Storm of Secrets

by Loretta Marion

  I wasn’t sure whether he was referring to Lucas or if his curiosity had been piqued by the articles.

  * * *

  After Edgar left, I returned to our private library, hoping for a little time with Mama’s journal. But that was not yet to be. My laptop came to life with digital images of the paintings I’d worked on for the tall ship brochure loading onto the screen, accompanied by a nearly choking odor filling the room.

  I took my laptop to the kitchen to try to escape the pervasive odor so I could think, and began to retrace the messages from Percy and Celeste during the past couple of days. They’d sent a warning when I found the brochure for the Lady Spirit in Christopher’s bag less than an hour ago, and now these images on my laptop. Didn’t they also send a signal when the FedEx guy was talking about ships going out to sea? In fact, every time the Lady Spirit was a topic of conversation, the overwhelming calling card scent had emerged.

  I hesitated only a second before picking up the phone. Luckily, Daniel answered. “What’s up?”

  “Has Christopher been allowed to speak with Nicholas yet?” I asked.

  “No. Long story, but we’re waiting on another ruling. Why?”

  “I can’t really explain this to you, but I have a hunch.”

  “Honestly, a hunch is probably better than anything else we have at the moment, so shoot.”

  As I told him my theory, the scent surrounding me sweetened. I hoped and prayed my spirit guides were sending us on the right path … and to a good end.

  25

  Cassandra

  “Finally, some good news. We’ve found Lucas!” The call from Daniel came at about five p.m.

  “Oh thank God!” I exclaimed. “Please tell me he’s all right.”

  “He will be. I still can’t get over your idea to check the Lady Spirit.” He blew out a low whistle. “You never told me about your psychic powers.”

  Not psychic powers, just a couple of amazing guides from the spirit world.

  “I can’t reveal all my secrets.”

  “Well, your hunch certainly had amazing results. I’ll tell you all about it—it’s too long for the phone. Why don’t you meet us at Rock Harbor Grill?”

  “I’ll be there in twenty.” Rock Harbor Grill was a favorite gathering spot in Orleans, not far from District Court.

  When I arrived, I found Daniel, Jason, and Brooks sitting out on the back deck. Daniel stood and pulled out a chair for me, signaling the waiter.

  “Bring out a bottle of your finest champagne,” Daniel told him. “We need to toast this lady.”

  “A glass of the house chardonnay will be fine for me,” I told the waiter, and then to the guys, “Tell me what happened.”

  Before anyone answered, Teddy popped his head out the deck door, but when he noticed it was Brooks who had his back to the door, he began a subtle retreat. Jason spied him and called out, “Hey man, you’ve got to hear this!”

  He gave a quick wave and said, “Let me grab a beer first.”

  At the sound of Teddy’s voice, Brooks turned and motioned him over. “We’ve got a pitcher.”

  “You want to tell the story?” Brooks offered Daniel the honor as the waiter set a glass of white wine in front of me. “You witnessed all of it.”

  “It’s amazing,” Daniel said, shaking his head in wonderment. “Lucas has been found. Alive!”

  “That’s awesome! Where was he found?” Teddy was probably wondering how they could have missed him, with the combined efforts of volunteers combing the island door-to-door, trekking through woodlands and marshes, and his team of divers searching every shoreline nook and cranny.

  “Nova Scotia.”

  “What?” Teddy and I said in harmony.

  Just then Laura arrived, and demonstrating her nose for a story, she blurted out, “I just heard the great news!”

  Brooks mumbled, “Of course you did.”

  I wondered how long he would tolerate Laura’s conflicting position with the local paper.

  She leaned in for a smooch from Jason after he pulled up another chair for her.

  “I ran into Deputy Kirkpatrick, and she told me Lucas was found alive. That’s all I know.”

  “For now.” Brooks folded his arms and, with a stern look, told her, “This is all off the record. Let’s allow the family a little bit of privacy.”

  Laura blushed. “Of course.”

  “But if you come down to the station tomorrow, I’ll give you an exclusive statement,” he said, softening.

  “That would be great,” Laura said, then placed her hand atop her glass when Jason moved to fill it from the pitcher of beer.

  “Daniel was just starting to tell what happened.”

  “It’s an amazing story,” Daniel reemphasized. “In the midst of the mediations at the courthouse, Brooks took a call from the authorities in Halifax advising him that the Lady Spirit had just come in to port, and Lucas had been taken to the hospital.”

  “The Lady Spirit?” Teddy said.

  “That was the name of the tall ship that was visiting Whale Rock the week leading up to the storm,” Brooks answered. “Cassie did some brilliant deductive reasoning.”

  “Just a fluke.” I waved the compliment away and took a sip of wine, though all eyes were eagerly focused on me. “Earlier today, when we were hashing through all the possibilities of what could have happened to Lucas, I was reminded of Nicholas’s odd behavior the day of the storm,” I said. “He was clearly bothered by something and kept looking down at the beach with panic.”

  “You weren’t far off target on that one,” Jason said to me, then told the group, “Cassie had also suggested Lucas might’ve been hiding in Christopher’s cottage during the storm and then wandered off.”

  “Glad I was wrong on that last point.”

  “Lucas had been hiding in Land’s End?” Laura asked, clearly frustrated by not being able to piece together the story.

  “Not there.” Jason laid a calming hand on his wife’s arm.

  Daniel picked up the thread again, “Anyhow, when Cassie called, she urged me to have Christopher ask Nicholas if he’d been on the Lady Spirit.”

  “How did you make that leap?” Teddy asked.

  “That’s what I want to know,” Laura lifted her hands palms upward, totally stumped.

  “Bear with me.” I smiled at them. “Today the Federal Express guy mentioned that ships were stranded out at sea, which got me thinking about the Lady Spirit since it was so late to leave Whale Rock, and I wondered if it ever made it safely to port. Then I remembered Christopher telling me about Nicholas’s inquisitiveness, especially as it had to do with pirates and walking the plank and stowaways. It reminded me of the onboard cocktail party I attended on the day the Lady Spirit arrived. I was invited because I did the artwork for the promotional campaign. We were given a delightful tour by an actor in a pirate costume, and he pointed out a storage hold where stowaways hid.” I took another sip of wine. “This had me thinking that if the Kleisters took a tour of the ship, then Nicholas probably also learned about those places to hide.”

  “But why would Lucas be hiding at all?” Laura persisted.

  “That I don’t know,” I told her.

  “When did they realize Lucas was onboard? And why didn’t they report finding him?” Laura asked.

  “Good questions. The ship’s satellite communication system failed, and there were no working cell towers within reach,” Brooks lifted his shoulders. “As Cassie said, many ships headed out to sea when the storm was hugging the coast, and Lady Spirit was directed to do the same. However, with it being such an unpredictable storm, there was no certain path back to land, especially after it stalled. I don’t have specific details yet, but from what I understand, when Lucas was found he was unconscious and dehydrated. Luckily, they had an EMT on crew and were fully medically prepared to treat him.”

  “There are still many unanswered questions.” Daniel picked up the thread. “For instance, we still don’t know how Lucas end
ed up on the ship.”

  “There will be a full investigation,” Brooks said, jumping in. “We assume Nicholas knows, but we don’t want to push him too hard. The boy was visibly traumatized by the whole ordeal.”

  Daniel was shaking his head. “Can you imagine the poor kid’s panic when the ship sailed?”

  “The Kleisters must be in shock. A good shock, but still …” Teddy said. “I imagine they’d already expected the worst case in all this.” He shook his head in disbelief. “I know I had.”

  “It was the first time I’d witnessed those parents show the slightest civility to each other,” Daniel noted.

  “There’s an odd disconnect there,” I added. “Beyond the stress of their child disappearing.”

  “Definitely something deeper at play,” Brooks agreed.

  “But why didn’t Nicholas tell anyone where Lucas was?” Teddy asked.

  “Kids that age think differently,” Brooks answered.

  Teddy tossed him a look that I couldn’t interpret, but Brooks continued, unperturbed. “He was probably terrified of what would happen to him, especially after witnessing everyone’s reactions. It was no wonder the kid clammed up.”

  “Well, whatever the reason, Nicholas does feel safe talking with one person,” Daniel said. “Christopher Savage.”

  “Will the judge allow it?” I asked. “Will the Kleisters?”

  “It’s happening as we’re sitting here,” Brooks answered. “The parents weren’t happy about it, but now that Lucas is safe, they didn’t have a reasonable argument.”

  “In my opinion? There’s still something eating away at that kid,” Daniel said.

  “Let’s hope he’s able to get it all out now while Christopher is speaking with him,” Jason said.

  “Indeed,” Daniel agreed, then told us, “The transcripts will be sealed until the judge decides how to proceed with them.”

  “So that’s why Christopher isn’t here celebrating with us,” I said, thinking he, as much as anyone, had a right to celebrate the discovery of Lucas.

  Daniel checked his phone. “He’s going to call for a ride back to The Bluffs when the interview is over.”

  “I’m calling an end to this short celebration.” Brooks pushed back from the table. “Along with all the unanswered questions about what happened to Lucas, I might remind you we have a couple of missing persons to track down, and there’s a killer still out there.”

  On that somber note, the group dispersed.

  “It truly is unfathomable.” Laura caught up with me in the parking lot. Her eyes were bright, possibly at the prospect of a story.

  “It’s the best possible ending anyone could have hoped for.”

  “No kidding.” We were all still in a happy shock.

  “What are you up to now?” I asked.

  “I’m on my way over to Nauset beach to meet the staff photographer at Liam’s Clam Shack.”

  “I can’t believe Liam’s is gone,” I whined over the loss of a family favorite. The storm had done irreparable damage to the beloved clam shack, and it was not going to return to its famous beach location.

  “After that, I have a certain cabby to have a little chat with.”

  “So you found him?”

  “Actually, my husband did the heavy lifting on that one.”

  I sent her a quizzical look.

  “Evidently, Brooks has Jason working on this for some reason.”

  So that’s why he was annoyed at my showing Christopher her photo this morning.

  “Anyhow, he tracked down a cab driver who claimed to have picked up Sister Bernadetta.”

  “Did he tell you that?”

  “Jason isn’t telling me anything. I overheard him talking to the cabbie.” She pursed her lips. “Brooks doesn’t trust me.”

  “Maybe you should stop eavesdropping,” I teased.

  “Oh, but I’d miss so many scoops,” she kidded back.

  “Trust me, it’s not you—it’s just your job. Police and the press don’t always live by the same rules and timelines. He did offer you an exclusive,” I reminded her.

  “True. Better run.” She started to walk away but turned back and said, “By the way, I found out a little more about that key chain. I’m told the label had the letters ‘LEC’ on it.”

  “Lee Chambers?”

  “A safe assumption since his middle name was Edward. What the key opens, I don’t know. Yet.”

  I caught a subtle twinkle in her eye that made me smile.

  “I take it you still haven’t told Jason about the baby?”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “If he knew, he wouldn’t have offered you a beer.”

  “Maybe you should work for the Times.”

  “There’s enough drama in my own life. I don’t need to be getting involved in the craziness of the rest of the world.”

  Little did I know how much more drama was in store.

  26

  Cassandra

  After tending to Whistler, I headed to the carriage house to take Gypsy out one more time, thinking about the ordeal Lucas Kleister had survived and wishing there was a way to send a signal of gratitude to Percy and Celeste. As I walked around the side, Daniel pulled up with Christopher, and Gypsy nearly dragged me over, trying to get to her master.

  “She’s one devoted pup.” I handed over the leash.

  Christopher kneeled and allowed the dog to cover his face with slobbery kisses.

  “I’m pretty sure she sees me as her rescuer.” I was reminded of how he’d adopted the dog just hours before she was to be euthanized.

  “Dogs have a keen sense of who their protectors are,” I agreed.

  “Speaking of which,” Daniel said, “Where’s Whistler?”

  “He’s already been walked, watered, and fed.”

  “That’s more than I can say.” He rubbed his hands together. “How about the three of us mosey into town to support one of the local eateries? They could use the support after this past week.”

  Christopher’s eyes widened, obviously taken aback by the invitation. Or maybe just leery of spending more time with Daniel.

  “Please join us,” I insisted. “We have much to celebrate.”

  “That would be nice.” He looked down at his khaki pants and asked, “Do I have time for a quick change? Shorts would be more comfortable in this heat wave.”

  “Good idea,” Daniel said. “Think I’ll do the same.”

  When the two men returned, looking and feeling much cooler, I noticed Christopher’s ankle monitor had been removed. Daniel suggested taking two cars since he had some work to do at the harbor after dinner.

  “Perfect. I’ll meet you guys at the diner.” The Whale Rock Diner was one of a handful of restaurants that had been able to open its doors, albeit with a limited menu. When we arrived, it was bustling with the exciting news that the young Kleister boy had been found. Even with all the problems of the recent storm, the Whale Rock grapevine was still as tightly strung as ever. Many people were stopping by our booth to offer their congratulations to Daniel.

  “I had nothing to do with finding Lucas,” he kept telling everyone. “It was pure luck.”

  We had agreed not to talk about the specific details. It would all come out soon enough, but we hoped to give the Kleisters a little breathing space, especially Nicholas.

  Archie Stanfield saw us sitting at the window booth as he passed by and rushed in to share the good fortune.

  “It’s nothing short of a miracle!” he said, in his dramatic way. “Peeps and I had given up all hope that the little angel would be found.”

  “You weren’t alone,” I told him.

  “Hello there.” He acknowledged Christopher as if he knew him.

  “Hello, I’m Christopher Savage.” He offered his hand.

  “Oh. Sorry, I had you mixed up with someone else. Nice to meet you.” Archie looked more closely at Christopher and then pointed to his neck. “That’s an interesting piece.”


  “It’s a family thing.” Christopher fingered a silver medallion and then tucked it back inside his shirt, fastening the next button up. I’d noticed the chain before, but since he usually wore T-shirts, I’d missed the attached medal pendant.

  “Then you probably wouldn’t want to sell it,” Archie grinned. “I must apologize. I’m always on the lookout for unique treasures. It’s an occupational habit.”

  “Archie owns Coastal Vintage Wares just up the street,” I explained.

  “I’ll be sure to stop by one day.” Christopher smiled.

  “Please do. Speaking of which, I’ve got to go lock up the store. I just popped in to pick up dinner for me and Peeps.” He gave a wave and then stopped at the counter where they had his takeout order ready to go.

  I’m not sure how Daniel finally managed to finish his burger through all the interruptions. Pure hunger, I supposed.

  “I’d better get over to the harbor,” he said, pushing back from the table. “I promised Johnny.”

  “Don’t work too late,” I told him when he leaned in for a kiss.

  “Couple hours.” Then to Christopher, in a serious tone, “I appreciate you seeing my lady home safely.”

  After Daniel left but before I could get one question in, Lu sashayed over to our table, looking cool as a cucumber in a sea-horse print summer sheath.

  “You remember Christopher?” I said to her.

  “Of course—we met the day of the storm as he was evacuating.” She eyed him appreciatively before adding, “I heard your cottage took a hit.”

  He merely nodded.

  “Such great news about little Lucas!” She brought her hands, prayer-like, up to her chin. “It’s nothing short of a miracle.”

  “An incredible story,” I agreed.

  Lu lowered her voice and leaned in closer to the table to ask, “Is it true he somehow got lost aboard that tall ship?”

  So much for giving the family some breathing time.

  When neither Christopher nor I responded immediately, she lifted her shoulders innocently and said, “That’s what Ev told me.”

  “It’s true,” Christopher said, surprising me.