Legend of the Crown and Thistle

by Janie Brians

  "Alright, I guess. I'm still hopeful that they will find my things. I feel rather lost without them, you know. And now that Liam has left, I feel very much alone sometimes."

  "Liam left? Do you know where he went?" Lizzie couldn't keep herself from asking.

  "Why, do you mean to say that you haven't seen him yet, dear? He said he was going to Nassau. He said he wanted to be with you and that friend of his that's also from the islands."

  "Friend? Which friend was that?" Lizzie tried not to let the fear rising in her tell in her voice.

  "You know him too, I believe. Liam said you do. Now, let me think... was his name Carl?... no, that's not it... oh, what was it? Chris? That's it! Christopher Dean. You know him, don't you?"

  "Uh... yes... yes, I know him. We sort of grew up together. So Liam left to come here with Chris? They left together, I mean?"

  "Yes, dear. They left yesterday from London. They should've arrived Tuesday evening your time. You haven't seen them yet? That's a bit odd." Maddy sounded a little worried.

  "No, but they're probably just catching up on some sleep and then they'll show up. No need to worry, Maddy. " Lizzie answered quickly.

  "You have enough to worry about." she thought to herself. She decided to change the subject.

  "So there are no new leads in the investigation? Are they any closer to finding the thieves?"

  "Well, they seem to think it was the work of an international ring of thieves who've been doing this sort of thing for over ten years. They're obviously quite good at what they do," she said dryly. "No one has been able to catch them in all those years, and they've even robbed high-security museums."

  "Well, just don't you give up hope, Maddy. Just remember what Malcolm said, 'Scotland Yard men are wizards at this sort of thing,'" she quoted.

  "I know...so, how is your uncle these days, anyway?"

  "Fine. He's back in Freeport taking care of things there. I'll be heading back there this Friday. He gave me a few more days off, bless his heart."

  "A good man. I certainly enjoyed meeting him."

  "And he enjoyed meeting you too, Maddy. You're both birds of a feather, I think." Lizzie said with a smile in her voice. Maddy laughed, "I guess so."

  "Well, Maddy dear, I hate to have to go, but I'd better ring off now."

  "Thanks so much for calling, Lizzie. I really appreciate it. Give my love to Liam when you see him, dear."

  "Okay...take care, Maddy. Bye for now."

  Liam and Chris, both in Nassau. So they did know one another. She had been right. Right about everything. Maybe they were only two of that group of thieves, but they must've pulled the job off at Maddy's house. Now, what were they doing here? It was abundantly clear to her now. She had to tell what she knew. The question was, who should she talk to? Malcolm could probably tell her who'd be best. She would call him right away, before he left the office for lunch. She dialed the museum number and let it ring for a while. No answer. She must just have missed him. He probably decided to take an early lunch if things were a little slow there today. She'd have to try later.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  JASON AND ANNE sat in the foyer of the museum. The police had questioned them already, but had asked them to remain a while longer. Now the police were questioning the receptionist, Jenny Bradley. Mr. Ross sat with Jason and Anne while they waited.

  "This is a most horrible tragedy." he said sadly. He seemed to be in a degree of shock.

  "Did anyone say who found him?" Anne asked him.

  "The cleaning lady walked in and there he was on the floor next to the telephone. The phone was off the receiver as if he'd tried to call someone but was overcome, probably by the poison. The police said there were two glasses sitting on the coffee-table as if someone else had been there. They are going over every inch of his apartment now to see what more they can find. There were no fingerprints on one glass and the other on had only the prints of Melvin. The person must have cleaned his prints off of his glass before he left."

  "Sounds like a pretty cool customer to me," Jason said. "Puts poison in Denton's drink, waits and watches until he's dead, then wipes off his prints from the glass and probably anything else he'd touched. Very cool customer."

  "Insane is more like it." Anne said disgustedly. "He was probably someone Dr. Denton considered a friend of some sort."

  "Maybe a jealous female. Isn't poison a favorite with women?" Jason looked at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

  The police officer appeared just then, "Okay, folks. You're free to go. We have your phone numbers if there are any more questions. Thank you for your cooperation."

  Jason and Anne decided to go for a quick lunch at the nearby Bonny Cafe, before returning to their work with the diary. Over lunch they discussed the possible reasons for Dr. Denton's murder. Then Anne began explaining to Jason the reason she had to leave so abruptly the day before.

  "Wow. That would be something. No wonder you took off like that. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help while I'm here." Jason said.

  "As soon as we finish this diary, Lizzie and I are off to Freeport to see what we can find, if anything. You wouldn't happen to want to take a side trip there as official treasure digger-upper?" Anne asked playfully.

  "Sure wish I could, but...."

  "I know, duty calls." She replied with a hint of disappointment.

  When they had finished lunch they returned to the museum. Jenny informed them that Mr. Ross had decided to take the remainder of the day off. It was a busy Wednesday afternoon for Fort Charlotte tour guides. However, Jason and Anne were cloistered away from the crowds as they continued with the translation of Edwin's diary. He had become very real to them both. His life was such a sad story of one tragedy upon another.

  June 10, 1556:

  I haven't the heart to write in this journal very often. It has been six months since my last entry. One day melts into another in a never-ending, monotonous routine. This ship sails north and south, eat and west scouring the ocean for other ships to loot and pillage. Sometimes they have had to flee from naval vessels. Other times they have confronted them and destroyed them. This captain is a shrewd sailor.

  January 21, 1587:

  Carlos is ill. Our one and only friend on this wretched vessel. Linus and I do our best to help him. Because he has befriended us, the others seem less disposed to help him through his illness. We will not forsake him!

  Februarys, 1587:

  Linus weeps as I do. Our friend, companion and helper has gone the way of all the world. How we shall miss him!

  "Their story is so sad!" Anne said, as she sat on the patio later that evening enjoying dinner with her family and Jason's. "Those boys had one bad break after another."

  "It sure seems like it was more of a curse than a blessing for them to be born of royal parents," Lizzie said.

  "Have you found any indication yet as to whether they ever returned for their jewels?" Darlene asked.

  "Not yet." Jason answered. "We've only got a few more pages left to translate though. We'll be finished tomorrow. Then we'll know for sure."

  "Hopefully we'll know. That's only if Edwin writes more about it," Anne said.

  "Well, if there's no indication from the diary," her dad said, "couldn't you find out something from the prison records, since you know what names they'd been given?"

  "You're right, Ed." Jason replied. "And once we're done with the diary, I definitely want to finish perusing that volume of Mr. Whitley's."

  "Son," said Jason's dad, "I think this is one of the most exciting assignments you've ever had."

  Jason looked at his father and then at Anne and winked, "You're absolutely right, dad."

  That night, as the two sisters lay in bed, they talked about everything. The diary, the jewels, Edwin and Linus and the tiny cave in Freeport.

  "There's something else I've been wanting to tell someone," Lizzie said.

  "What about?" Anne asked.

  "I called Maddy Thomas in
Scotland today. I was wondering if they have solved the case yet."

  "Have they?"

  "No. But guess who left Scotland just after I did?"

  "Who...not your friend?"

  "Liam and Chris, together. They left Scotland for Nassau. They've got to be here by now. Liam told Maddy that he was coming to be with me," she said dryly.

  "Chris was with him? She actually said his name?" Anne asked in disbelief.

  "Yep. One can only guess what those two thieves are up to now."

  "Maybe they sold the stuff and are here on vacation, resting from their labors," Anne said sarcastically."

  "But why here? They could probably go anywhere else," Lizzie countered .

  "Maybe Liam is thinking of trying to win you back. Do you think he knows you suspect him of the robbery?"

  "I don't know. But if he does, he may try to convince me otherwise."

  "Just remember, little sister, wives can't testify against their husbands. He may have already thought of that."

  "Don't worry, " Lizzie told her sister, "I know he's bad news. I just don't see how I could have been so fooled."

  "It happens to the best of us," Anne said with a yawn.

  Thursday morning started out as a lovely day of clear blue skies over a gently undulating turquoise sea. The girls had left their windows open all night. The restful sounds of the surf always relaxed them and helped them to sleep.

  Anne woke up at about eight-o'clock, a little later than usual. She noticed that Lizzie was already up and gone. She went into the bathroom and showered and while dressing, flipped on the T.V. to hear the morning news. Lizzie came in then holding two cups of coffee. She handed one to Anne.

  "M-m-m thanks," Anne took the cup, "Did you go for a walk?" "Yeah. Nothing like an early walk on the beach before the crowds show up. The breeze blows away the cobwebs. As soon as I get a hold of uncle, he'll be able to tell me who I should call to report what I know about the robbery. Then, I'm going to do it and be done with this mess once and for all," she said with resolution.

  "Shh..listen!" Anne interrupted. A news report from a Florida station had just come on. They were talking about the murder of Dr. Denton. The reporter was speaking from the entrance of Fort Charlotte:

  "If you think pirates and piracy are part of ancient history, think again. Piracy is alive and flourishing in this twentieth-century. For over ten years, since 1975, an international and very high-tech group of pirates have been practicing their skills around the world. These pirates, however, do not sail the seven seas. They use modern forms of transportation. Their weapons for plundering are not cannons and swords but highly technical electronics. But, whereas up till now they were never responsible for any deaths, yesterday that was changed. The murder of Dr. Melvin Denton is now being added to the crimes of this group of modern-day pirates. Behind me is the Fort Charlotte Museum and Restoration Society in Nassau on New Providence Island in the Bahamas. Since 1973, Dr. Denton has been head-curator here. It has now become apparent that he was also involved with the group of thieves. After his body was discovered yesterday morning by his cleaning lady, police conducted a minute examination of his apartment. Later yesterday afternoon a small vault was discovered hidden in the ceiling of his clothes closet. Inside this vault were several personal documents belonging to Denton. Among them was a document recording the illegal transactions between himself and buyers of some of the valuable property stolen over the years. The latest entry was made this Tuesday. It recorded the alleged sale of three sketches to millionaire-businessman T.L. Chadwick for ten-million dollars. Mr. Chadwick was immediately taken in for questioning. The three sketches were later found in his home on Paradise Island. Several other stolen artifacts were also discovered there. It seems that he has long been a customer of the group.

  The sketches he had acquired have since been found to be the legal property of

  Mrs. Madelaine Thomas an art collector now residing in Scotland. Her home was robbed less than a week ago and the sketches were among several things that were stolen. They appear to be original works done by Michelangelo. Mr. Chadwick is being held, as of this broadcast, on suspicion of murder. Police say he admits to the purchase of the items, but maintains that he simply paid Denton the money and took the sketches and left. Police are continuing the investigation." The reporter signed off.

  Lizzie and Anne sat on the edge of the bed in stunned silence. As she rearched to turn the T.V. off, Anne looked at her younger sister. Lizzie had a look of shock on her face.

  "What are you thinking, Lizzie? You look like you've seen a ghost. You didn't even know the man, Denton, although he gave me the creeps the one and only time I was around him."

  "That's what they're doing here!" Lizzie said as if she hadn't even heard Anne.

  "Who?"

  "Liam and Chris! It's so clear! They somehow smuggled those sketches over here in order to get them to Denton so he could sell them to that Chadwick fellow!" Anne thought about it and said, "Then you know the next logical question."

  "Yes. Did either one or both of them have anything to do with the murder?"

  "That's the one."

  "No! I can believe that they're both thieves, but I just cannot accept that they'd do murder. We've known Chris practically all our lives for goodness sakes! He may be messed up, but murder? No, not Chris!" she said emphatically.

  "And Liam?" Anne asked gently.

  "Oh, I don't know! I would almost stake my like that he couldn't."

  "Almost...yes...I don't REALLY know him, do I. Oh, I hate all of this! When will it end!?" Lizzie said angrily, but there were tears in her eyes.

  "Lizzie, you're probably right about them," Anne tried to comfort her sister, "I honestly can't see Chris committing murder either and, for you to have cared so much for Liam...well, I think there's got to be an enormous gap between stealing and killing someone. It was probably that Chadwick after all." Lizzie gave Anne a tiny smile of thanks.

  "Let's go get breakfast, okay?" Anne said. "I've got to be ready for Jason. Today's the day we find out how the Edwin story ends. Then maybe we'll know if we have to go digging for treasure...again." Anne smiled brightly and touched Lizzie's hand.

  "Right," Lizzie smiled back, "And while you're with Jason, I'm, going to talk to Uncle and find out who I should call and then get that whole business over once and for all."

  Sitting in Lab-Room 3, Jason and Anne were once again lost in the tragic account of the sons of Mary Stuart.

  MAY 19, 1587:

  We are in pursuit again! A cargo ship that flies the flag of France is this time the prey I continue to be amazed at the cunning of this pirate-captain. It is certainly not for nothing that his men call him 'el zorro del mar', the sea-fox. He has replaced his ship's genuine flag with a flag of France. The other ship will suspect nothing until it is too late. I wish there were a way to warn them, but once again we are locked away unable to do a thing. I am almost glad for it. The screams of agony that come from their butchered victims are enough for me. I could not bear to have to watch it.

  MAY 20,1587:

  It is finished. As Linus and I are permitted to walk above deck again we are now able to see the other ship not far off in the setting sun. Crippled and dead in the water, the flames consume her and all that have been left to die there. The sea-fox has won again. Disgusting man!

  MAY 21, 1587

  A young child has been taken from the ship of yesterday's massacre. A very frightened young girl. Linus and I have been charged with her care. She speaks to no one yet. It is obvious she is in an emotional shock. Her parents must have been slain before her very eyes, but she was spared. I dare not contemplate what these filthy men have in mind for her.

  JUNE 11, 1587:

  Linus has been successful in his efforts to get the child to speak. At last she is beginning to trust that we mean her no harm. She speaks only French. She told us her name is Genevieve Marceau. She is thirteen years of age. We will not question her further for awhile. To eve
n attempt the subject of her family sends her into deep despair from which she emerges only after several days. Poor child! Our hearts break to see her suffering. Our gentleness and care can soothe her only a little. I pray that in time her memories and thus her suffering will fade.

  OCTOBER 29, 1587:

  Now, when this ship sails close to land, it is the three of us that are kept behind lock and key. In deference to the child Genny, as we have begun to call her, they now give us candlelight to push away the darkness. Genny speaks freely to us now. She is curious about our ability to speak her language. We have explained to her that our dear mother spent thirteen years of her young life in the country of our grandmother who was French, and that when we were born, although we grew up in the country of Denmark and were taught the Danish tongue, we were also taught English and French. Genny smiled for the first time since she has been with us. It seems to be of comfort to her that we too have French blood running through our veins. Shyly, she complimented us on our accent. She is a beautiful child, six years younger than Linus and I. She has begun to depend upon us as her brothers. Some nights though, I have awakened to the sound of her quiet sobs and I realize that she still mourns her family deeply. Poor, poor girl!

  JANUARY 9, 1588:

  Another year begins. Has it been two years that we have been on this god-forsaken ship? Linus and I continue to look for the day when we can liberate ourselves from this floating prison. Now, however, our escape must and will include Genny. She is the one bright spot that glimmers in our desolate world. Does she realize how important she has become to us? She has told us of her family. She could not hide her tears, but she was able to speak of them at last without the absolute despair of the past. It seems her parents were traveling from France to the Port-au-Prince harbor on the island of Hispaniola. There they were to buy property enough to begin a sugar plantation for the making of Rum. Alas, they were never able to realize their dream. Linus and I can feel her sadness. We three are bound together by the loss of those dearest to us. We cling to each other now.