“Now hold on a minute,” Teddy said, staring thoughtfully at the note. “First of all, it’s been thirty years since this letter was written. There’s a good chance the captain sent more than one letter to make sure his wife received his final farewell. And second, if we mean to go after the treasure, we need to make preparations.”
“There’s only one way to find out if the treasure is still there,” Roy retorted. “As to preparations, what do we need?”
“A boat, for one,” Teddy replied. “We also need shovels, a sturdy rope, a lantern, and a way to dispose of the loot.”
“Those things are gotten easily enough if you have coin to spare,” Roy replied, his eyes glinting with excitement. “As for the disposal of the loot, don’t you concern yourself with that. I’ll take care of my share. You may do as you please.”
“Who’s this Will who’s keeping the treasure safe for the captain’s wife?” Caleb asked.
Teddy looked like he’d suddenly developed indigestion. He looked away, but Roy wouldn’t let the matter drop.
“Spit it out, Ted. Who’s Will?”
“Will was most likely a sailor from Captain Kidd’s crew who was left buried atop the chest. He might have already been dead, but it’s more likely that he was killed on the island, his decaying corpse used to deter anyone who might come digging, and his spirit haunting the spot for eternity.”
“Are you frightened, Teddy?” Roy asked in a little girl voice, then broke into hearty laughter. “No thirty-year-old corpse is going to deter me. You have two days to prepare. Then we go to Hog Island.”
“As you wish,” Teddy replied. He seemed resigned to seeing this through.
“And your woman comes with us,” Roy added spitefully.
“I think not,” Teddy retorted, his eyes narrowing with anger.
“What kind of fool do you take me for, Mercer? For all I know, your clever little honeypot made the whole thing up and will take the child and vanish the minute you get me away from this place. Oh no, she’s coming with us. The boy can stay with Caleb until you return. Once we find the treasure, we’ll split it and go our separate ways. And if this whole thing was a ruse, your boy will suddenly find himself orphaned.”
“Don’t you threaten me,” Teddy said, his voice dangerously low. “I’ve fulfilled my end of the bargain.”
“Not yet you haven’t. See any gold? Neither do I. Two days, Mercer. Two days.”
He got up from the table and walked over to the bed, where he pulled out the chamber pot and unbuttoned his britches, not bothering to turn his back. Sophie watched with disgust as he exposed himself and let forth a stream of urine, sighing with contentment once he finished. He left the pot where it was, not bothering to empty it outside, and returned to the table.
“I think it’s time you went to bed,” he said to Sophie. “Ted and I have business to discuss.”
Sophie collected the dirty plates and placed them in a basin of water, covered the remaining stew, and wrapped up what was left of the bread. She gave Teddy a meaningful look and he went to fetch the chamber pot and took it outside to dispose of Roy’s piss.
“Goodnight, then,” Sophie said sweetly, and went to lie down next to J. T., who was already asleep in the bed.
Chapter 48
Sophie had hoped that Teddy might persuade Roy to allow her to remain with J.T., but Roy was adamant that she accompany them, and Teddy allowed him to have his way. She spent the days before their departure fretting and peppering Caleb with instructions, but the young man just smiled and assured her that J.T. would be absolutely fine in her absence and she was not to worry. Three days after Teddy and Roy had arrived in Sandwich, they set out for Hog Island, armed with shovels, lanterns, rope, and sacks. Sophie had been in charge of blankets, provisions, and a change of clothes for herself and Teddy.
Roy intended to travel overland directly to Eastham, then hire a boat and row out to Hog Island, but Teddy had other ideas, which he presented to Roy carefully, as if afraid of Roy’s reaction.
“I wouldn’t recommend doing it that way,” Teddy said, surprising Roy into silence.
“I call the shots around here, Mercer,” Roy snarled.
“We must exercise caution if we hope to get away with the loot,” Teddy replied calmly. “We should travel as far as Chatham and find an inn to stable the horses and wagon. Then, we should find a boat for hire and sail north, approaching Hog Island from the east rather than from the west, and preferably at night.”
“Are you mad?” Roy shouted. “That’ll add days.”
“No, I’m not mad,” Teddy replied in a tone he might use to address a rabid dog. “If you arrive with a wagon packed with shovels and lanterns in Eastham, find the nearest inn, hire a boat, and row out to Hog Island, you’ll have a dozen men there within the hour. Everyone’s heard the legends, so you may as well get up on a table at the inn and make an announcement. Stealth, Roy, is the only way we can ever hope to find the treasure and get it off the island without being relieved of it, either on the island or as soon as we return to Eastham. You’ve waited this long; a few more days won’t make a difference.”
“You’re stalling,” Roy snapped.
“Why would I stall? I want to find it as much as you do, and get back to my son, who’s probably crying for his mother.”
“I’ll kill both you and her if you try to cheat me,” Roy threatened. He’d demanded that Teddy leave his weapons at home, so Teddy would have nothing save his bare hands should he give in to the urge to attack Roy. Roy weighed at least two stone more than Teddy and was a head taller. Taking Roy on would be madness, something Teddy was well aware of.
“I’m not trying to cheat you, Roy,” Teddy explained patiently. “I’m trying to use the sense God gave me to get that which will benefit me and mine.”
“I’m watching you,” Roy replied, baring his tobacco-stained teeth in a nasty grin.
Not as carefully as I’m watching you, Sophie thought as she sat quietly in the back of the wagon. Normally, she’d be drowsy from the motion and long for sleep, but she was tense, her back rigid as a plank. Her shoulders were stiff, her neck hurt, and her legs were beginning to cramp. She stretched them out and tried to relax, but her mind wouldn’t let her rest, her thoughts going round and round. She understood Teddy’s reasons for joining Roy Smith on this mad quest. He was trying to protect them, hoping the gold would be enough to satisfy Roy, but did he really think Roy would simply forget about them? Or was Teddy hoping to distract Roy long enough for them to leave Cape Cod and settle someplace else? Was he simply playing for time? Was he hoping Roy would trust him if they found what they were looking for and consider him his partner in crime?
Sophie didn’t believe Roy’s greed would ever be satisfied, and she had serious doubts that he would allow Teddy to take half the treasure as they’d agreed. And what would he do if there was nothing to find? Would he blame Teddy for taking him on this wild goose chase? Would he turn him over to the authorities out of spite? Lionel Holland had offered a substantial reward for information on Sophie’s whereabouts and hired that New York man to track her down. Would Roy pass up the opportunity to cash in? Teddy seemed convinced that if they found the loot, Roy wouldn’t want to draw too much attention to himself, but given his argument with Teddy, Sophie didn’t think the man was blessed with much intelligence. His greed would overshadow good sense, and he would go back on his word and see them hunted all the same.
But what alternative did Teddy have? Roy had recognized him and had been quick to blackmail him. Teddy was only looking out for his family. Had Roy not insisted that Sophie come along, she’d be on her way to a new place where she would rendezvous with Teddy once he managed to lose Roy and disappear into the wilderness. Still, they’d never be safe. Not as long as Roy was out there and knew their darkest secrets. He might not be good at strategic thinking, but he knew how to get what he was after and use his knowledge and size to intimidate. With a shiver of fear, Sophie came to the realization
that Teddy was scared. She’d never known him to be afraid of anything. He was her fearless Teddy, the one person she could always count on to protect her, but Roy had Teddy up against the wall, his hands around his throat, and Teddy was terrified.
Sophie’s heart turned over with love for her man. What right did she have to judge him? He’d been through so much with his father’s murder, his capture on Jamaica, and then his mother’s betrayal and Sophie’s marriage. He was only trying to find a way out of this deadlock, and she’d go along with whatever he decided to do. Perhaps this was the new Teddy, and she’d have to get used to a man who was cautious and fearful.
Chapter 49
Hog Island rose out of the bay like the spiked hump of some sea creature. It looked forbidding during the day, but at night, it was downright sinister. Strange noises came from the thickly wooded slope, and Sophie wondered if there were any wild animals on the island.
Teddy jumped out of the boat and reached for Sophie. He carried her to the rocky shore to keep her skirts and shoes from getting soaked while Roy pulled the boat onto solid ground so it wouldn’t wash out to sea with the tide. The men unloaded the shovels, lanterns, and provisions, and distributed them among the three of them before lighting a lantern and starting their trek to the top of the hill, which, on this moonless night, resembled a dormant volcano Sophie had seen in a book once. Vesuvius, it had been called. She trudged after them, carrying a bundle of food.
It was hard going, and they stopped often to rest. The forest was nearly impassable, the ground thick with brambles, pinecones, and bracken. Sophie felt every jagged rock and sharp branch through the soles of her shoes and wished she had sturdy boots like Teddy and Roy.
It was nearly sunrise by the time they reached the top of the hill. The light had changed from tar-black to murky gray, and birds, which had been eerily silent during the night, burst into their morning song, ready to greet the new day. The morning arrived slowly, the overcast sky pressing down on thick woods. Teddy extinguished the lantern and continued to climb, turning periodically to check on Sophie, who was exhausted, dirty, and covered in scratches and brambles.
“We should make a fire to warm ourselves and have some breakfast,” Roy suggested once they finally spotted the split rock.
“The plume of smoke will be seen from the shore,” Teddy replied.
Roy nodded in agreement, choosing not to argue for once. They found a level spot to sit on, and Sophie took out a stoppered jug of ale and unwrapped the food. They ate in silence. Sophie wished she could wash her hands and face, but there was no water nearby, so she settled for several dew-covered leaves and ran them over her grimy face. It felt pleasant, so she offered some leaves to Teddy, who accepted them wordlessly. He looked grim as he surveyed the area. It’d been thirty years since Captain Kidd had hidden his treasure. The landscape didn’t look to have been tampered with, but who knew how many people had been in on the secret. The treasure could be long gone, their efforts about to be wasted.
“Find the spot,” Roy ordered Teddy as he handed him the instructions.
Teddy approached the rock, then stood still for a moment before making a half turn. “That’s north,” he said. He then counted out ten paces. “This should be it.”
The ground beneath Teddy’s feet looked undisturbed, with several inches of thick vegetation covering the topsoil.
“Come on, then,” Roy said. “You keep a lookout,” he tossed over his shoulder to Sophie.
The island was uninhabited, but she supposed someone might still take an interest in their activities. From her vantage point, she could see the white-capped gray waves of the Atlantic and the calmer and bluer water of Pleasant Bay. All was quiet and calm.
Roy picked up a shovel and drove it into the ground, cursing eloquently when the shovel failed to penetrate the soil. “This is going to be hard going. The ground is thick with roots and rocks. And we have no idea how deep the chest is buried.”
If it’s here at all, Sophie thought. She spread a blanket beneath a leafy tree and sat down. This was going to take a long time.
By noon, Teddy and Roy had managed to dig down only about three feet. They had to hack through the thick roots that intertwined beneath the earth and formed an impenetrable web. Both men were now shirtless, their torsos glistening with sweat.
“Keep digging,” Roy ordered when Teddy leaned on his shovel to take a break.
“We need a rest,” Teddy replied. “And food.” He wasn’t used to this kind of work, not being a farmer. His hands were red and blistered, and sweat ran freely down his face.
Roy threw aside the shovel and sat down with his back against the rock. He looked angry and disappointed. “I don’t think there’s anything there,” he finally admitted.
“Neither do I,” Teddy agreed. “Shall we stop digging?”
“No. We go another foot down, then reassess.”
“All right. You’re in charge,” Teddy agreed amiably.
The men ate a light meal, then continued digging, the silence broken only by their grunts and the sound of iron hacking at stubborn roots. The earth wasn’t as rocky down below, and the work went a little faster.
“We’re about four or five feet down,” Roy said as he stood at the edge and stared down into the pit.
“I need a drink,” Teddy said. “Give me a hand.”
Roy reached out and helped Teddy out of the hole, then took off his hat and scratched his head in consternation. “We’d have reached it by now,” he said.
Having taken a drink, Teddy came up behind him. “Another foot, I think,” he said. “Then we call it a day.”
Roy stared morosely into the pit, shaking his head. “I don’t know if it’s worth the bother. There’s nothing there.”
“There will be,” Teddy replied.
He picked up his shovel, raised it, and brought it down on the back of Roy’s head with all his remaining strength, sending Roy tumbling headlong into the pit. Roy’s roar of shock and pain reverberated through the island, and the birds took to the sky, spooked by the unexpected sound. Roy’s hands went to his head, his eyes rolling wildly as he tried to understand what had happened. Teddy jumped in after him and brought the shovel down again, wielding it like an axe and splitting Roy’s skull. Sophie screamed, watching in horror as blood soaked into the thirsty earth. Teddy tossed the shovel over the lip of the pit and climbed out. He didn’t look at Sophie, but began to shovel dirt over Roy, working quickly and steadily until Roy’s corpse was no longer visible.
“Teddy, what have you done?” Sophie whispered as she watched him work. She was trembling with shock, the memory of Teddy’s face when he brought the shovel down on Roy’s skull forever imprinted on her brain.
“You didn’t really think I’d let him go, did you?” Teddy replied conversationally as he continued to fill in the grave.
“Did you intend to kill him all along?” Sophie asked, shocked by Teddy’s lack of remorse.
“Of course. I needed to get him to a place where no one would find his body, or if they did, they’d have nothing to connect him to me. I gave a false name when I made the arrangements at the inn and when I hired the boat, and paid in paper notes rather than Spanish dollars, which would raise suspicion.”
“Spanish dollars?” Sophie asked, having never considered the question of money.
Teddy finished filling in the grave and leaned on his shovel, breathing heavily. “Plunder comes in many forms, Poppet. The pirates take anything of value from jewelry to foodstuffs to Spanish gold. Most colonies accept the Spanish dollar as currency, but since Massachusetts has its own printed money, I thought it wise to use that while here and made sure to obtain some paper notes while in Boston. There are people who’ll happily fence stolen goods and foreign coin and pay in whatever currency the seller is interested in.”
“You’ve thought it all through, haven’t you?” Sophie asked as she stared in horror at the fresh grave. She kept expecting Roy Smith to come to and fight his way throug
h five feet of thick earth, but the grave remained undisturbed, the only sounds the chirping of birds, who’d returned to their branches, and the wind in the trees.
Teddy didn’t reply. Instead, he walked back toward the rock and faced in a slightly different direction than before.
“What are you doing?” Sophie asked.
“Counting ten paces to the north,” Teddy said, and then walked forward, counting to ten.
“But you’ve already done that,” Sophie replied, confused.
“I counted ten paces to the north-east,” Teddy replied. “Smith never realized I wasn’t facing true north. He wasn’t paying attention.”
“Are you suggesting there’s still the possibility of finding the treasure?”
“There is that possibility, yes,” Teddy replied absentmindedly as he drove the shovel into the new spot he’d marked. “Since we’re already here—”
Sophie sank back down on the blanket, trembling with shock. She was relieved that Teddy had eliminated the threat that was Roy Smith, but she couldn’t quite believe how easily and efficiently Teddy had disposed of him, as if he’d killed a chicken or a rabbit.
Sophie cradled her head in her hands and began to rock back and forth, a low keening sound erupting from somewhere deep within her. Teddy tossed down the shovel and came toward her. He sat down and pulled her close, applying more force than necessary when Sophie refused to be drawn into his embrace. Sophie pummeled his chest with her hands as she hurled abuse at him, but Teddy overpowered her and pushed her down onto the blanket, pinning her wrists and covering her body with his.
“Stop it,” he said forcefully. “I did what I had to do to protect our family, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. That man would have sent me to the gallows, and he’d have sent you right back to your husband. Our son would have been left orphaned and alone.” Teddy let go of her wrists and took Sophie’s face in his filthy hands, forcing her to look at him. “Should I have let him live?” he asked, his eyes an inch from hers. “Answer me, damn it!”
The House on the Hill: A Ghost Story Page 26