My Sister's Prayer

by Mindy Starns Clark

  Celeste stepped forward, interrupting them. “What’s going on?”

  “Spenser wants me to go to Wharton again and demand the ring back,” Emmanuel told her. “He said if that doesn’t work, he’s willing to sell himself to the man in exchange for it instead.”

  She gasped. “Spenser, no!”

  His cheeks turning bright red, Spenser kept his eyes on Emmanuel as he spoke. “There’s one other option. What if we got the man who appraised it before to officially verify the value? If we prove that the ring is worth far more than Berta’s contract, Wharton will have no choice but to pay the difference in cash or relinquish the ring. Considering its worth, I feel sure he’ll be forced to do the latter.”

  “Great idea,” Emmanuel said, “but is the appraiser even around anymore? I thought he was just passing through.”

  “I don’t know. He was staying at the Bayside Tavern, so I’ll start there.” Immediately, Spenser turned to go.

  “Don’t!” Celeste cried. “We need to get out of here.”

  “Stay out of this!” he snapped in return. He’d never been harsh with her before, or with anyone else—not that she’d seen, anyway. “I’m getting that ring back.”

  Before she could respond, he marched toward the end of the wharf. Emmanuel threw up his hands and hurried after him.

  Celeste yelled at them to stop, but they both ignored her and continued on. Her eyes filled with tears of frustration. As much as she mourned the loss of the ring, she had more important matters to deal with right now—starting with leaving before Jonathan returned. The issue of her contract could be handled later, from a safe distance, with her brother’s help.

  Celeste took the money Jonathan had given her and paid for her and Sary to board the cargo boat. A few minutes later, George and Berta also came on and sat beside each other. The boat had to leave before Jonathan got back—but not before Emmanuel and Spenser returned.

  Celeste thought through what actions she needed to take and decided to go to the governor once they were back in Williamsburg. He had jurisdiction over all the men involved, including Constable Wharton, Captain Bancroft, Jonathan—and even Mr. Horn, if it turned out he was in on the treacherous doings as well.

  Captain Doane strolled the deck, looking impatient.

  “My brother will return shortly,” Celeste told him, hoping that was true.

  “I’ll wait a few more minutes, Miss Talbot, but we need to be on our way soon. The tide is coming in.”

  She scanned the wharf, praying Spenser and Emmanuel would appear. Instead, Jonathan did without Captain Bancroft. Celeste ducked, yanking her hood over her head as she pulled Sary down with her.

  Jonathan boarded the Royal Mary without stopping to say anything to Berta.

  Celeste asked if she could see Emmanuel and Spenser coming. Berta shook her head and put a finger to her lips.

  A minute later Jonathan returned to the boat. “Where’s your sister?” he barked at Berta.

  She stared straight ahead, lips pursed.

  “You will answer me,” he commanded.

  Berta didn’t budge, but George gave a furtive glance.

  Jonathan boarded the boat and grabbed Berta’s chin with his hand, tugging her face toward him.

  “Leave me be,” she hissed. “You treated me horribly. You have no right to expect anything from me now.”

  “Where’s your—” Jonathan stopped, and then he turned toward Celeste and Sary, both hunkered down in their cloaks. He stepped toward them and yanked the hood from Celeste’s head.

  “I’m not going with you.”

  “I own your contract, Celeste. You have to come with me.”

  “I’ll scream—”

  He grabbed her by the arm and lifted her to her feet. “No one will help you, especially not Constable Wharton.”

  Berta lunged for Jonathan, but he jerked to the side.

  “Get Spenser!” Celeste begged her sister. “Please!”

  Berta scrambled from the boat with George trailing behind.

  “Hurry!” Celeste yelled.

  “Come on, Sary,” Jonathan said.

  “No! She’s free. You can’t force her.”

  Sary stood and grabbed Celeste’s hands. “I’m going with you,” she whispered in French.

  “No,” Celeste said. “Run. Follow Berta.”

  Sary shook her head.

  Celeste reeled around toward Jonathan. “I’ll report you to the governor.”

  He laughed. “On what grounds?”

  “Kidnapping. Coercion. Colluding with Captain Bancroft and Constable Wharton. Berta and I aren’t the only ones you people have done this too.”

  “He won’t believe you over me. Over us. Besides, the governor is back in Williamsburg. The Court starts in a few days.”

  “No, he’s here on business. I know he’ll listen to me.”

  “You’re bluffing.”

  She was bluffing, but in that moment she realized it might be true. Considering that the governor had to be in Williamsburg when Court convened, at this point he’d be either there or here. If he were anywhere else, he wouldn’t make it in time.

  “Come on!” Jonathan jerked her arm again.

  “Is everything all right?” Captain Doane asked, stepping toward them.

  “No.” Celeste gritted her teeth against Jonathan’s grip. “He’s trying to kidnap me.”

  “That’s impossible,” Jonathan said. “I own her contract.”

  Captain Doane shook his head. “I can’t get involved, then.”

  “Can you search for Governor Nicholson?” Celeste asked. “I’m acquainted with him. He’ll know how to help.”

  Captain Doane shrugged. “I have no idea where to look.”

  “Ask at the tavern,” Celeste suggested. “Someone there is bound to know.” It was worth a try.

  He seemed reluctant but did as she asked, stepping down the gangplank to the wharf and then hurrying along.

  Celeste called after him. “Please keep looking—”

  “Be quiet!” Jonathan yelled, yanking her down the gangplank with Sary still hanging on to her.

  Celeste tried to resist him as much as possible and felt Sary doing the same, but Jonathan kept pulling them until they reached the gangplank of the Royal Mary. Celeste sank to her knees and spread her upper body flat, her face down on the wharf, still clinging to Sary’s good hand.

  “Celeste!” It was Spenser.

  Jonathan kicked at her, his boot digging into her side. “Get up! Now.”

  “No!”

  He kicked her again.

  “Stop it!” Sary let go of Celeste’s hand to lunge toward Jonathan, but Celeste managed to block her by quickly scrambling to her feet and positioning herself between them.

  Behind Jonathan, Spenser—followed by Emmanuel, George, and then Berta—ran toward her, their boots drumming against the wooden wharf.

  Jonathan turned and held up his hand. “There’s nothing you can do to stop us. I legally own Celeste. She belongs to me.”

  Celeste shouted, “He’s a criminal! He’s kidnapped girls. Coerced others. Misled more than just Berta and me. He’s working with Constable Wharton and Captain Bancroft. Perhaps Mr. Horn too.” Several sailors from the Royal Mary stopped their work to gawk.

  “She’s lying.” Jonathan wrapped his arms around Celeste and held her in front of himself. “She tricked me into buying her contract, and now she’s trying to run away.” Celeste raised her head, banging it against his chin. He cursed and tightened his hold.

  Spenser stopped a few feet from them, followed by Emmanuel and George. Celeste searched out Berta. Right behind her was Constable Wharton. Far behind him, just coming out of the tavern, was a small group of men that included Captain Doane and the governor.

  “I know what the three of you have done, Wharton!” Celeste shouted as she tore Jonathan’s brooch from her cloak. “You and Lieutenant Gray and Captain Bancroft. I’ll tell the governor.”

  Constable Wharton’s eyes
widened. “Let her go,” he said to Jonathan. “She’s not worth it.”

  Jonathan loosened his grip and then pointed behind Constable Wharton, but he didn’t catch the warning. Free from Jonathan’s grasp, Celeste turned and thrust the brooch toward him, but he didn’t even notice. He was too busy trying to signal his cohort to stop talking.

  “She won’t tell the governor,” Wharton said, oblivious. “She’ll stay quiet, won’t you Miss Talbot?”

  “Stay quiet about what?” the governor asked.

  Wharton spun around. “Governor.”

  Time seemed to freeze in that moment. Wharton was speechless, his face turning an odd shade of purple as he stammered and sputtered under the governor’s suspicious glare. All Celeste could think as she looked from one to the other was, Thank You, Lord.

  She turned to see Spenser stepping toward her, but then suddenly Jonathan exploded in a rage.

  “I won’t be brought down by you!” he shouted, grabbing Celeste’s waist and jerking her backward. The brooch flew from her hand into the water. And when Jonathan abruptly released her, she fell over the edge of the wharf as well.

  She tried to catch herself, but she was already falling into the bay between the wharf and the Royal Mary. The cold dark water swallowed her as she sank toward the bottom. She didn’t know how to swim, but she tried to propel herself toward the surface. Yet no matter how hard she kicked, she was thwarted by the weight of her cloak, skirts, and boots. She flailed around until she faced the ship. Barnacles against the dark wood made her think of the stars.

  Now she never would see the nighttime sky with Spenser.

  She tried again to move upward, using her arms and legs with all her might. Her eyes still on the barnacles, she prayed, Lord, don’t let my time here be done. She couldn’t bear to think of her parents. Of Emmanuel. Of Berta.

  Or Spenser. Let them be happy. Bless them. Feeling as if her lungs might burst, she prayed, Forgive me, please. Accept me. I surrender everything I’ve been and am, to You. Everything I’ve done.

  She’d been so self-righteous all those years, doing the right thing, feeling as if she were better than Berta, feeling as if she was worth more to her parents. But then she did the wrong thing, and it had enormous consequences. Both dispositions had been so misguided.

  A peace bubbled through her as the water began to churn. God truly had forgiven her. He that abideth in me, and I in Him…she did abide in Him, and He in her. Now. In her mother’s voice, she heard her ask, “What is the method, of honoring Him duly?”

  To place our whole confidence in Him…to call upon Him in all our necessities…to acknowledge Him both with heart and lips, as the sole author of all blessings.

  Holding her breath with all her being, she felt all of her guilt and shame slip away. She’d be in heaven soon, she was sure, above Spenser’s stars. Her sense of peace grew as the darkness around her deepened. Nothing mattered now. Berta was going to be all right. Surely her siblings would care for Sary.

  But then, as if in a dream, Spenser appeared between her and the barnacles. For a moment she thought perhaps she’d died and the barnacles were actually stars and Spenser was an angel sent to take her home. Except that the pressure in her lungs was unbearable.

  Spenser was stripped to his breeches and wore no boots. His mouth was pressed closed, his eyes wide, and his hair floated around him. He grabbed her arm with one hand and began flailing the other one. She tried to help. He shook his head.

  Her arm hurt as Spenser rose faster than she did. The water grew brighter. His head disappeared. Unable to hold her breath another second, she let it go as he yanked her to the surface. Both air and water exploded through her.

  Over the pounding in her ears and the rush of the water, Celeste could make out Berta screaming a prayer, “Dear Lord, please save my sister!”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Maddee

  Standing in my living room, I did as my intruder suggested and called my grandmother. Unfortunately, I couldn’t reach her and had to leave messages. Still holding on to the phone, I looked at the man across from me.

  “Who are you?” I repeated. “And what are you doing here?”

  He sighed heavily. “I’m a private investigator. I do jobs for Mrs. Talbot’s lawyer.”

  My mind reeled. A private investigator? Hired by my own grandmother?

  “What’s the name of your company?” I asked, and when he said Franklin and Associates, I felt pretty sure he was telling the truth.

  “All right,” I said, slipping the cell into my pocket. “Before I turn you over to police, tell me what’s going on.”

  “Yeah, about that. I’ll tell you, but only if you’ll ignore this little, um, indiscretion.”

  My eyebrows raised. “Breaking and entering is hardly what I’d call an indiscretion.”

  He shrugged. “Whatever. Do you want to hear what I have to say or not?”

  I exhaled slowly. “Fine.”

  “Can we sit down first?” He gestured to the kitchen table and I agreed, though I pointedly ignored the longing glance he cast toward the coffeemaker. If he thought I was going to fix him a cup after he’d broken into my home, he was crazy.

  I took the seat across from him and listened as he began his tale.

  “Two days before your sister’s car accident, she paid a visit to your grandmother, during which she stole a couple pieces of jewelry.”

  My eyes widened.

  “That night, your grandmother discovered that the items were missing and knew immediately what had happened to them. She contacted Nicole, who insisted she knew nothing about it. Not wanting to involve police in a private family matter, Mrs. Talbot called her lawyer instead to ask for his advice. That’s when I came into the picture. He hired me to go to Norfolk and recover the stolen items—or at least one of them, which he made clear has tremendous sentimental value. Although I suspect there’s more to it than just that.”

  My pulse surged. “Not a ring,” I whispered. “A ruby ring?”

  He raised bushy eyebrows. “Yeah, how’d you know? Have you seen it?”

  I shook my head. “No. Keep going.”

  His story became more complicated from there and involved tracking down Nicole, keeping her under surveillance, putting the word out to the local pawnshops, and more. But at some point, he said, she must have “gotten wise to him” because she “pulled a tricky maneuver” and managed to slip away. He was still on the job two days later, trying to track her down again, when he learned she’d been in a serious car accident. According to police, there was a man in the vehicle with her at the time who had climbed from the car and escaped.

  “What I subsequently found out,” he said, “is that when the accident happened, she and that man, a friend named Hedge, were driving to Newport News to meet with a known fence—which tells me they had the stolen items with them and were on their way to make a sale. At first, I figured Hedge took off with the jewelry after the accident for his own purposes. But I’ve been watching him for a while now, and I’ve decided it’s more likely he took them and ran as a favor to your sister, so she wouldn’t be caught with stolen goods when the police came.”

  I sat back, my mind reeling.

  “Where is the ring now?”

  He ran a hand down his face. “I’m pretty sure Hedge still has it. He’s been trying to reach Nicole. I figure he wants to give it back to her, or he wants to know if he should sell it for her.”

  At his words, my mind filled with the image of my sister at the church tonight, one hand on the car door.

  You would love me no matter what, right?

  I leaped to my feet. “Don’t go anywhere,” I commanded.

  Then I ran out the door, not even pausing to explain.

  I made it to the church just minutes before her meeting was to end. I raced inside and down the hall, bursting into the room.

  A handful of startled addicts all turned to look at me.

  “May we help you?” asked a man at the
podium.

  My eyes scanned the room.

  Nicole wasn’t there.

  I dialed Greg’s number as I rushed back out. Thankfully, he answered on the second ring and, after my tumble of words, said he was on his way. Frantic, I looked around until I spied an older woman on a porch across the street. Running toward her, I described Nicole and Hedge and asked if she’d seen either one, but she simply shrugged.

  Moving up and down the block, I questioned everyone I could find. Finally, just as Greg arrived, a college-aged couple told me that yes, they had been in a lounge on the next block where they had noticed a guy who sounded like the one I was describing.

  We took off at a run. Sure enough, as soon as we stepped inside, I spotted Hedge in the dim light at the end of the bar. He was alone, head down. Greg and I walked over and took the seats on each side of him.

  “Where’s Nicole?” Greg asked sharply.

  Startled, the man looked at him. Then he turned my way, and understanding filled his eyes.

  “Don’t know.” He pulled his drink a little closer.

  “Did you see her tonight?” I asked. “Did you talk to her?”

  He hesitated for a long moment before mumbling, “Yeah, at the church.”

  “And?”

  “And I returned some of her stuff to her. Then I came over here. What of it?”

  “Where is she now?”

  Hedge shrugged. “No clue. She had to go. Somebody picked her up.” His voice sounded bitter.

  I glanced at Greg. “Picked her up? Who?”

  Hedge shrugged. “I don’t know. Some guy. I didn’t recognize him. She just said thanks for holding on to her things and meeting up with her tonight, and she guessed she’d see me around.”

  “What did the guy look like?”

  He shrugged. “I dunno. That’s when I took off.”

  “What kind of vehicle was it?”

  “Like I said, that’s when I took off. I’ve been trying to connect with her for weeks, and then she just ditches me? Forget her.”

  He gulped from his drink and then hung his head again.

  We’d gotten all we could from him tonight.

  Greg and I raced back to the carriage house, hoping desperately that the PI was still there and that he could tell us who this other man Nicole left with might possibly be. We opened the door to find him still at the table, a cup of coffee in hand.