Secrets of the Treasure King

by Terry Ambrose

  Rick answered. “Hey, what’s up?”

  “Alex is missing.”

  “From the B&B?”

  “No. We agreed I’d meet her in Marina Park. I said she could go there to watch The Treasure King. I’m at the park and there’s no sign of her.”

  Rick’s pulse picked up. It wasn’t like Alex to disappear. “Have you tried calling her?”

  “Yes. She didn’t answer. She went with Robbie and Sasha. They’re both gone, too. I checked and they’re home. I’m worried about her, Rick. What if something’s happened to her?”

  “We’ll find her,” he muttered. But how? A rushing river of blood pounded in Rick’s head. Where did they even begin? Better yet, what was Alex up to now?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Alex

  I’M HIDING BETWEEN the big trash cans behind the Ugly Worm. It smells kinda bad, but other than that, this is so much better than the park! I don’t need binoculars or anything. Nobody can see me ‘cause I’m wedged between the cans, but I can see everything that goes on.

  When I came down here, the two crew members were both on the boat. Then, the girl left and the man chased behind her. Lucky for me, they stopped to talk just a few feet away. He said they should go away together, but she didn’t think it was a good idea. She wants to keep things cool? That totally sounds like a boyfriend-girlfriend thing. He even took her hand once, but she pulled away.

  After the argument, she stormed off and told him he needed to get back to the boat ‘cause they couldn’t leave it unattended. He looked back at the boat, and then he ran after her.

  It’s been a few minutes since they left. This is totally the best opportunity I’m gonna get. Marquetta said I should try to find the treasure map. That would totally help Flynn. If I found it, Flynn would know it really exists. She might be able to do something to make them turn it over. Or maybe I could find evidence to prove who killed Captain Carroll? If there really is nobody else on the boat, I could totally sneak aboard and look for the map. I could do my search and be gone before anybody figures out what I did. It’s a big boat, but how many places could there be to hide a treasure map?

  Oh man, there are so many reasons to do this while there’s nobody around. But there’s one big reason I shouldn’t. I promised Marquetta I wouldn’t go near The Treasure King.

  I was supposed to stay in the park with Robbie and Sasha. But they got bored and left. And then I started to think about Flynn and what she needs and how Marquetta said I should focus on the treasure map. It would also help my dad because he could use the evidence to help the cops and that would force Deputy Baker to be nice to Marquetta and… This sucks. Marquetta’s already called once. I didn’t answer, so she left a message. She’s in the park right now. And she’s worried. I know she’s going to ground me. I am in so much trouble. So what’s it matter? Right? If I’m going to be grounded, shouldn’t I at least get something for it?

  I look up and down the docks. There’s still nobody paying attention. If I do this now, I can totally get away with it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Rick

  RICK HURRIED OUT of Crusty Buns and down Main Street. Marina Park came into view as he neared the roundabout at the base of Main Street. Shortly after that, he saw Marquetta continuing her frantic, and obviously fruitless, search. All during the last block of his trip, he willed her to look his direction, but she never did. When he called to her, she rushed forward and threw her arms around his neck. He pulled her close, felt her body tremble, and then eased her away.

  She swiped at her wet cheeks. “I never should have left her alone.”

  “You couldn’t have known.” He winced at how naive that sounded. They both knew. Alex was fearless—and at eleven-years-old, had terrible impulse control. There was no telling what she might do once she found a reason. “I’m going to rush home and check her room. If she’s not at the B&B, I’ll be back in five minutes. If she’s there, I’ll call you.”

  Marquetta studied the marina. “Do you think she could be on The Treasure King?”

  “Let’s hope not,” Rick said. “Is there anybody on board?”

  “The crew members left a few minutes ago. Now, it looks deserted.”

  Deep down, Rick worried that Marquetta was right. It would be just like Alex to get caught up in the moment and not reason through the implications of her trespassing or doing an illegal search. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. I’ll check at home and be right back.”

  Rick rushed off, sneaking a glimpse of Marquetta over his shoulder as he left. She’d moved to the edge of the park where she had a good view of the marina. He made it to the B&B in two minutes. The old house was eerily quiet. There was almost always someone else around and he couldn’t recall ever being completely alone inside. He rushed upstairs, checked Alex’s room, his office, the kitchen, and then stood at the kitchen island with his palms resting on the counter. He whispered, “Alex, where are you?”

  He called her phone, got no answer, then called Marquetta. “She’s not here. I’m on my way back.”

  On his way out the front door, Rick sighed. “What have you done now, Alex?”

  Almost as if it were divine intervention, Rick’s phone rang. He snatched it up without checking to see who was calling. “Alex?”

  “Um…no. This is Jason Keneally. You sent me a message about an old story I did in Seaside Cove.”

  Rick paused at the edge of the porch. He closed his eyes. Of all the rotten timing.

  “There’s not much I can tell you,” Jason said. “I didn’t remember the story until I looked it up. It was one of those things where I was out there on vacation when the town started making a lot of noise about this big treasure hunt. My editor liked the idea and had me cover it.”

  “Jason, I appreciate you calling me back. Would it be possible for me to call you later?”

  “Sorry, but I’m at the airport, and I’m going to be unavailable for some time. It could be a month before we can talk again. Look. I’ll make this quick. It was a foul day. Lots of wind. Rain. I took the photo that was in the story, but neither of those men would say much.”

  Rick took the steps quickly and turned toward Marina Park. He kept the phone to his ear and scanned the area as he walked and asked questions. “Did it seem as though Neal and Captain Jack had had an argument?”

  “Yes. But, what about, I don’t know.”

  “Was there anyone else around who might have known what they argued about?”

  “I have no idea. It’s been fifteen years. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.”

  “Did you meet a man named Joe Gray that day?”

  After a brief pause, Jason said, “Yes. If I remember correctly, he’s the one who told me about the big event. I met him in some bakery. Friendly guy. He was in the original photo, but my editor had him cropped out to focus on what he thought was the bigger story. I’m sorry, but they’re calling my flight. If you have more questions, you can always email me, but I may not be able to get back to you for an extended period.”

  Operating on autopilot, Rick thanked Jason for his time. After he’d hung up, he realized he hadn’t even wished him a safe trip or asked where he was going. In the distance, he saw Marquetta hurrying toward him. They met halfway.

  “What are we going to do?” Marquetta asked. “I told her to stay here and that I would be checking up on her. I decided to put together a snack for the kids, so it took longer than I wanted to get here. When I did, it was deserted.”

  Rick took Marquetta’s hand and led her to the spot where they could see the marina. The Treasure King lay below them in the marina, apparently abandoned by its crew and passengers. “I don’t think there’s anybody on board.”

  Marquetta’s hand went to her chest. “Oh, no. Not you, too. Rick, you can’t go on that boat without permission. That’s trespassing.”

  “What other choice do I have?”

  “Call Adam.” Marquetta squeezed Rick’s hand hard. “He’ll find a way
to get you on legally.”

  “There may not be time for that.” Rick grimaced and shook his head. “When Baker and I asked for permission, it was Heather Sanna who let us on, not the guy. Her coworker, Gavin Mancini, was very resistant to giving us access. I don’t want to have to bargain with him under any circumstances.”

  “Rick? Please?”

  Her gray eyes were rimmed in red, her cheeks, puffy. He could see the worry, both for Alex and, if he did this, for him. And yet, Alex was his daughter. It was an excruciating choice, but he really didn’t have one. No matter what it took, he would do what he needed to keep Alex safe.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I have to go.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Alex

  I RECOGNIZE THE living room of The Treasure King from the virtual tour I took. It looks smaller than it did on the video. The two red couches form a sitting area and there are tables where people can put their drinks. It’s a lot of furniture for a small space. The painting on the wall with the antique-looking gold frame is super weird. It’s a dog dressed in an old soldier’s uniform. The drapes over the windows on the sides are open and there’s a lot of light coming in.

  Standing in the middle of the room, it totally looks like this is the gathering place when they’re at sea. 2It also doesn’t look anything like a place where Captain Carroll would store a valuable map. Time to move on. I remember Robbie saying there are always a lot of maps on the navigation deck—and maybe in the captain’s quarters. I have to find both of those before anybody comes back.

  There’s a ladder at the other end of the room. I crane my neck to see where it might go to, but can’t tell. I’m gonna have to climb to the top. I put one foot on the first rung and test it. Grab the handrail. My heart is pounding. I listen. There’s no noise. I take the next step. And the next.

  My jaw drops when I get to the top deck. It’s like a spaceship! And even better than the video. There’s a computer screen and a panel with a lot of dials and switches. There’s even a huge steering wheel. The windows are slanted back and each one has a wiper.

  I have the whole entire thing to myself! This is awesome! I hurry over to the captain’s chair and sit. It’s big and has arms and is super comfortable. The problem is I can’t reach anything without sitting on the edge. At least when I sit forward, I can get my hands on the steering wheel.

  There are a couple of black boxes in front of me. They each have lots of dials. The one on the left has a handset, so it must be some kind of radio or telephone. The other one’s like a radar thingy. Robbie would probably know what it is. Too bad I can’t ask him.

  The chair even rocks and swivels. The boat creaks, and I realize I’m running out of time. It would be super fun to pretend-pilot the boat, but I have to get back to my search. If Robbie’s right, this is the best place on the boat to keep a map. You could pull it out when you needed it and put it back when you didn’t. But they wouldn’t just leave it out. And maybe Captain Carroll didn’t want anyone to know about it, so he was hiding it more than keeping it handy. If it’s not inside one of these cabinets or drawers, it’s gonna be in a secret place.

  There are only three drawers and a couple cabinets. Even though they’re all obvious places, I check those first. I start with the top drawer. Maps!

  Holy moley. Maybe this is it. But, when I look at them, they don’t have anything marked. It looks like they’re just what Mr. Gray calls navigation charts. He’s shown me some before. They’re super detailed and complicated. But if there’s nothing to mark the spot, they’re not what I’m looking for. I shove the charts back in the drawer and check the one below it.

  This one’s got a keyring and a phone and a couple of walkie-talkies along with some other office-type stuff—pens and pencils, rulers, nothing important. Rats. The boat creaks again and I freeze. I shove the drawer closed and rush over to the stairwell to listen. Did someone come back?

  I stick my head out over the opening. Listen real hard. But the boat’s quiet. It must have just been another wave. I’m surprised at how much The Treasure King moves. I look around the area again. Everything’s been put away, so the place is like super organized. Maybe the map’s not up here. What about the captain’s quarters? Duh. I’m gonna need keys.

  I go back to the second drawer and grab the keyring that’s just laying inside, then climb down the ladder. How am I going to know when I have the right room? The captain would have the biggest cabin. Right? And he’d probably have a good view. And be close to the bridge…at least, that’s what Mr. Gray says.

  On the second deck, I go toward the front of the boat. I pass by a bar and a small seating area for four. The cabin I’m looking for is at the end of the hall. It’s even got a little sign on it like what we use at the B&B. That was super easy. Now all I have to do is figure out which key opens the door. I try the first one. It doesn’t fit. Neither does the second. Or the third. Just as I’m about to put the fourth key in the slot, I hear voices.

  Holy crap! It’s a man and a woman. The two crew members. And they’re coming back. I jam the key into the lock.

  My pulse races faster. The voices get louder. The door doesn’t want to open.

  I can barely breathe. “Please,” I whisper. “Open!”

  The key turns in the lock.

  But it’s too late.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Rick

  ON THE SHORT trip to The Treasure King from Marina Park, Rick thought desperately about a solution to getting Alex back—that is, something other than illegally boarding and searching the vessel. The problem wasn’t Adam; it was Deputy Baker. She’d made herself perfectly clear—she had no interest in coddling him or Alex.

  At one point, he was sure he saw a figure move and called Marquetta. “Top deck. Do you see her?”

  “No. I thought I did once, but it looks empty now.”

  “Use the binoculars.”

  “I am, Rick. I have been since you ran off.” She paused, then added, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. But there’s a much bigger problem. The crew members are returning. They’re about a hundred feet ahead of you and are boarding right now. One of them is the woman from the Crooked Mast. It looks like they’re arguing.”

  Rick stopped and peered ahead. “I see them. You’re right, that’s Heather. The guy is the one I was telling you about, Gavin Mancini. He’s a mean one. And it does look like they’re having a bit of a tiff. They don’t look happy at all. There’s no way I can get on board with them standing where they are. Marquetta, text Alex and tell her to find a way off that boat. I’m going to distract these two.”

  “There’s only one way off, and that’s the ramp. Unless you want her to swim.”

  “Fine. Tell her to hide in one of the lifeboats on the starboard side. I’ll get these two inside and then she can sneak off.”

  “Why don’t you just tell them the truth, Rick? They won’t want to hurt a child.”

  “Alex being aboard that boat jeopardizes everything. Not only will my role in the investigation be over, but any evidence recovered will be thrown out of court because it’s contaminated. The only solution is getting her off that boat before anyone finds out she’s there.”

  “All right. I’ll tell her. Please, be careful.”

  “I will.” But it was a lie.

  Careful was a luxury he didn’t have.

  He waved to Mancini and Sanna as he walked, but they either didn’t see him or ignored him and disappeared inside the side door. Unsure of what he was going to say or do, Rick quickened his pace. He had no authority to force his way aboard, and as long as Deputy Baker was around, trespassing would land him in jail for sure. Without question, he would go to jail to protect Alex, but once he was locked away, he’d no longer be able to protect her. That meant he would break the law only as a last resort.

  Rick marched up the ramp, stopping before he set foot on The Treasure King. Both Mancini and Sanna were still inside. Now what? “Hello!” Rick called as loud as he coul
d. “Hello aboard The Treasure King!”

  A door to Rick’s right opened and Mancini poked his head out. When he saw Rick, he scowled and muttered something under his breath. Striding forward, he planted his feet on the deck and his hands on his hips. “What are you doing here?” he barked.

  “Hoping to talk to you. I had a few questions about some of your passengers. Can I come aboard and talk?”

  Mancini eyed Rick suspiciously and held his position. “What kind of questions?”

  Heather came up to them and stood next to Mancini. “The man’s got a job to do, Gavin. Let’s just tell him what he wants to know and get on with things. Go ahead.”

  “Let’s start with Will Shelley.” Rick watched Heather’s face as he spoke. “I’ve gotten conflicting stories about him. His version is that he’s assumed the role of mediator on the boat. Ed Silverstein says he’s more of an agitator. Can you clarify what kind of role he played?”

  Rick couldn’t help but notice the woman’s body language—she visibly tightened up by clutching her arms around her. She scowled at Rick, looking as irritated as Mancini, who took a protective step forward.

  “Told you, Heather. We don’t have to answer any of these questions.”

  She glared at Mancini, but didn’t move away. This was not going the way Rick had anticipated, but he didn’t have any other alternatives.

  “Why wouldn’t you answer?” Rick asked. “If you have nothing to hide…” He let his words trail off, but held eye contact.

  “You can just take your questions and go find a rock to hide under,” Mancini bellowed. “Will Shelley’s a major pain and he’s only caused her trouble.”

  “Shut up, Gavin! I’m sick of you and your macho interference.” Heather’s jaw tightened and her tone softened. “I’m sorry. But you need to back off. I’ll deal with this.” She laid a hand on Mancini’s shoulder. “Why don’t you get back to work?”