by Ann Evans
“When I got home my mom told me everyone was looking for him. I didn’t know he was a celebrity.” He reddened, looking embarrassed. “I don’t read all that much.”
“Go on.”
“Anyway, I did call the park service, but I don’t know if they believed me. I didn’t tell them I was the one to take him out to Elk Creek Pass. Maybe if I had, they would have looked sooner, I know. But I was scared to.”
Walt made a disgusted sound. “They wouldn’t a’ listened. Those guys are all a bunch of block-headed bureaucrats who you can’t tell nothing to.”
“Well…” Kenneth continued, “then, it didn’t seem to matter anyway, because the word came over the news that they’d found him—still alive and all.”
She nodded, trying to picture it. “So that’s what you’ve had on your conscience all this time? That you took him out there and it ended badly?”
“No, ma’am,” the boy said, his voice low and soft. He looked down at his feet a moment, then back up at her. “I wish that was all it was. What’s really been eating at me—” he reached into the inside pocket of his denim jacket “—is this.”
He offered the book to her. She took it, watching her hand stretch out slowly, almost disembodied, as if all this were happening in a dream. She knew what it was, of course. She’d seen it, or one just like it, so often on her father’s desk, tucked in his suitcase, peeking out from the top of his camping gear.
She blinked, staring down at the red cover with its rounded corners and cracked leather. She wanted to cry.
She looked back up at Kenneth. “This is my father’s journal.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed a couple of times, and he nodded. “I figured it was something important. I didn’t read it. Well, not much of it, anyway.”
“How did you get it?”
He didn’t answer. Between them she could sense Walt willing the boy to come out with it, to just tell the truth, although she suspected she knew it already.
“How did you get it?” she repeated, feeling a little breathless.
“I stole it.”
“How?”
“I knew a couple of the guys with search-and-rescue,” he told her at last. His tongue slid across his lips nervously. “When they brought your dad in, I was down there waiting to see if he’d say anything about who took him into Elk Creek Pass. I didn’t know he wasn’t gonna make—” He took a deep breath. “So the stretcher came off the helicopter first, then your dad’s personal stuff, just a few things I guess they’d scooped up. I saw the book…so I just took it.”
“Because you thought he might have written something about you that would get you in trouble.”
“Yes, ma’am. I didn’t know what they’d do if they found out I was the one who took him there. I mean, your dad was famous.”
She lifted the journal slightly. “And is your name in here?”
“No,” he said with a shake of his head. Then more quickly he added, “I just skimmed it is all. I didn’t see my name anywhere, but I could tell it was personal, so I just left it alone.”
“Why didn’t you give it to my mother? She was at the hospital for a week before my father died.”
“I should have. I know I should have. But the longer I kept it, the more scared I got. Then your dad—I know it was wrong. Honest. I just couldn’t do it. So I’ve been holding on to it, thinking enough time would go by that I could send it someplace, or call someone. Then Grandpa told me you were in town.”
Walt nodded, looking at her. “I’ve known something’s been eating at the boy for a long time. Just didn’t know it had anything to do with this.”
“I’m really sorry, Miss Churchill. Really sorry. For everything.”
Kenneth looked undone, so miserable that Kari wondered if the boy would ever be able to forgive himself.
“It’s all right, Kenneth,” Kari said, and made the startling discovery that she meant it. Her father was gone, and there was nothing to be gained by weighing this young man down with more guilt. “I can imagine how it happened. And if Elk Creek Pass is as beautiful as you say, I’m sure it pleased my father very much.”
“You thinking of going out there yourself?” Walt asked.
“No,” Kari told him. “I don’t think that will be possible right now.” Her fingers tightened on the journal. “And perhaps, not even necessary.”
SHE GOT ALMOST HALFWAY UP the mountain before she had to pull over into one of the scenic overlooks. She could feel her pulse increasing with every breath she took. She stopped the car, then picked up the journal where it lay on the passenger seat.
She didn’t want to look at it. Not right now. This last communication from her father was too important for a quick read. It deserved time and calm, clear thought. But she couldn’t resist just touching it.
The pages were well-thumbed, slightly soiled. When she let her fingers drift through them, she swore she could smell her father’s familiar, manly scent.
The bold strokes of his penmanship brought a smile to her lips. The sharp S’s that looked like lightning bolts. The capital letter T no more than lazy hammocks. The looping way he wrote an O, as though it wore a little cap of importance. All her life she’d seen his hand at work—in postcards and autographs and hurriedly dashed off notes to the editor as he wedged the latest manuscript into a delivery box.
A few pages from the back of the book, she came to the end. The writing ceased abruptly. She knew what that meant. The words swam out of focus as her vision blurred. Oh, God. To think that this was the last…
She couldn’t help it. There was no well of bravery she could draw from in that moment. She bent forward and laid her head against the steering wheel. The tears came, harsh and without grace, but she didn’t try to stop them.
WHEN SHE GOT BACK to the lodge, Kari knew she’d have to hurry if she wanted to make her flight. She packed, gently sliding the journal into a side pocket of the backpack that would go with her on the plane. It was too precious to trust to the baggage handlers, more valuable than any treasure Antone Metcalf could scoop up from the bottom of the ocean floor.
Finally, there was nothing left but to say goodbye to the D’Angelo family. She hoped her sudden departure wouldn’t leave them short-handed, and that Nick had already told them she had to leave. He’d probably already made arrangements for additional help.
Hearing a vague commotion coming from the kitchen, Kari went to check it out. She was glad to see that Addy, Sofia and Tessa had returned from their overnight stay in Denver. She wouldn’t have wanted to leave without saying goodbye to the three of them. Nick was nowhere around, but that hardly seemed to matter now.
She watched and listened as the three travelers laughed and shared their stories about the trip. It was clear they had no idea she was on her way to Jamaica. They spoke over one another, rapidly, with lots of hand gestures, and Kari kept quiet for the moment, not wanting to drop her news in the middle of such joy and steal their thunder.
She’d never seen Tessa so animated and happy. A few comments she made regarding Nick made Kari believe there might be real hope for them. No matter how she felt about him right now, she didn’t doubt for a minute that he would make every effort to help his daughter find her way.
Eventually, the stories wound down. Everyone seemed content to linger in the kitchen and sample Rose’s latest batch of choux pastries that she intended to offer that night at dinner.
Kari cleared her throat. “I guess this is as good a time as any to say this. I’ll be leaving in a few minutes. My next assignment. I have to be in Jamaica tonight.”
Absolute silence as several pairs of eyes stared at her. The only sounds were the beverage cooler fans humming and some custard concoction of Rose’s bubbling on the stove.
She filled the awkwardness of that moment with a larger explanation of the salvage of Metcalf’s ship. No one looked the least bit impressed.
Finally, Tessa spoke up. “Well, I’m just going to say it. This sucks!”
“Tessa,” Rose said, throwing a warning to the girl. She crossed the room to Kari. “This is wonderful news. We’re very happy for you, but sorry to see you go.”
“She means that,” Renata said. “We all do. You’ve been a breath of fresh air around this place. Livened it up.”
Kari felt color creep up her neck. She hadn’t expected such a compliment from Renata, who didn’t indulge in sentimental foolishness.
“I don’t know what to say,” Kari stammered out. “I expected—I didn’t think you’d be— I’ve felt so responsible for what happened to Addy.”
“Nonsense,” Rose said. With a glance toward her daughter, she added, “Whatever guilt you felt, it has been more than atoned for with your help here. And it certainly wasn’t yours to bear alone, as Addy well knows. Put it from your mind now, and let us send you off with a proper goodbye.”
As though given a cue, the Zias gathered around Kari, as well. She found herself in an Italian embrace worthy of a papal appearance. They exclaimed over her lucky opportunity to see an actual treasure ship and offered advice on the best ways to survive foreign food and drink. She sensed they were happy for her, but she didn’t think she was kidding herself—they were genuinely sorry to see her go, too.
Tessa continued to sulk in the background. Addy looked stunned. Sam looked furious.
When Kari’s gaze collided with his, he said loudly, “I agree with Tessa.”
“Sam,” Rose said.
“Me, too,” Addy added.
“I thought you liked it here,” Tessa said.
“I do. But I have to make a living.”
At that moment Nick walked into the kitchen. Seeing everyone, he came to a halt. She noticed he didn’t bother to look in her direction.
“Did you know anything about this?” Sam asked. “Kari’s leaving.”
“We spoke this morning,” Nick said calmly.
“And…?” his father prompted.
Sam’s face was thunderous. Nick looked suddenly annoyed.
The last thing Kari wanted was a fight between family members. She moved quickly to Sam’s chair. “And…believe it or not, after our shaky start, Nick’s just as sorry to see me go as you are, Sam. But there’s no help for it. Now, even though I can’t turn in a two-week notice, will you still give me a good reference?”
She smiled, silently begging him not to make this any more difficult. Evidently he got the message. After a single muttered oath, he took one of her hands in his. “You will always be welcome in this house,” he told her, his voice solemn and firm.
The look in his eyes made a lump form in her throat. This was something else she would miss about this place. The feeling that, given half the chance, she could have belonged here. But that kind of option wasn’t being offered.
Everything went quickly after that. Before she knew it, Kari was in her rental car, saying one last goodbye as everyone waved from the driveway. Even Nick was there, though she suspected he didn’t want to be. Perhaps it would have looked churlish if he had refused to see her off.
Rosa rushed up to the driver’s window and pressed a folded piece of paper into her hand. “My cannoli recipe,” she told her. “I know you liked them.” Then she winked. “Cannoli. Not calamari.”
At the last moment Addy was there, too, holding on to her sling to keep it from banging against the car door. “You’ll come visit us?”
“I will.”
Something in Kari’s face must have tipped Addy off to the fact that a return trip seemed very, very unlikely. She frowned. “You won’t come back. Damn that brother of mine. Somehow this is his fault, isn’t it?”
Kari shook her head at the young woman. “No. It’s no one’s fault. Some things just aren’t meant to be, Addy.”
Before Addy could say anything more, Kari put the car in gear and pulled away with a last wave to the family. Glancing in her rearview mirror, she saw them still standing in the driveway, watching her go. It was sweet and touching and difficult. The D’Angelos were like no family she’d ever known before. She had come to care about them deeply.
Just before her car bumped onto the main road, she looked back for the last time. While everyone else gave her a final wave, Nick had already begun to walk away, separate and contained, no doubt already turning his attention to some long list of responsibilities.
And evidently finding it so easy to turn her loose.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
THE MAGDALENA was a brilliant find.
Below its sand-and-algae-covered decks it carried enough treasure to make Metcalf and his backers filthy rich, enough items of historic importance to please the academic world, and enough mystery in its tragic past to thrill the public.
Four days after Kari arrived in Port Antonio, she stood on the dock with Eddie Camit and watched the salvagers from the ship pack the latest haul into water-filled containers. From there, the goods would be transported to a warehouse where Antone Metcalf’s team of scientific experts would catalog and inspect every item.
A TV crew jockeyed for a better position on the rickety dock, eager to catch sight of the most recent load, some of which had been pretty spectacular. Silver stirrups, incense burners, a bronze cannon, solid bars of both gold and silver that could fund a small country, gem-encrusted pendants, rings and even a pair of rosary beads studded with emeralds. Metcalf had hired a security detail to keep the salvagers from being mobbed, but Kari suspected they were going to be woefully inadequate. Everyone wanted to know more about the Magdalena and the treasure it held.
“And we’re the ones with the inside track,” she heard Eddie say gleefully beside her.
A self-satisfied smile stretched his lips as he sipped a local beer. He’d been insufferable since she’d arrived. He’d worked hard to get this job, and it would be quite a feather in his cap. Hers, too. As he frequently reminded her.
“Should have taken your advice,” he said with a grimacing hiss as he gently touched his sunburned nose. “When you go home tomorrow, leave me your sunscreen.”
Home. That meant Florida and her condo. Probably a pile of bills on the kitchen table, sour milk in the fridge and a couple of dead plants if Mrs. Marston across the hall had forgotten to water them. The idea of returning didn’t hold much appeal.
“Maybe I’ll just stay here,” she told him. “The article’s wrapped up, but since you’re going to stay and take more pictures, I could tag along and keep you company.”
He tilted his head at her, eyes narrowed to slits. “You’ve got something going with Metcalf, don’t you?”
She didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. “What?”
“I’ve seen the way Antone’s been watching you the last couple of days. The man’s crazy about you.”
“If he’s watching me, it’s to make sure I don’t steal any of his blasted treasure. The guy’s more paranoid than Fox Mulder.”
“Can’t say that I blame him. But that doesn’t mean you couldn’t have him—” he snapped his fingers “—like that. If you’d put forth a little effort and stop looking so serious all the time.”
“I’m not interested in putting forth a little effort.”
“Why not?”
“Because I…” Because I want Nick, she thought. Nobody else. Just Nick. She gave herself a mental kick. For Pete’s sake, she sounded like a child whining over the loss of her favorite toy. When was she going to get past this ridiculous yearning for something she couldn’t have? “Just because,” she finally said.
“Oh,” he replied with a short laugh. “As long as there’s a good reason.”
“Stop badgering me, Eddie.”
They watched as the salvagers tried to maneuver dozens of cannonballs into the crates. Beyond the dock, boats bobbed like floating seagulls in the turquoise bay.
“For a woman who’s just witnessed a fortune in treasure get dragged up in buckets from the bottom of the sea, you’ve been very solemn this trip,” Eddie said.
“It’s not like it was my for
tune in treasure.”
“Could be,” he said with a teasing gleam in his eyes. “If you’d give Metcalf half a chance. I admit the guy looks like an old shaman from an Indian tribe, but you could work on his skin problem. A little moisturizer…”
“I am not interested in Antone Metcalf. Or anyone else.”
She looked away for a moment, feeling slightly uncomfortable. It was one thing to tell lies to yourself, but she and Eddie had gotten close over the last couple of years. She never lied to him.
“Oh my God!” Eddie gasped so suddenly that Kari looked back at him and one of the salvagers lifted his head. Eddie pulled her aside and gave her a piercing glance. “You’re in love.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. I can see it in your face. Who’s the lucky guy?”
She crossed her arms. “There is no lucky guy.”
When Eddie remained silent, watching her, she uncrossed her arms and started to walk up the dock. A light breeze stirred her hair, bringing with it the warm scents of the ocean. She wished she could inhale the air so deeply that it would sear away every thought she’d ever had of Colorado and a dark-eyed man who could make her howl with frustration and hurt.
She became aware that Eddie had come up beside her as she headed back toward their hotel.
“How long have we known each other, Churchill?”
“Six years, give or take.”
“Long enough not to kid one another in matters of the heart, wouldn’t you say?”
She stopped and stared at him. No point in hiding anything from Eddie. “If I thought I was in love, I don’t anymore,” she admitted in a quiet voice. “It didn’t work out. It didn’t even get a chance to because he wasn’t interested.”
“The myopic bastard. You’re a damned fine catch.”
“Thank you. I could kiss you for saying that.”
“Don’t get any ideas,” he said, the old Eddie again. “I’m completely loyal to Buzz.”
They sat near the ocean, watching a couple of teenagers work their way out of the water with swim fins and snorkels and a netted bag of sea treasures. The beach here was rocky, not like home at all, but it was still quite beautiful. In another hour sunset would be sliding down the thatched roofs of the hotel, painting everything with a rosy glow.