by Patricia Fry
“They won’t let me see him,” he said into the phone. “They told me I can visit him once he’s in his room if he’s okay with it. But he’s not going to let me in,” he complained. “What are we going to do? We need to get that from him. He promised to give me the map this afternoon, but now how will we get it?” He paused, then said, “Hell, I don’t know what his problem is. I suppose he figures that if we go in like gangbusters to dig the place up they’ll come looking for him. He’ll be the one fingered, not us.”
The man listened for a moment, then said, “No. I don’t know how badly he’s hurt. Looks like it could be bad.” His voice became louder. “Yeah, if he dies, then what? We’re up a creek.” He paused, then said, “Next of kin? Hell, does he have any living relatives? You’re the one who knows his family’s sordid little story. You should know if he has relatives.” He listened for a few more moments, then said, “Okay, I’ll wait around here, then. I’ll try to find out if and when they move him to a room.” He spoke more softly when saying, “Maybe I can find a way into his room and get that map.” He laughed. “Yeah, bring shovels to that place out on Walnut, and maybe a bulldozer. We need to find it. I already have a buyer primed to pay through the nose for that trinket.” He laughed again. “That poor sap wants just a hundred dollars for the map. If he only knew how much we’ll get once we find the thing.”
After ending the call, the man lit a cigarette. Savannah stepped back inside and found Iris still chatting with the emergency room receptionist as if they were old friends. When Iris joined Savannah minutes later, she whispered, “They don’t think he has internal injuries, just a broken arm, which they can’t set until tomorrow. He’ll be admitted for observation and rest just as soon as the paperwork’s completed. Then we can go in, Cousin Savannah.” Before Savannah could protest, Iris said, “Come on, let’s go get a cup of coffee in the cafeteria while we’re waiting.” She looped her arm through Savannah’s. “Hey, where did you go, out for a smoke?”
Savannah smirked playfully at her. “Yeah, sure. No, I followed that man outside and learned that we were right. He probably isn’t a friend of Mr. Silver’s. Iris, wait until I tell you what I overheard. You guys are probably in some sort of danger, and I’m also a little worried about Oliver.”
“You mean Cousin Oliver?” Iris said flippantly.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“So what were you babbling about before we came in here?” Iris asked, sliding into a booth in the cafeteria with a cup of tea. She waited until Savannah was seated before adding, “You said something about Craig and me being in danger.”
Savannah glanced around to see who might be listening, then leaned forward. “Evidently there’s a map. This guy was supposed to get a map from Oliver.”
“What guy?” Iris asked.
“That guy they wouldn’t let in—Oliver’s friend,” Savannah explained. “I followed him outside and overheard his telephone conversation.”
“You did what?” Iris asked. She looked around the room and lowered her voice. “What did he say? What about a map?”
“Evidently, Oliver agreed to sell him a map showing where to dig for the mysterious thing.”
“So he does know where it is,” Iris said.
Savannah’s eyes flashed mischievously. “Or Oliver is trying to scam this guy, which may be why he was running from him.” She touched Iris’s hand to get her full attention. “And it sounds as if he’s going to dig up your whole yard if that’s what it takes to find the thing.”
“What?” Iris exclaimed.
“Yeah, he said something about a bulldozer.”
“Holy…” Iris started. “A map, huh? Sheesh. That’s just what I need—a bulldozer in my beautiful yard.” She winced. “I really want to talk to that little leprechaun now. He’d better not be sending people over to do damage at our house.” She raised her eyes to the ceiling and said, “Why us, Lord?”
****
It took Oliver Silver a moment to figure out who his visitors were. When he finally recognized them, his eyes grew wide and he blurted, “What’re you doing here?”
Iris gushed, “Hi, Cousin Oliver. How are you?” She then frowned. “I’m so sorry to hear about your accident. Are you in a lot of pain?”
He shook his head. “They gave me something for pain. I have a broken arm. They can’t fix it until the swelling goes down. What happened, anyway?” He squinted in their direction. “I think I saw you just before that car…” He paused. “Or was I having another daydream?”
“Yeah, we saw you run into traffic,” Savannah said. “Why did you do that?”
“I thought I was being chased,” he said.
“Well, we kind of were chasing you,” Iris said. “We want to talk to you.”
“Why?” he asked suspiciously.
Iris looked into his face. “I want to know what your family hid on our property, that’s what.” She moved closer and added, “…and where.”
He stared at her, then said, “I’m awfully sleepy and I don’t feel very well.” When he saw someone walk past his open door, he called out, “Nurse.” She peered into his room and he said, “I’d like for my guests to leave now. I’m very tired and I need my rest.”
The nurse smiled at Savannah and Iris. “He’s probably groggy after his ordeal and the meds they’ve given him. Can you come back and see him later? He’ll most likely be here for a few days.”
“Sure, thanks,” Iris said. “Just let me tell Cousin Oliver goodbye.”
“Okay.” The nurse patted Oliver’s good arm. “They’ll come back and see you another time. You get your sleep.”
He nodded, closed his eyes, and rolled his head toward the window.
Savannah started to walk out of the room when she noticed Iris lagging behind. She turned and saw her eying Oliver’s jacket, which lay across an empty bed. Before Savannah could react, Iris plucked something from one of the pockets and walked swiftly out of the room.
“What did you do?” Savannah hissed as they approached the elevator.
“Just borrowed something from our cousin. You heard that nurse, he won’t need it for a few days.”
“What?” Savannah asked. “What is it?”
“I don’t know for sure, but I hope it’s a clue to what his family left on our property.” The pair stepped out of the elevator, and it wasn’t until they were in the parking lot that Iris said, “Florence and I believe that what Oliver is looking for has a much deeper and more sinister history than even Oliver knows—if, indeed, it is something that found its way into the Silver family.”
“What?” Savannah exclaimed. She glanced around to see if anyone was watching them and said, “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
“Why the rush?” Iris asked. “Do you think we’re in danger?”
“We sure could be,” Savannah said, scrambling to get into her car. She immediately locked her door. Once Iris was seated and buckled in, Savannah pulled out onto the highway. She gazed at Iris and groaned. “I can’t believe you took that. What if word gets out that the detective’s wife is a kleptomaniac?”
“This is different,” Iris insisted. “I’m trying to solve a case. Anyway, I resent being put in the same category as your cat,” she snarked.
Savannah rolled her eyes.
Iris held up the envelope she’d pulled from Oliver’s jacket pocket. “Savannah, I wonder if this is that map you were talking about. Or maybe it’s the money he collected for the map.”
Savannah shook her head. “It didn’t sound like that guy got the map yet.” She glanced at Iris. “Open it.”
“Okay. Now, if it’s money, we could be in real trouble.”
“We?” Savannah questioned.
“You’re driving the getaway car, kid.”
Savannah slumped. “Oh, my gosh.” She looked briefly at Iris a couple of times as she opened the envelope, asking, “Is it money?”
Iris shook her head. “No. No money. Oh my God, Savannah. Look, it is a map.” She turned
it around a couple of times. “Yup, it looks like our yard—a crude map of our yard.”
“So where is the thing supposed to be?” Savannah asked. “I hope not under your house!”
“No,” Iris said. “It shows that it’s out in back of the house.” She studied the map for a moment and squinted. “Maybe out near that bird bath with the little fountain in it.” She faced Savannah. “Yeah, there could have been a tree there, our gardener complains about always tapping into roots in that area. He has said there must have been a large tree there at some point.” She faced Savannah. “Remember, Oliver said his family hid it under a big tree.”
After thinking about it for a moment, Savannah reasoned, “But over time things can change in the ground, especially where they were doing farming for so many years.”
Iris collapsed a little in her seat. “Oh no. So you don’t think this map is accurate? Heck, I was hoping to find that doodad before any thieves showed up at my door.” She looked at Savannah. “So you’re saying that it could be anywhere on our property?” Iris lamented. “…or nowhere?”
****
That evening over dinner, Michael said, “You’re quiet this evening, honey.”
“Me?” Savannah asked. When he nodded, she said, “Just tired, that’s all.”
“Weren’t you and Iris going someplace today?” he asked.
Gladys nodded. “Yeah, where did you two go? I stopped by Maggie’s this afternoon and found the kids there.” She smiled. “They were having the best time.”
“I’m glad,” Savannah said. She asked, “What did you do today, Mom? Did you have a big day at the spa? You deserve it.”
Gladys shook her head. “No, I just went to lunch with a gal from the book club, then I stopped by Maggie’s and stayed to help her and Max entertain the kids.” She grinned. “So what did you and Iris do?” She patted Savannah’s arm. “You’re the one who needs a spa day.”
When Savannah became aware that Michael and Gladys were waiting for her to respond, she said, “Oh, well, we went to the hospital in Straley, actually.”
“Hospital?” Gladys repeated, alarmed.
“To visit someone,” Savannah said.
“Who?” Michael asked.
Realizing that she was going to have to talk about her outing with Iris, even though she preferred to sit quietly with her thoughts, Savannah said, “Well, it was Oliver Silver. He was hit by a car and Iris wanted to talk to him in the worst way, so we drove over there.”
“Did you talk to him?” Michael asked. “What’s going on with him? Did he ever find that thing he was looking for?”
Savannah shook her head and pushed the stir-fried vegetables around on her plate. When Michael pressed her for more information, she excused herself and carried her plate to the counter. She stood there for a moment, then approached Michael, kissing him on top of the head. “I’m sorry, I just don’t feel like talking right now,” she said before walking out of the room.
****
The next morning the subject came up again. Michael joined Savannah in the kitchen and asked, “So are you feeling more rested today? You look better.”
“Thanks, I think,” she said. “Yeah, I’m having kind of a hard time getting back into the swing of my beautiful life after…”
He put his arms around her. “Take all the time you need, hon. It was traumatizing for all of us. We can’t be expected to bounce back as if nothing happened. Something did happen and it was awful.” The two of them held each other until they heard Lily’s sweet voice.
“Hi, Mommy. Hi, Daddy. I help Grammy make my bed.”
Michael lifted the child into the air. “You did? What a big-girl helper you are. I’m proud of you!”
“Come sit down,” Savannah said. “Mommy made you breakfast.”
Michael lifted Lily into her booster chair and served her some eggs and bacon, then sat down and watched Savannah spread a few pieces of fruit and bacon over Teddy’s high-chair tray. Savannah and Gladys sat down and Michael began passing platters and bowls of food. “Looks awfully good, hon,” he said.
After eating a few bites, Savannah said, “You guys were asking me about Iris’s and my adventure yesterday. I’m sorry I was so closed down. Like I said, I’m having a hard time with what happened, and I realize it’s wrong to snap at you. I really am sorry.”
“It’s okay, honey,” Gladys said. “Take all the time you need.”
Michael smiled at Gladys and nodded.
“Well, to tell you the truth, it was kind of an interesting day yesterday. I probably would have enjoyed it more if it hadn’t come on the heels of…well, you know.” She glanced at the others. “There’s a map that appears to show where the thing Oliver’s looking for is buried or hidden on Iris’s and Craig’s property. While we were at the hospital, I overheard a man talking on the phone about buying a map from Oliver. He said if they couldn’t find the thing, maybe they’d bring in bulldozers.”
“Good lord,” Michael said. “It must be worth something, huh?”
Savannah raised her eyebrows. “I guess. Either that or someone’s being scammed. I actually think that if the map is old, it may be totally inaccurate by now, after all the time that has passed. There’s been plowing, rain storms, wind…that thing is probably buried really deep by now or it could have been picked up by a harvesting machine many years ago.”
Michael grinned at his wife. “You have it all figured out, don’t you?”
She looked at him. “Well, not really. I sure don’t know where it could be or even what it is.” She spread some strawberry jam on her toast. “I wish we could find it. I’m afraid Craig and Iris could be in danger. I mean, that guy seemed pretty desperate to get his hands on it.”
“So what do you think it is? Did you find that out?”
Savannah shook her head. “Not yet.” She started to clear the table when her phone rang. She picked it up and announced, “It’s Rochelle. I really want to talk to her. I’ll be right back.” Into the phone, she said, “Rochelle, hi. How are you? Did you get the results?”
“Results?” Rochelle asked.
“You know, from the pregnancy test.”
“Not pregnant. Not yet,” Rochelle said quietly.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, Savannah. The timing’s just not right, that’s all. I want to be at my healthiest and most energetic when it happens. This really wouldn’t have been a good time—not when I’ve experienced so much fear and even abuse to my body—you know, lack of food and water and all. No. That’s not the beginning I want my baby to experience. So the news is not bad at this time.”
“Good. Well, it will happen.”
“Yes, if it’s meant to be.” Her tone brightened. “How are you?”
“Good. I had a little excitement yesterday with Iris.”
“Was your cat involved?” Rochelle asked.
Savannah chuckled. “No. Not this time. Iris and I talked to the little gremlin guy, Oliver Silver. He was hit by a car…”
“Oh my. I’m sorry to hear that. Is he okay?”
“Yeah, just a broken bone. Listen, Iris took something from his hospital room and it turns out it’s a map showing where that item is supposed to be buried on Iris’s and Craig’s property.” When Rochelle remained quiet, Savannah said, “Rochelle, are you there?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’m just sensing something and I want to assimilate it before I share it with you.”
“Something about this Oliver Silver thing?”
“Yes,” Rochelle said. “Savannah, I get that it is close to the surface and it will be found. But…I’m being told that it isn’t authentic.”
“The item isn’t authentic or Oliver isn’t?” Savannah asked.
Rochelle chuckled. “Oh, I think Oliver is. No, it’s the thing he’s after. It…well, it isn’t what he believes it is. There’s something he has yet to learn about the secret his family has harbored for all those years.”
“That’s vague,”
Savannah said. “Anything else?”
Rochelle let out a sigh. “Well, here it is, for better or for worse. I sense that the power behind the item is imaginary. It’s all spurred by the human belief system.”
“Interesting,” Savannah said. “I guess if we can find the thing, we might learn the rest of the story.”
Rochelle agreed.
“You say it’s close to the surface, huh?” Savannah reiterated.
“Yes,” Rochelle said. She chuckled. “Are you planning to go over there with a shovel?”
“I just might.” Savannah gazed toward the kitchen and said, “Hey, I’d better do my share of the after-breakfast clean-up.” Before ending the call, however, she asked, “Oh wait, you called me. Was there something you wanted to talk to me about?”
“Not really,” Rochelle admitted. “I just wanted to hear your voice—make sure you’re doing okay. I know…well, I know how difficult it can be to recover from something like we went through. Are you okay, really?”
Savannah paused, then said, “I’m getting there. Doing better each day. How about you?”
“Pretty much the same. It’s good to hear your voice. Hey, I’ll let you get back to your family.”
“Okay. Talk to you later. Thanks for calling.”
Before Savannah could return to the kitchen, her phone chimed again. “Hi, Iris. What’s up?”
“Want to do some gardening this morning?”
Savannah laughed. “Were you reading my mind? I can be there by, say, nine thirty.”
“Perfect,” Iris said. “See you then.”