Phantom of Execution Rocks

by MJ Miller

  “As long as you’re not dipping the corn chips in the butter sauce again, we’re good.”

  “Corn, butter. What’s the problem?”

  Luce laughed and shook her head. “Annie, you’re my sister and I love you and I’m thrilled I’m going to be an aunt. But your eating habits lately are just too much.”

  “Well, I came out here because you’ve been quite frazzled lately, and you’re not the frazzled type. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

  “What’s not going on? I mean yeah, the show, the mystery, all of that. I need to get my act together but that’s not it. I’m terrified Annie. He almost died. Now I know how Chris felt last summer when you were run off the road. I mean I was terrified for you, and traumatized, but I’m your sister. Chris? He was literally shattered. And I wondered then, what that’s like to have someone love you that deeply.” Luce sighed and looked out across the water.

  “You don’t need to wonder anymore, do you?” Annie said quietly.

  “If what I feel for Andy is any indication? No, I don’t.” Luce whispered now.

  “Take it as it comes, Luce. Just don’t wait like we did. Don’t make the same mistakes Chris and I did.”

  “No, I won’t. I promise you that.”

  “What are you reading anyway?” Annie leaned over to read the cover. “Hot Detectives on Ice? Wow you’re dipping into the bottom of the barrel there aren’t you?”

  “Nope! I’m learning how to seduce one stubborn alpha male. There are some pretty good tips in here.”

  Grabbing the book, Annie examined the cover. “You’re going to dress like a hooker on ice?”

  Luce wiggled her eyebrows and laughed. “Chapter three. I’m going to dress like frozen hot chocolate! With extra whipped cream.”

  Chapter Forty

  “Stuart? What are you doing here? I mean obviously you’re welcome to be here, but it’s unexpected.” Luce turned to her boss, a questioning look on her face. He wasn’t known to go on location unless it was due to a presidential visit or the Queen of England was in town.

  “You think I’d miss this?” Stuart smiled. “We’re doing something important here Luce. And yeah, we’re going to open up some pretty large and gaping wounds in our history, but the rewards justify it. And it’s all thanks to you,” Stuart placed an arm around Luce’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “I gave you an impossible task Luce and you rose magnificently to the challenge.”

  “I appreciate that, you know I do. I am worried about those wounds though. Andy won’t tell me who the suspect is, but clearly someone feels victimized by what we’re doing.” Luce chewed on her bottom lip, suddenly struck by a thought.

  “Stuart, do you think when we wrap this up, we could do a follow-up? Take what we’ve learned, bring in some influential people to talk about it?”

  “I think that’s brilliant. Let’s talk about it next week. In fact, I’ve got some documents from my grandmother, you know my great great grandfather was born in the south, as a slave…”

  Luce inhaled sharply. “You never mentioned that, this whole time!”

  “No, because I didn’t want my story to interfere with yours. Objectivity is key, Luce, you know that. If there were any correlation I would have mentioned it. At the time, I didn’t think it was relevant to the mystery ship. Now I’m not so sure. But first things first, let’s get this wrapped up,” he said, patting her shoulder once more. He then headed off to take a seat and watch the taping from a safe distance.

  Luce exhaled the breath she’d been holding. She knew Stuart had a keen interest in the story, and rightly so. As a prominent Black journalist he’d risen in the ranks at the network. He’d mentored her now for several years. And in all that time, she’d never considered his roots. His genealogy. His family. This story had taken so many turns on her, but ultimately, it was the way in which she was faced with her own story that was a wake-up call. Annie hadn’t located their father’s research yet, but as they came closer to the end of this journey, Luce had a strange feeling that their family history was entwined in all of this, too. That was still the final missing piece for her. And the reason for requesting the follow-up.

  “Good evening. Welcome to what we believe will be the final Ghost Ship dinner. I’m so glad you all could join me. It is my sincere hope that tonight will be the night we finally solve this centuries-old mystery.” She paused for a moment, letting the silence permeate the room before continuing. “I’d like for us to share a lovely meal, then we can all retire to the library, where our fearless leader, Detective Holman, will share with us all what he’s learned.”

  In full aristocratic mode, Adeline Bowers stood at the head of the table, looking at each guest, one at a time, assessing them. Luce cued Jamie to make sure he panned out and caught everyone’s expressions. She was in fine form, Luce thought. So different from the Adeline she’d met that day when they’d had their private chat.

  Thankfully, Cherise was careful to keep her hands off Andy, Luce thought. Jackson and Lionel were more subdued, she noted. And Rodney looked as ghostly as ever. In fact, she wondered what was causing him to twitch nervously. She had Jamie focus on him for a minute. There was something odd there she thought.

  Most of the participants had not been told the details of Andy’s injuries, only that he’d had an accident that had suspended filming for several weeks. So much of the chatter during dinner was Andy warding off questions about his injuries, focusing on how well he was doing rather than how it had happened.

  He did give them just enough to keep it interesting. Said he’d gotten lost in the tunnels and tried to climb out of the chamber and had fallen. Quite plausible. He actually made a joke out of the fact that he’d totally forgotten to bring his phone with him. He still hadn’t sufficiently explained that one to Luce. Who goes exploring without their phone?

  When it was time to move to the library, Peabody removed the centerpiece carefully, carrying it with him as he led the guests out of the room. Luce paid careful attention to which guests seemed to notice the curious action. Cherise and Jackson certainly raised an eyebrow. Lionel paid little attention. Rodney seemed to be looking down though his wife glanced about a time or two. Nothing significant, Luce thought, but she took note of it.

  Peabody placed the model ship centerpiece on the mantel for all to see, while Andy took the chair that had been placed in front of it, as standing was still painful for him.

  Everyone else took their places, seating themselves around the large table in the center. When everyone was settled in, Luce signaled Andy to begin.

  “Well, my friends, here we are back again at the Estate of Adeline Bowers. It’s been an exciting summer of discoveries for all of us. With a dose of adventure and not just a small bit of mystery. Our purpose was to solve the mystery of the Execution Rocks Ghost Ship. And I’m pleased to say, mission accomplished.”

  A soft murmur went about the room, as nobody had been informed of the success of the show. Not everything would need to be said at this point, as the plan was to insert clips from the opening episode to fill in for viewers who had missed it.

  “Every few years, around June 10th, many claim to see an old schooner sailing around the lighthouse in the middle of the Long Island Sound. The lighthouse built upon an island known as Execution Rocks.”

  “There are many theories,” Andy went on, “but there were three that intrigued us most. The boat crashed against the rocks in the dark of night during a storm. According to sold weather records, certainly a summer storm could have blown them off course. Perhaps it was a British ship carrying prisoners of war, as they were known to leave them out on the deserted island to die. Or it was a slave ship, delivering its human cargo to a New York drop off.”

  Andy paused and looked at each guest, registering their expressions.

  “It’s said that Execution Rocks was also the site of many a bootlegger’s mishaps during prohibition. There’s no shortage of myths and legends surrounding that little island. But reg
rettably, all signs seemed to indicate the MorningStar was in fact, a Slave Ship.”

  “But this was Yankee territory,” Jackson commented, a bit defensively Luce thought. “People around here didn’t have slaves.”

  “I’m afraid you are quite wrong, young man,” Rodney huffed out. “Of course they did. Servitude did not limit itself to the southern colonies. In fact, several landowners right here in Port Newton were known to keep slaves, some were quite abusive in fact.” He looked over at Adeline then, practically sneering. Luce sensed some serious animosity emanating from him. The question was why.

  Andy went on to detail how the clues all led him to that simple conclusion, then as everyone nodded in agreement, he suddenly nodded over at Jamie, who turned the camera on Luce.

  Luce frowned and shook her head. Slicing her hand across her neck, the universal symbol for stop filming right now, Andy smiled at her instead, and started talking once more.

  “Our producer had other ideas though. You see the secret lay in the ship’s log, where she discovered the truth.”

  Luce tried to remain relaxed though she wanted to crawl out of her skin. She hadn’t been on camera in a long time, and she wasn’t ready. She breathed a sigh of relief as Jamie swung the camera back to Andy.

  “The MorningStar was not a slave trader’s ship at all. In fact, it was just the opposite. The MorningStar freed hundreds if not thousands of men, women and children using the maritime route of the underground railroad. You see Lionel Bowers was an abolitionist.”

  Chapter Forty-One

  They all sat in stunned silence. This quite possibly was the most unexpected news any of them could have imagined. Except Luce. She’d discovered it the night Andy was attacked.

  “But the underground railroad didn’t exist then, did it?” Cherise leaned forward, curious. Didn’t the ship sink in the late 1700s?”

  “There was a ship, and it did sink in 1790, and it was reported to be the MorningStar. Yes.” Andy waited a moment, looking around, making sure everyone was paying attention. “But the ship log that Ms. Porter discovered? It was from the mid-1800s.” Luce was in awe. Andy had convinced Luce to edit out the footage of the journal’s discovery, he said he had an idea. Luce had agreed, but never imagined he’d drag her into it. Letting the world know who really found it.

  “So not the MorningStar?” Adeline breathed out slowly.

  “Yes, the MorningStar.” Andy smiled at her, reassuringly. “You see Lionel Bowers, your ancestor? He built two ships, and sank one.”

  “Deliberately?” Lionel jumped in. “You mean it was a ruse?”

  “Yes. According to the map and journal, the MorningStar couldn’t have gone down, but according to all public records, including the national registry, it did. For years, whenever it was spotted, which was rarely, it was deemed a ghost ship.”

  “But sightings of it continue to this day,” Adeline insisted. “How do you explain that? What eventually happened to it?”

  “I think some mysteries are better left unexplained, don’t you?” Peabody spoke up for the first time.

  “Perhaps, Mr. Peabody, you’re right,” Andy responded. “But there is so much more to this story. If I may continue. My own ancestor, to my dismay, appears by all accounts to have been a slave owner. I can’t change that nor can I understand it. The slave in question was also my ancestor. I’ve yet to find her name recorded anywhere. And I’ve known about her for a long time.”

  “How do you know? If there’s no record with her name, I mean?” Annie was curious about that.

  “Family history, a little DNA,” Andy offered. “But there’s more to this. I myself have seen the ghost ship.”

  He let that sink in before going on.

  “I believe I have seen it because it relates to me. The ship’s log may in fact prove that. Because it details how a sailor named Holman abandoned ship along with a female during a massive storm. I believe they were my ancestors. Whether Edward Holman knew that the slaves were on their way to freedom I can’t say. Whether he wanted to save her or own her, I’ll never know.”

  “I’m afraid your theory has far too many discrepancies, detective. In fact, the MorningStar was indeed a slave ship, built by Lionel Bowers,” he sneered with disdain as he said it. “If I may?” Rodney nodded to the center of the room, as if asking permission to speak.

  “By all means, Mr. Court, proceed,” Andy bit back a smile and nodded.

  The historian suddenly shot up out of his chair, showing more energy than he’d had in months, and began pacing as he spoke.

  “I’ve researched this extensively, as you know. In fact several publishers are after me for my work. So I can’t reveal too much.”

  Luce eyes widened as she stifled a gasp. The pieces were rapidly falling into place.

  Adeline interrupted then, and Luce cued Jamie to have his assistant close in on her as well.

  “I believe we all signed contracts, my good sir, that you cannot divulge or discuss any of what is learned here. I don’t believe anyone has given you permission to publish it.” Her tone was angry. Betrayed even.

  “Ah, but I am not publishing anything learned here at all, it’s my own work, and it disproves everything you’ve all found. I’ve been at it for years! You can’t stop me.” Luce quietly snickered knowing all this was on film, and he was digging a very big hole for himself.

  “What do you have that wasn’t discovered during our time here?” Andy asked, his voice relaxed, inquisitive.

  “The Bowers have owned this community for far too long. They’ve wielded their money and power around, all built on the backs of slaves. And when there were no slaves to be had? They imported fresh labor. Taking advantage of those who came to find a better life.”

  “Go on, please,” Andy said quietly.

  Rodney’s face was red now, and he was sputtering it all out. Andy clasped his hands behind his head, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Clearly there was an element of jealous rage over his own family history, but that wouldn’t seal the deal.

  “My own family came from Ireland you know. During the famine. They needed just a bit of money to get here. Took an advance on working for Bowers shipping company. Ended up working it off the rest of their lives. I have proof.”

  “What kind of proof?”

  “Letters. Documents. And no, you won’t be getting your hands on any of it. Your family is just as bad, isn’t it detective? Those tunnels connect to your property too. The slaves were led off the ship, into the tunnels and then dispersed to the various homes along the shore. In total secrecy. Well, the secret’s out.”

  Suddenly he barked out a laugh and pointed a finger at Andy.

  “And if you hadn’t been so careless in your tunnel exploration, you would have known there was an exit from the chamber leading right to it. You didn’t need to try to climb out at all. Could have saved yourself the trouble.”

  And there it was, Luce thought. He couldn’t have known which chamber Andy had been found in. He shouldn’t have known there was a second chamber until tonight.

  It was only seconds later that the uniformed officers burst into the library taking Mr. Court into custody. They’d been waiting, she realized, for him to place the proverbial nail in his own coffin. His knowledge of the tunnel system, and his knowledge of how to get in and out of the secret chamber was enough. The big question remained why? But there would be plenty of time to sort out his motive later. The chaos was far from over. There would be witness interviews for all of them, again, and then turning in all their treasures as well, as evidence. But right at that moment, all Luce wanted to do was crawl into a safe space and clear her head.

  “Luce?”

  Luce turned to see Adeline approaching her, a warm smile on her face.

  “I want to thank you. I cannot tell you what it means to know the truth behind The MorningStar. Someday you and your detective can share with me how you figured it all out. It seems awfully complex. But knowing my life wasn’t built on the backs
of slaves is a monumental relief. At the same time, I realize I haven’t done enough to continue the work my ancestor’s started, if that makes sense.”

  “How so, Adeline?” Luce took the hand Adeline was holding out, and led her to the sofa nearby, where they sat for a while.

  “The thought that my family, our wealth, our status, was derived from such evil has haunted me. Knowing it didn’t isn’t enough. Besides investigating the Ghost Ship, what have I done to contribute as Lionel Bowers did?”

  “You participated in the movement to give equal rights to all. You were an advocate for change, Adeline. You didn’t sit back and accept things. That’s something right there.”

  “Kat told me about her first meeting with you,” Adeline said suddenly. “How you immediately jumped to fix the door. You didn’t just voice your displeasure to support her, you acted. For years, I’ve simply voiced my support. Written checks and tried to stay out of the limelight.”

  “You were protecting your son, shielding him.”

  “Maybe. But I’m an old lady now, nobody needs that kind of protection. I want this show to make a difference. I want to use it as a call to action. I don’t want viewers to think just because their hands are clean, that they can turn away from injustice. There’s plenty of it now to be dealt with, too much to be done. I want to be a part of it.”

  “I agree. There is still an unanswered question, Adeline. Why me? Why did I see the ship all those years ago? Annie never did. It can’t relate to our family. It has to be something else.”

  Adeline smiled at Luce then, and looked over at Andy, deep in conversation with one of the local detectives.

  “I think your answer is sitting right there.”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  “How did the ship, the original MorningStar or its decoy, go down?” Chris posed the question out loud. “I mean if Lionel Bowers sunk his own ship, how did he accomplish it without being caught?”