Secrets of the Treasure King

by Terry Ambrose

  The longer my dad talks, the worse I feel. I’ve watched enough cop shows to know he’s right. I totally might have made it impossible for the cops to put someone away for killing Captain Carroll. I’m totally bummed. I can feel the tears building. The room gets kinda blurry and my dad hugs me. I lean into him. I can feel my shoulders shaking because his hands are strong and warm and he’s holding me like he did when my mom never came home.

  I wrap my arms around him and hang on. I let all the fears I felt when I was trapped in the captain’s quarters come rushing out. When I stop crying, he gently pushes me away and wipes my cheek with his fingers. “I think you’ve had enough high tension for one day, kiddo. Let’s go have dinner with Marquetta. She’s waiting downstairs.”

  “Okay. But there’s something else you should know. Sasha told me her mom heard Deputy Baker wants to take you away from Marquetta.”

  “What?” Daddy laughs like he does when he’s nervous. “What are you talking about?”

  “Deputy Baker. I heard she’s still mad at Marquetta ‘cause of what happened in high school.”

  “It’s a rumor, Alex. Don’t believe everything you hear. And even if that’s what Deputy Baker wants to do, it’s not your problem. That’s between me, Marquetta, and Deputy Baker. You’re only eleven, so I don’t expect you to fully understand adult relationships, but you have to trust me.”

  “But Daddy…”

  “No, Alex. It’s ridiculous. Deputy Baker exhibits a complete lack of interest in me. She’s uncooperative and resents everything I do. Now, let’s go have dinner. We’re going with Chinese takeout tonight. Forget about Deputy Baker and what she may or may not be trying to do.”

  Wow. That’s harsh. He’s like totally mad now. I’m super confused ‘cause that’s how all the TV love stories start. Two people meet and hate each other and by the end of the movie they’re getting married. “Can I make a note in my journal first? I kinda need to clear my head.”

  “Clear your head?” My dad looks at me for a second, then nods. “Sure. Just don’t take too long or there might not be anything left when you get downstairs.”

  March 27

  Hey Journal,

  I only have a minute. I told Daddy about Deputy Baker wanting to take him away from Marquetta, but he didn’t believe me. He’s super confident everything’s gonna be okay, just like I was when I went on the boat. I’m not supposed to be investigating the murder, but I’m gonna have to stay on the case so my dad doesn’t work with her anymore. I guess I’m already grounded. What more can they do to me?

  Alex

  PS Maybe I should tell Marquetta what I heard and see if she’ll help me. What do you think?

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  Rick

  THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS in the kitchen were on when Rick pushed through the butler door. He stopped and looked around. Marquetta was gone. He called her name. No answer. He checked the laundry room. The pantry. His breath caught and he feared that she’d left.

  “Marquetta?” he called, louder than before.

  He turned to leave the room, but then noticed a cool breeze. One of the French doors drifted open a few inches. As another gust blew threw, the door opened further. Rick went to the door and stuck his head outside. Marquetta stood alone gazing out toward the bay and the ocean beyond. She rubbed her bare arms absently and didn’t seem to notice the crunching of his footsteps on the concrete as he approached.

  “Hey,” he said.

  She started, then turned to face him. “I didn’t hear you.”

  “You were a thousand miles away. Penny for your thoughts?”

  “You’ve been summoned to see Francine in the morning.”

  “What’s the mayor want?”

  “She wouldn’t say. You’re supposed to be at her house at seven-thirty. Sharp.”

  “Obviously, Mayor Carter doesn’t realize I have a business to run.”

  “Alex and I will handle the morning rush. The hard part will be over by then. It’s just keeping up with the orders for the late risers.”

  The breeze kicked up for a few seconds, then died. Marquetta shivered, and Rick stepped closer. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her body next to his. “You’re cold. Why don’t we get you inside?”

  Marquetta faced Rick and folded her arms in front of her so they were nestled in the warmth between them. “Did you talk to Alex?”

  “Yes, but I don’t think it did much good. She’s now convinced Deputy Baker is the devil.”

  “You’re exaggerating. As usual.”

  Rick kissed the top of Marquetta’s head. “Okay. Maybe not the devil, but certainly up to no good.”

  Marquetta sighed, then pulled away slightly. “What’s Evil Pamela up to now?”

  “I’m surprised you haven’t heard this. The rumor came from Sasha’s mother. Apparently, Evil Pamela wants to ruin our lives. She wants me taken off this case and then she’s going to turn me into her love slave.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Marquetta stared at Rick, her jaw slack.

  “That’s another exaggeration, but she supposedly wants to break us up.”

  “She still hates me,” Marquetta sighed. “When I heard she was returning, I hoped she’d decided she’d carried the grudge long enough.”

  “Not according to Alex. You said before that this was all over a boy? Who was he?”

  “It was all a terrible mistake. I was too young to realize what I was even doing.”

  “Is this a secret I shouldn’t know?”

  Marquetta turned away and Rick waited, his hands resting on her shoulders while he took in the silhouette of the lighthouse on the bluff. He felt her shiver, but made no more mention of going inside.

  “There are no secrets in this town, Rick. This is one nobody has talked about since… The boy’s name was Eddie Thomas. He was dating Pamela. Then, a few days before the prom he called and told me she’d broken up with him. He asked me to the prom, and I said yes without thinking.”

  “So let me guess. Eddie was two-timing his girlfriend and you were the other woman.”

  “Worse. I saw Pamela and told her about my date. When she told me they hadn’t broken up, We got into a huge fight. I should’ve canceled on Eddie, but I didn’t.”

  “Let me guess. You went to the prom with Eddie and Pamela got mad.”

  “Pamela never got over it. I went out with Eddie once or twice after that. I suppose part of it was to spite her. It got to the point where we were always avoiding each other. My mom finally talked some sense into me and I broke up with Eddie. I told him he was immature and self-centered. He got drunk, stole his parent’s car, and drove to San Ladron. But he never made it. He went off the road and died before they could get him out of the car.”

  “So that’s why Pamela hates you so much? Because her high-school boyfriend died in a car crash?”

  “It wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t gotten drunk. And that was because of me.”

  Rick turned Marquetta around by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. Lights from the B&B illuminated her face. The colors of sunset still clung to the coast in the distance. “You don’t deserve to carry that burden. A young man’s stupidity is not your responsibility. If Pamela Baker can’t see that, then she needs to go. I’ll be happy to tell that to the mayor in the morning.”

  “Don’t. Please, don’t go to war with Pamela over me. I couldn’t bear it. No matter what happened.” She sniffled and pulled away. “I shouldn’t have told you.”

  “No. I appreciate the fact that you did. Besides, I’d have heard sooner or later. Maybe even tomorrow morning. I won’t bring your past up when I talk to Francine, but I will tell her I don’t think Pamela’s a good fit for this town. I didn’t before, and I don’t now. Everybody here looks out for their neighbors. Pamela’s got big aspirations and only cares about herself, and after what she pulled today, I don’t want her near Alex. Period.”

  “Daddy? Marquetta? Are you fighting?” Alex’s brow was cre
ased with worry. She approached cautiously, taking slow steps and letting her gaze bounce back and forth between them.

  “No, kiddo. We were just talking about a meeting I’ll be having with the mayor in the morning. It’s nothing to worry about.”

  “Then why were you talking about Deputy Baker? Is she gonna be part of the meeting?”

  Marquetta darted a glance at Rick. Though she hadn’t said a word, he got the message. Trying to hide the truth from Alex was not going to work. He should have known better than to even try.

  “Do you remember what I told you about Deputy Baker when she first showed up and you were so enthusiastic about her?” Marquetta asked.

  “For sure. You said she was super goal oriented.”

  “That’s correct. Unfortunately, I left a few things out when we were talking.” Marquetta shivered again. “Let’s go inside, Sweetie. Our dinner should be here any minute. I’ll tell you the rest of the story.”

  Rick stayed silent during dinner and let Marquetta tell Alex about her past with Pamela Baker. As difficult as the deputy had been, he found it hard to believe she had returned to Seaside Cove solely to wreak havoc on Marquetta’s life. Who did that? Wouldn’t she have just moved on after all these years? Quite honestly, he wasn’t sure.

  By nine, they were all yawning. Rick told Alex she needed to get to bed. Alex went upstairs, put on her PJs, and came back down to say goodnight. When she was gone, Rick felt the tension building within. There was so much going on. So many things to talk about. Perhaps the best place to start was with something easy.

  “She adores you, you know,” Rick said.

  “And I love her with all my heart.”

  It was the perfect moment, Rick thought. They were alone. He could ask her right here and now. But she hadn’t told him what to do about her father. It was the elephant in the room. The question that might hang up everything. “I don’t know if we finished talking about your dad. You said you had to think about whether I should continue digging into the past.”

  Marquetta pulled on a strand of hair and her brow creased. “I don’t know. I’ve spent so much of my life wondering what happened. And now, to find out there’s some sort of letter that explains everything? It’s overwhelming. When I try to think about it, my brain freezes up. And then there’s this whole thing with Pamela coming back to town. It has me questioning everything I’ve done in my life.”

  “What? How can you say that? You love what you do.”

  “What if it’s not enough?”

  “I don’t understand. Enough for who?”

  She released the strand of hair and clutched her arms to her chest. “I need to think about what I want, that’s all.”

  “Sure. I get it.” He paused and looked at her. “Will you be here in the morning?”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t leave you in the lurch like that. You’ve got a meeting with her highness.”

  He reached out, took her hand, and pulled her closer. When he kissed her goodnight, she melted into him. Suddenly, Rick realized his were the priorities that had been all mixed up. Tomorrow morning, he would get into the jeweler’s store no matter what. He’d waited too long to ask the most important question of their lives.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  Alex

  MARCH 28

  Hey Journal,

  I can’t sleep. It’s super late and I’m writing this with a flashlight just in case Daddy is still up and walks by my room. I’m totally bummed about Marquetta ‘cause she’s so upset. Deputy Baker’s a big part of the problem, but she’s not all of it. Marquetta’s also worried about Daddy. She thinks he might not love her enough. When I told her he wants to propose, but just hasn’t found the right time, she said procrastination is usually a sign somebody doesn’t want to do something.

  Could that be true, Journal? Is my dad not asking Marquetta to marry him ‘cause he’s having second thoughts? No way. And now that Marquetta’s all upset about Deputy Baker, even if he asks, she might not say yes. This really sucks.

  Me and Marquetta agreed that no matter what Daddy does, we’re still gonna be friends. I made her pinky swear that nothing would ever come between us. I’m going back to bed now, Journal. And I’m gonna dream about the day Marquetta becomes my mom.

  Alex

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  Rick

  A SMALL SIGN, no more than six inches by twelve, hung from the wrought iron fence surrounding Mayor Francine Carter’s home. The lettering, an ornate gray-blue over a pale yellow background, read Cote d’Azur. The sign was the perfect complement to its counterpart, a three-story, yellow Victorian with white-and-gray trim. Much like its owner, Cote d’Azur imposed itself over it’s surroundings like a brass band. And, at three stories tall, it stood head and shoulders above the surrounding houses.

  At seven-thirty in the morning, Rick felt the century-old home, along with its owner, could be a bit much to take. Nevertheless, with a small flick of the wrist, he flipped the latch on the gate. It opened smoothly and noiselessly. The concrete steps deadened his footsteps as he climbed to the second-floor landing. Unlike the last time he’d been here, when he’d been worried about what Francine would say to him, this time, he had his own agenda. He was tired of working with Pamela Baker. She’d been difficult all along, but her treatment of Alex had been the final straw. The bottom line was, Baker had to go.

  At the front door, the polished brass door knocker gleamed just as it had on his last trip. Rick wondered if the mayor polished it herself. When the door opened and Francine stood before him, her hair perfectly coiffed and she looking ready for the day, Rick’s resolve stayed strong.

  “Thank you for being prompt.” Francine opened the door and gestured for him to follow with a wiggle of her fingers. “This won’t take long. Come along.” She strode out the foyer and into the parlor.

  “Why the early morning meeting, Madame Mayor?” Rick asked as he tailed along.

  Francine threw her left hand in the air and continued walking. “You’ll see.”

  Rick looked up at the ornate ceiling and shook his head. Francine and her theatrics. In the parlor, she did an immediate about-face. She planted both hands on her hips and cocked her head to one side.

  “Now, what is this I hear about you and our new deputy?”

  “What exactly have you heard?”

  “Don’t play coy with me, Rick. I’ve heard about her heavy-handed tactics.”

  “Are you referring to the incident on The Treasure King?”

  “Why no. I was referring to the Crooked Mast. But if something happened on that treasure hunter’s boat, I want to know about it.”

  “I don’t think I should be the one to tell that story.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I was part of the problem…well, not problem, more like the cause of her…” He stopped, took a breath, and said simply, “I’d prefer not to sound like I’m complaining.”

  “Nonsense.” Francine fingered the back of her hair and cast her standard mayoral smile—closed lips, chubby cheeks curled upwards—in Rick’s direction. “You’ll simply be passing along valuable intelligence to the chief executive officer of Seaside Cove.”

  Rick studied the room. From crystal chandeliers to pink-and-black paisley carpet, it was all staged with a very Victorian feel. A portrait of Francine’s grandmother, wrapped in an ornate, gold frame scowled down at Rick. A stern looking woman, Rick wondered if that’s where Francine’s tenacity came from.

  “Okay. I’ll tell you what happened. Before that, though, I have something else to say. I may not like Deputy Baker’s methods, but she is the officer on the case. Can you respect that?”

  Francine made a fuss. Fiddled with her hair a few more times. But in the end she agreed to Rick’s terms. He went through the entire incident on The Treasure King, which led to more questions from Francine, and eventually, details of every Pamela Baker interaction since he’d met her.

  “It sounds like what you’re saying is that she’s bad
for the town and we should get rid of her,” Francine said when he was done.

  Dumbstruck at how quickly the most extreme action had become the solution, Rick found himself mentally scrambling to decide what it was he really wanted. He’d come here intending to get rid of Pamela Baker, but now that ruining her career was within reach, he was having second thoughts. Could he live with himself if he caused her to be banished from Seaside Cove? “That’s pretty harsh, don’t you think?”

  Francine turned her attention to the photo on the wall. “Grandmother Maebelle once told me to never question your decisions if they feel right. Yours isn’t the only problem we’ve had with Deputy Baker. Chief Cunningham has called her recalcitrant and overly ambitious. Others have also spoken up. Though they have asked for their complaints to be kept confidential.”

  Life would probably be much easier with Pamela Baker gone, but Rick wasn’t sure it would be better. What would happen to the investigation? “I’m sure she has a large number of backers in town. You wouldn’t want to isolate all those voters by firing her, would you?”

  “Quite honestly, Deputy Baker has very few supporters. Most find her far more officious than friendly. And you know how residents in a small town like to be friendly.”

  Rick tried, unsuccessfully, to suppress a smile.

  “You find that amusing? You and your daughter were welcomed with open arms in Seaside Cove. Of all people, I would expect you to understand how important it is to not step on toes.”

  Holding up both hands, Rick took a small step back. “I remember how well we were accepted. I also remember how much gossip there was about me. There was even a marriage competition for a while.”

  Francine cleared her throat and rubbed the back of her neck. “Yes. Well, it would appear the competition has ended, hasn’t it? How are you and Marquetta doing?”