It’s almost time for us to be escorted back.” Luce nodded, but quickly tugged her hand away. The whole evening was becoming a bit surreal. She felt things were closing in a bit and needed some space.
As they stepped back into the ballroom, Mr. Peabody seemed to simply appear out of nowhere.
“If you’ll follow me,” he said, brusquely, holding open the door.
Andy leaned down toward Luce, their height difference becoming increasingly difficult for her to ignore. “After you, Luce,” he whispered, and they followed the butler back through the hallway and down the stairs.
“The library is this way,” Mr. Peabody nodded toward a small door to the side of the stairs, and they followed him cautiously. Entering the room, Mr. Peabody suddenly turned.
“May I?” he asked, holding out his hand towards Andy, who was holding the folder.
“Time to turn in our treasure, eh?” Andy asked with a smirk. The butler maintained his stoic demeanor, stiffly took the folder from Andy, then placed it carefully on the mantle of the fireplace.
Briskly walking toward the doorway, he nodded at the pair, and strode out.
“Oh my god, Andy I could live in this room,” Luce exclaimed as soon as the butler left them alone. The Bowers library was a dream, Luce thought. Every wall was a built-in-bookcase. There were hundreds and hundreds of books. Old, new, big, small. And the furniture rather than being stuffy and formal, was sumptuous. Soft, broken-in leather sofas and overstuffed recliners. This was a literal book lover's idea of heaven. There was an entire coffee and tea service area next to the large framed bay window overlooking the gardens. Though it was after sundown, the garden lighting was soft and glowing, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.
“Don’t get too comfortable, something tells me she doesn’t want us staying too long.” Andy muttered with a frown.
“What is it? Something’s gnawing at you. I can tell.”
“Too many things seem to be falling into place too easily. Remember what I said? It’s never the obvious. And this is all just too obvious for my taste.”
“It is odd, isn’t it? But there’s no way she knew about us seeing the ship, on the same day? That’s too weird anyway. How could she know that? That’s what I find creepy.”
“You don’t find it creepy that it actually happened?” Andy chuckled. “There’s only one possibility Luce, and that is that what we saw was real. Not a ghost ship at all.”
“Maybe. Or maybe we both happened to be at the same place, same time?” Luce began peering over at one of the shelves and started to head over to it. Reaching up and stretching she tried to grab for a book she spotted, but it was just out of reach. Shrugging, she turned around, almost bumping straight into Andy.
“Jesus Andy, give a girl some space would you?”
“I was going to give you a hand there Luce. Ungrateful much?”
“Oh, well, in that case, do you see that blue faded edition, the one that says, Cow Neck Historical Society?”
“Got it,” Andy replied, smirking as he reached directly over her head, instead of going around her. He knew he was being slightly irritating, but that was his mission. He needed to keep her off guard. A little off-balance.
“You’re really pushing it detective,” Luce shook her head laughing. There was something incredibly irresistible about the man and as hard as she fought herself over it, she was in a losing battle.
“Let’s sit while we wait. Tell me why this book is so interesting.”
They got comfortable on one of the sofas, and Luce began flipping through the book. Her father had many books like this one; as a historian as well as a history teacher, he had worked closely with local groups on historical preservation, genealogy and local folklore, a particular interest of his. He and her mother had been headed home from one of the local society annual dinners the night of the storm that took their lives in a flash.
She turned the pages slowly, rather reverently, looking for something in particular, Andy thought. He was patient though. She looked pensive. Finally, she stopped on a page with several photos.
“This one. See that? This is what it looks like from the shore.” Luce pointed to a photo of a lighthouse. “According to the caption, that’s our lighthouse. On the island known as Execution Rocks, it says.”
Luce began reading some of the text below the picture when the door suddenly opened, and Mark and Julie entered with Mr. Peabody.
Repeating the same request he made to Luce and Andy, he took a large envelope from Mark and placed it next to theirs on the mantel, then left the room.
“Well, I don’t know about you two, but that felt like the twilight zone.” Julie laughed and took a seat opposite Luce and Andy while Mark just stood in awe at the incredible book collection.
“Fucking amazing,” Mark breathed out slowly. “I have never seen the likes of a room like this except in a wet dream.”
Julie looked at Luce, and they both burst out laughing. Andy leaned back and swung one leg over the other. He needed to relax. Shake off the nagging feeling that something was terribly wrong with this whole scenario. Including the fact that he was the one that got them into it in the first place.
“Hey Luce, what did you guys find? Anything good?” Julie asked grinning. Clearly having fun, and not, apparently, spooked by any of it, Andy noted. Interesting.
The door opened once more and Jen practically bounced into the room. Like a bottle of bubbly with Bill right behind her, just grinning. Again, the butler took a small box from Bill and set it on the mantle next to the other clues.
“You guys will not believe what we found! But we’re not allowed to tell, now are we,” Jen gushed. “Wait.” She stopped suddenly in the middle of the room and twirled around. “This is oh my god amazing. Bill, I want this. Build me a room just like it. This weekend. Lowe’s here we come…” Jen’s mouth was left hanging open and she let her eyes roam every shelf.
“Sorry, Jen, I saw it first. I’m redoing my office tomorrow. Just wait.” Mark laughed. He did like to one-up his competitor.
Andy watched his friends carefully. None seemed to be bothered at all by any of what they found, nor did they seem at all nervous. So why would he and Luce have a totally different experience. When the door opened next, and Chris and Annie entered, he had his answer.
Chapter Twelve
They all watched curiously as Mrs. Bowers made what by all appearances was a grand entrance. Sweeping into the room and heading straight over to the fireplace. Turning to her guests, she cleared her throat.
“Now that we are all gathered once again, shall we begin?” A soft murmur floated around the room.
“Very well. We shall open each set of clues, and after each is opened, we shall all propose a theory. Now, I will give you a backstory.”
“The clues you have retrieved are to help solve the mystery of the ghost ship, said to roam the Long Island Sound. There are many theories, but none have solved the actual mystery of the ship to my satisfaction. The ghost ship is said to make its appearance every year on the same date. At the same time. Those who have seen it, describe it identically. Some call it The Phantom. An old ship with billowing sails. And nobody aboard. It’s spotted in the same location each time. Reportedly around the lighthouse that you can see from any vantage point along the coast.<
br />
The clues that you have all retrieved are items I’ve gathered over the years in my quest for answers. Some may not have any relevance. Others may be significant. That is for you all to decide. After each set of clues is presented, each of you may select one item of importance for your team. The remaining items will be dismissed. Ultimately each team will have 4 items in their possession and must provide a theory. Are there any questions before we begin?”
Luce wanted to jump in, but Andy quickly placed his hand on her arm, stopping her with a small shake of his head. She frowned; he was always doing that. Interfering. But for now, she’d let it slide. He must have a reason, she thought, and it better be good,
“Very well, Mr. Peabody, please open the first set.”
The butler retrieved the folder containing Andy and Luce’s clues and laid all of them out on the table in the center. Mrs. Bowers nodded at him to step back, and went over and picked each one up carefully, announcing the finds.
“Mr. Holman and Ms. Porter, please make your first selection. In this case, you may keep only one of the clues you’ve found. You may have one minute to decide.”
Luce frowned, knowing Andy, he’d pick for them. She turned to face him giving him her best no-nonsense glare.
“The bill of sale.” She said softly, but firmly.
“Done.” Andy nodded in approval. That was definitely his first choice.
“We’ll take the slip of paper in the plastic bag please.” If this were a competition, they didn’t want anyone else knowing what it was. Not that any of them had a chance of solving this. He knew that now. Only he and Luce were destined to figure it out. Which was the biggest mystery of all.
They went around the room then, the others all selecting as well.
Jen and Bill chose the patch. Mark and Julie chose the knife, while Annie and Chris went for the drawing of the ship.
Next, Julie and Mark were able to choose first. Their set of clues was a strange combination of children’s toys and they selected a handful of what appeared to be matchsticks. Old ones at that. It seems their destination had been the nursery. Luce and Andy studied the remaining six clues for a moment and made their decision.
“The doll, please,” Luce said, pointing to a cornhusk doll that had clearly seen better days.
Again, they completed the circle, with Jen and Bill choosing a cup and ball set, while Annie and Chris went for what appeared to be dull marbles, made of clay.
Next up were Jen and Bill’s clues, clearly straight from the kitchen. They elected to keep a large cast iron skillet. Annie and Chris chose a pewter mug. Luce and Andy selected a hanging salt box, followed by Mark and Julie’s choice of a crystal decanter.
One more set of clues remained. Chris and Annie’s. Mr. Peabody laid them out on the table, and they all studied them.
“Where do you think all this came from?” Luce asked Andy in a hushed voice, glancing up at him. Her face pale and drawn.
“My guess? A dungeon or a basement full of horrors,” he replied quietly. Judging by Chris and Annie’s expression when they returned to the Library, it appeared they weren’t taking any of this seriously. They assumed everything was simply for entertainment, Andy thought. They were having an adventure. At this point, that was for the best. Nobody else needed to know there was something else going on. Although Annie did appear to be overdoing it a bit. Andy wondered if she weren’t masking a bit of underlying tension.
The items were grotesque. And yet everyone else in the room was laughing and smiling as they decided which horrific clue would be theirs.
“Go on Annie, you pick,” Chris gave Annie a quick kiss and smiled. “Last one!” Annie studied them all, and smiling hesitantly back at Chris, chose a pair of shackles. Old, dented, rusted shackles. With pieces of chain hanging off.
Luce glanced at Andy nervously. She felt it too. They were real. Not for show. He reached over and squeezed her hand and smiled reassuringly, giving a small nod at the other guests, silently telling her to play along.
Julie and Mark chose an old branding iron.
Jen and Bill selected a frayed noose.
“I can’t, you do it,” Luce murmured softly.
Andy selected the one remaining item that was clearly the outlier. It wasn’t some sort of instrument of torture.
“The signet ring please.”
Chapter Thirteen
“You have 30 minutes to discuss your clues, Mr. Peabody will be happy to provide refreshments. Then, each team can announce their findings. There is no right or wrong of course, just theories. The theory that I believe has the most merit, I will choose as the winner.”
“Oh, is there a prize?” Annie asked, quite enthusiastically, though with humor.
Mrs. Bowers shook her head, and Luce thought she almost saw a smile. Maybe the old biddy had some cracks after all.
As their hostess left the room they all began to chatter.
“Who wants to share clues?” Annie asked.
“I’m afraid that’s not allowed, Ms. Porter. You must only confer and share among yourselves.” Mr. Peabody interrupted with a sniff, causing Luce to roll her eyes. She didn’t know where they’d found this guy, but she sure wished he’d crawl back in his hole.
The chatter returned, and Luce turned to Andy. “Well, detective, where do we start?” She asked quietly. If nothing else, Luce never lost her competitive nature. No use letting others hear.
“I think with the bill of sale.” Andy replied.
“Slave ship?” Luce murmured. “Did you see the shackles Annie picked?”
“I did. That’s why I chose the ring,” he said, reaching to pick it up and take a closer look.
It was old, a deep gold, and actually misshapen. The center stone appeared to be some sort of bluish gray stone, with a faint carving in it.
“Luce, google eighteenth century signet rings, would you?” he suggested.
Luce raised her eyebrows and narrowed her gaze.
“Please,” he offered, with a smirk.
“That’s better.” Luce chuckled. Bantering with him helped her relax.
Grabbing her phone, she tapped in the description and waited. Using data instead of WIFI always slowed things down.
“According to google, often made of 18k gold, they usually featured an intaglio carving in a gemstone. Used to seal things with a coat of arms or initials.”
“Well, this certainly could be 18k gold. And definitely there’s something carved in this stone. Turn your camera on, maybe we can zoom in?”
Luce shook her head, and chuckled.
“Would you be so kind as to please turn your camera on?” Andy laughed.
“But of course, Mr. Holman, I would be ever so happy to oblige,” Luce murmured, smiling.
She switched her phone’s camera on and zoomed into the face of the ring stone. Andy leaned over to look as well. Too close, she thought.
They both remained quiet as they studied it.
“Take a picture or two,” Andy whispered, then added “Please.”
“Definitely a coat of arms. Maybe google image search?” Luce suggested, and Andy nodded. They waited for the images to load, then looked at each other in stunned silence.
Luce spoke first. “There’s no way to solve this tonight, you know that.”
“I do.” Andy agreed.
“So why are we here do you think?”
“I have my ideas on that Luce. For now, let’s just decide on a theory, and present it. Then we can follow up on all this later.”
“This isn’t very fun, is it?” Luce murmured.
“I’m sorry, Luce, I thought this would be something you’d enjoy, I had no idea.”
Luce smiled at Andy and shook her head. “It’s probably the most thoughtful gift ever, Andy, really. Not your fault at all. I just wish it had met our expectations.”
“I like how you said that,” Andy remarked. “Our expectations.” He smiled as a blush crept over her face, causing her to look away for a moment. He
gave her a minute to regroup.
She turned back, composed again. “So, what’s our theory?” she asked. “Slave ship?”
“No, I mean it is, but let’s not even bring it up. How about a British Ship with colonial prisoners?”
Luce nodded. She could go along with that. It was one of the many stories of Execution Rocks after all.
Everyone paused their conversation as Mrs. Bowers reentered the room. Each couple looked around at the others, all smiling, as if they each had the secret to the ghost ship and were eager to reveal it.
“Well now, if we’re all ready, who would like to begin?”
“We’ll start,” Annie called out with a smile. She was certainly loving all of this, thought Luce, and she would be the last person to dampen her spirits. Or scare her. She had watched her sister go through something far scarier, and knew it was best to keep her thoughts about this to herself.
Annie tugged on Chris’s hand as she jumped up. Not as tall as Luce, Annie was rather petite and far more relaxed about everything from her clothing to her makeup. She had the natural girl-next-door kind of look. And pregnancy seemed to make her glow.
“The Ghost Ship was clearly a colonial merchant ship. Judging by the items everything screams revolutionary war period. Our guess is it ran aground on the shores of the island, and somehow, they managed to get back in the water and perhaps they sank right there from the damage.” Annie finished and looked at Chris who just nodded and smiled indulgently. Clearly Chris had allowed Annie to come up with her own idea, Luce thought. Because Chris would have basically written an entire short story if given the chance.
“Very well, thank you, next?” Mrs. Bowers seemed completely uninterested in that theory. Bored even. Luce frowned. The least she could do is fake it. Or maybe, that was the intent. Maybe Chris really did have a story up his sleeve and was saving it for his next book.
“We’ll give it a go,” Bill jumped up and pulled Jen up along with him. He towered next to her, but Jen never seemed to mind. Luce envied them. They had a whirlwind romance and managed to keep it thriving for over a decade.
