2 Dead & Buried

by Leighann Dobbs

  Morgan shuddered. “So we just have to find it first then, right?”

  “It’s not really that simple. And you guys shouldn’t be digging around without talking to me. In addition to sinking their ships, pirates were well known for booby-trapping the places they buried their treasure—to protect it from thieves. Whoever came digging around to steal it would meet with an untimely and unpleasant end. You guys need to be careful that you don’t get caught in a booby trap when you are digging.”

  Morgan’s eyes went wide and she ventured a look out to the tree in back.

  Luke read her mind. “That’s right, you could have been hurt … or killed … today or last night. The treasure hunters aren’t your only worry here.”

  Luke paused and his green eyes turned serious as he looked at Fiona, then back at Morgan.

  “Now that they know you are getting closer to the treasure, they’ll probably step up their efforts. We’ve reduced their numbers, but I think there are still a few of them out there and they’ll stop at nothing. I know you guys like to take care of yourselves but I’d like to have some of my guys in the house with you,” Luke said.

  “We have Cal and Jake staying over.” Morgan stuck out her chin, stubbornly.

  Luke nodded. “So far nothing too bad has happened—we diffused the situation with the break in and you and Celeste were able to outwit the attackers the other day. But you might not always be so lucky.” He narrowed his eyes at Morgan. “By the way, how did you know to pull Celeste back from that alley just at the right moment?”

  Morgan felt her stomach clench. Should she tell him the truth about the strange things that were happening? Her gut instincts told her “yes”.

  “I just had a gut feeling, and Celeste said that Nana told her to tell me to trust my gut feelings. It worked out pretty good in that case.”

  “Your Nana? Isn’t she dead?” Luke switched his gaze from Morgan to Fiona.

  “Yes,” Fiona said. “Apparently Celeste has been talking to dead people. You know how she was always kind of spiritual what with all her meditation and stuff. I guess she connected with ‘the other side’.”

  Luke looked down at Morgan and shook his head. “Carnelian stones that heal wounds, dead people giving you guys advice, and gut feelings that save you from getting abducted … I guess it’s going to be a challenge for me to get reacquainted with the Blackmoore girls.”

  Luke took Morgan’s hand and her heart fluttered as he pulled her to him. “I have some things to take care of, but I’m coming to your house tonight. By the way things are heating up, I think I need to keep you girls under very close surveillance. And I’m not taking no for an answer.”

  Then he kissed her cheek, turned on his heel and left.

  Morgan’s heart took off like a thoroughbred at the starting gate. She felt that familiar pull in her lower belly. She had to admit, the thought of Luke keeping them under close surveillance wasn’t really all that unpleasant.

  But then she felt a warning tingle in her gut. After all the hurt he had caused her ten years ago, she couldn’t let herself fall for Luke Hunter all over again. Could she?

  Chapter Eighteen

  “We need to get home and into the attic to look for the box that key opens.” Fiona picked up the geode that still lay on the floor and returned it to its place on the shelf.

  “Right.” Morgan stood staring at the door Luke had just disappeared through, wondering what his kiss on the cheek meant. It was really just a peck. But was it a friendly peck or something more?

  “Earth to Morgan.” Fiona was standing at the door, Belladonna under one arm.

  “Oh, sorry.” Morgan followed her out the door and the three of them climbed into Fiona’s old truck.

  “We should call Celeste and Jolene and tell them what we found … and about the attack,” Fiona said as she pulled out onto the main road.

  Morgan pulled out her cell phone and made the calls.

  “They’re both home and so is Cal. Looks like we’ll have plenty of help.” Belladonna had curled up in Morgan’s lap and she stroked her silky fur with one hand as she looked at the key with the other.

  “I have no idea what this would go to. A trunk or another box?”

  Fiona glanced over as she turned onto the road leading to Perkins cove. “I don’t know. I mean what are the odds that whatever it opens is even in the attic?”

  Morgan nodded. “But we really don’t have any place else to try.”

  They made the rest of the short drive in silence and Celeste, Jolene and Cal were standing at the door when they pulled into their driveway.

  Celeste and Jolene ran over and hugged them.

  “I can’t believe you guys got attacked!” Jolene said. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes. Turns out we can take pretty good care of ourselves,” Morgan said.

  “But I’m still thankful Luke was there to pick up the pieces.” Fiona winked at Morgan and she felt her cheeks grow warm.

  “Let’s see this key.” Cal held out his hand and Morgan put the key in it.

  “Oh yeah, this is an oldie.” He held the long skeleton key up to the light, squinted at it then handed it back to Morgan.

  “Jeez Cal, I hope we aren’t keeping you from going to work. You don’t have to watch over us day and night,” Fiona said as they started up the main stairway.

  “It’s okay,” he answered. “I have plenty of people to keep the shop running and I could use a little break. Plus I’ll take any excuse to get back up into your attic and get my hands on all those antiques.”

  The girls laughed and Celeste swatted at him as they emerged into the attic.

  Morgan stood at the top of the stairs and looked around.

  “I have no idea where to start.” She looked tentatively at Belladonna. She felt a little silly thinking the cat could show her the way, but Belladonna had led them to many important finds in the past.

  This time, though, the cat simply curled up by the window, gave Morgan a blank stare and started cleaning herself.

  “Follow your intuition, Morgan,” Celeste said. “I mean really dig deep and see if you get a feeling for where we should look.”

  Morgan took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She tried to focus on her feelings. Was there a specific part of the attic that stood out? She felt herself drawn toward an area in the very back and started moving toward it.

  She stopped in front of a door and looked back at Cal and her sisters. “I think it’s in here.”

  Her pulse kicked into high gear as she pushed the door open, the hinges squealing in the silent attic. Inside was a small room, probably ten feet by eight. It looked like it had once been one of the servants’ rooms but now it held boxes stacked almost from floor to ceiling, along with haphazard piles of … stuff.

  Cal walked over to one corner and started rummaging in a pile.

  “These are really old,” he said holding up a silver creamer and sugar.

  “And look at this thing.” Jolene pointed to long sword that stood against the wall.

  Fiona had started looking through one of the trunks and Celeste rifled a pile of linens.

  Morgan was busy sorting through a box of what looked like old pewter cups when she heard Fiona gasp.

  She jerked her head in Fiona’s direction. Her sister was sitting on the floor staring into a box.

  “What is it?” Morgan shuffled over to see what was so interesting.

  Fiona pulled what looked like a pile of burlap out of the box and laid it on the floor. Morgan’s stomach flittered with butterflies as she watched her sister slowly open the flaps.

  An array of gemstones and crystals lay inside. Morgan marveled at how they sparkled in the light and then her stomach squeezed when she realized the ones closest to Fiona were actually glowing.

  “They’re beautiful,” Morgan said watching as Fiona reached for a brown stone in the corner. Morgan recognized it as tiger’s eye—the same stone in the pendant Fiona had given her. Her hand flew up to
the pendant and closed around it. It felt warm and she drew in a sharp breath when she saw the stone on the burlap glow as Fiona’s hand touched it.

  “What’s that?” Celeste joined them.

  “Old crystals.” Fiona dropped the tiger’s eye and looked up at them. “Well, all crystals are old, but these look like they have been here for centuries.”

  “They probably have, judging by the age of the other stuff in this room,” Cal said.

  “Looks like one of our ancestors was into crystals and gemstones, just like you,” Jolene added.

  “Yeah, I guess so.” Fiona folded the burlap flaps back over the crystals and Morgan noticed the faint outline of printing on the material.

  “Wait. What’s that?” She pointed to the letters.

  Fiona squinted down at it. “Looks like initials. MB. Guess I’ll have to research who that was. Do you guys mind if I take these?”

  No one minded. Fiona wrapped the crystals back up and the group got busy rummaging through the items. Morgan was just starting to feel like the whole exercise had been for nothing when she heard a sharp intake of breath from the other side of the room.

  “Hey guys, I think I found something.”

  Jolene was crouched down in the corner, boxes pushed out of the way on either side of her. Morgan rushed over and looked down, her heart lurching up into her throat when she saw what had caused Jolene to call out.

  There, on the floor in front of them was a box very similar to the other boxes they had found. Like the others, this one was silver, with gold on the corners and an ornate carved flower design. But it was much bigger—about a one and a half feet long and six inches wide. Morgan reached down and picked it up, her pulse picking up speed as she held it.

  “Wowser. That’s one nice box,” Cal said.

  “Does the key fit it?” Celeste asked.

  Morgan found a table off to the side and put the box on top, then took the key out of her pocket.

  She held her breath as she lined the key up with the hole in the lock. She inserted and turned. Click.

  The top flew open. Inside was a long piece of leather, rolled up tight, the outside was dry and cracked with age.

  “Be careful with that,” Cal warned. “Old Leather can be very brittle.”

  She lifted the leather out and placed it on the table, then unrolled it very slowly. Her heart beat faster and faster as the images and writing inside were revealed.

  It was a treasure map.

  Chapter Nineteen

  By the time they brought the map down to the informal living room, Jake had come home from work and joined them. They spread it out flat on the coffee table. Morgan inhaled the smell of old leather as she bent over to study the lines of the map which had been crudely burned into it.

  “This looks like our yard, but it’s shaped different,” Jolene said.

  “The geography of this area was changed about a hundred years ago, when the area started becoming attractive to tourists,” Cal replied.

  “Yeah, I remember reading about how the channel to the cove was made deeper and the cove itself much wider. Then on the other side, some land was filled in near Oarweed Cove where it abuts our land.” Celeste pointed to the different parts of the map as she talked.

  “So, our land as it sits now is here … and here?” Morgan drew a circle with her finger to indicate where she thought the land was.

  “I think so,” Cal said.

  “So part of this isn’t even our land.”

  “You’re right … but the important part looks like it is.” Cal pointed to the big X in the middle of the map where the supposed treasure was.

  Morgan squinted at the map, it did look like the treasure was buried somewhere near the point of land at the edge of their property. Near where the body had been found.

  She glanced outside. Plenty of daylight left. “We should start digg—”

  The knock on the door interrupted her and she raised an eyebrow at the group.

  “Anyone expecting company?”

  Nobody was.

  “We should hide this, just in case.” She gestured to the map and Celeste and Jolene got busy rolling it up and finding a hiding spot. Morgan and Fiona went to answer the door that the insistent visitor was now pounding on.

  “Hold your horses … I’m coming.” She ripped the door open and her heart froze when she saw who was standing there.

  Sheriff Overton.

  And he wasn’t alone, he had several uniformed policemen with him and they looked like they were there for backup. But why would he need backup?

  “Well ‘bout time. I hope you aren’t trying to hide any evidence because it’s too late,” Overton said with a smug smile on his face.

  “What are you talking about?” Morgan stood feet apart, fists on her hips. She didn’t invite Overton in, but he opened the screen door and stepped in anyway. The commotion had caused everyone else to gather in the hall.

  “Oh good, I see you’re all here. That will make it easy to arrest the killer.”

  Morgan’s heart clenched. What was he talking about?

  Fiona narrowed her eyes at the Sheriff. “No one invited you in, so you can turn around and leave.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so. See, I got this little piece of paper here that says I got probable cause to bring the killer in for questioning.”

  The toothpick switched from one side of his mouth to the other as he pulled some papers from his front pocket and shoved them in Fiona’s face.

  Morgan felt her anger rising. “I already told you, I had nothing to do with killing that guy.”

  Overton looked at her and nodded. “Yep and, much to my surprise, you were telling the truth.”

  Morgan scrunched her face at him.

  “It’s not you I’m here to arrest … It’s her.” Overton pointed past Morgan’s shoulder.

  Her heart squeezed as she turned to follow the direction of his finger. It was pointing straight at Celeste.

  “What!” Cal boomed, putting a protective arm around Celeste. “You can’t just come in here and arrest people with no evidence.”

  “Oh, I have evidence.” Overton smiled his Cheshire cat smile. “Found the murder weapon right in little Blondie’s car.”

  “What are you talking about?” Morgan shot a glance at Celeste who looked as baffled as she was.

  “Yep. The coroner got back to us this morning. The victim’s head was bashed in with a round object … oh about this big.” Overton cupped his hands to illustrate a circumference of about six or seven inches.

  Morgan narrowed her eyes. “And you found one in Celeste’s car?”

  “Yep. Just happened to notice it when we were here last night.” He turned to one of the uniforms behind him. “Show her.”

  Morgan’s eyes widened as the gangly kid held up a large plastic bag with one of Celeste’s kettle bells inside.

  “That handle makes ‘em perfect for getting a good swing for bashing someone’s head in, wouldn’t you say?” Overton raised his eyebrows at Morgan.

  “Those are for exercising!” Morgan louvered her eyes between Overton and Celeste. This had to be some sort of mistake or one of Overton’s tricks.

  “Let me see that.” Jake pushed forward and grabbed at the paper Overton had shown to Fiona.

  He glanced over it then looked at the kettle bell. “Is there forensic evidence on that?”

  “We haven’t run it through the lab yet but I’m sure it will prove to be the weapon.” Overton stepped over toward Jake, taking the toothpick out of his mouth. “You better keep your nose out of this. In fact I think I’ll put you on administrative leave until this case is over.”

  Jake opened his mouth to protest but Overton put his hand up to stop him.

  “I should have you fired for consorting with known criminals,” he said, jerking his chin toward Morgan and Celeste.

  He turned to the uniforms behind him. “Now cuff her and take her away.”

  Cal stepped in front of Celeste. “Now
wait just a minute!”

  The uniforms froze and looked back at Overton uncertainly.

  “Better step aside, Reed, or I’ll have you brought in for obstruction of justice.”

  Celeste pushed in front of Cal, holding her wrists out together in front of her. “It’s okay. I’ll go with them and you guys can come and post bail. I’m not worried since I didn’t kill anyone.”

  Morgan was impressed with her sister’s calm demeanor.

  It took everything she had to step aside while they cuffed Celeste and brought her out to the car, but she knew it was the best thing to do. As soon as they were gone, she’d be on the phone to the lawyer and working to get Celeste out of jail. There was nothing she could do right now to stop it, though, so she let them take her.

  “We’ll be down right behind you,” she said to Celeste as they led her by.

  Celeste nodded. “No hurry.”

  Morgan stood in the doorway, her fists clenched and the map all but forgotten as she watched them shove Celeste into the back of the police car and drive away.

  She’d never felt so helpless in all her life.

  ###

  “We have to get her out right away. I don’t want her spending one night in there.” Morgan turned to face the group, her mind whirling.

  “I’ll get on the phone to Delphine,” Fiona said. Delphine Jones was the sharp witted lawyer they had used when Morgan had been accused of murder earlier in the summer. She’d done a fantastic job and Morgan couldn’t think of anyone better to help Celeste.

  “I’ll put a call into some of my friends at the station.” Jake whipped out his cell phone.

  “We’ll need money for a retainer,” Morgan said.

  “Don’t worry about that,” Cal replied. “I’ll give you whatever you need for the lawyer.”

  “We’re not taking your money.”

  “Consider it a loan, then. What you have in the attic is worth plenty of money … you can sell some of it later if you want, but for now I have cash at the ready and we don’t want to hold up getting Celeste out.”