“It’s funny to see her now, all girly and stuff. Sure, she was always big on clothes and boys and all the stuff I wasn't into, but she was also a huge geek. I guess I was, too, in my own way.” I told Adan about the way I’d collected beach shells for hours at a time while Nina would lay nearby on a towel, hoping desperately to attract the attention of some hot tourist guy that week, even as just a tween.
At that, Adan threw his head back and laughed. When he caught his breath, he leaned in close to me. “Okay, I have to tell you about this time we took Nina out on our sailboat one Spring as kids. There are shirtless high school guys involved in this tale and, brace yourself; this story also involves a sailor moon swimsuit.”
As Adan went on about Nina’s childhood misadventures, I caught myself leaning in close to him as if he was telling me a secret. We both laughed hysterically, stupid grins spread across our faces. At one particularly inappropriate moment in the story, I blushed and squeezed Adan’s shoulder, attempting to steady myself from the incoming peel of laughter. As I laughed, I caught sight of Valentina through the double doors, watching us. Her features were pinched and gone was the mellow girl that helped me into the priest hole night before last. Even from where I was standing, I could see the darkness in her eyes.
I started to pull away, but Adan’s lips came up to my ear to whisper the punchline, and I forgot about both the daggers Valentina had been shooting me and the reason I’d brought up this whole conversation in the first place. I gave one final roar of laughter.
“Okay, okay.” He said, “But don’t tell her I told you. She’d kill me. To this day, we don’t mention the words ‘sailor moon’ around her.” I stuck out my pinky, indicating I’d keep my mouth shut. He lifted his pinky and looped it through mine in a pinky swear.
“Let’s get inside. It’s freezing out here, anyway.” I smoothed my hand through my wind-blown hair and led us through the double doors, making our way to the table Nina and Valentina were sitting at.
“Finally,” Valentina snapped. “Can we get this show on the road, please?”
Nina rolled her eyes at Valentina and beamed at me. “What were you guys talking about? It seemed like you were having a lot of fun out there.”
Adan and I broke out into a quick burst of giggles but quickly regained our composure.
“Nothing,” I said to Nina. “Adan was just telling me about some of his… sailing adventures.” Adan snorted, and I shot him a chiding look. Nina made a show of crossing her arms and making a little “hmph” noise.
“If you guys don’t shut the fuck up, I’m going to do this challenge on my own,” Valentina snarled, glaring between each of us. “In the last challenge, there were eight scrolls left. In the first, there were only ten. We can only assume two more people are being eliminated today, which means there will only be six scrolls left. ‘There can only be six’. Remember? I doubt Cunningham is going to just let everyone show up. I think this time, if we don’t have a scroll, we’re finished. And after the shit Shane pulled last night, I’m not taking any chances. I’m going to be one of the Six. Adan?” Her eyes landed on him.
I picked up a sterling silver fork and started twisting it in my hand. Valentina was right. I had my reasons to see this through now. We had to focus if we wanted to beat Shane and the others. Before I could say so, Adan spoke up.
“Yeah, sorry.” He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Let’s go ahead and do this before Shane’s group finds them. At this point, it’s us four against the four of them. Whichever group finds it last has to sacrifice two members. I don’t want that to be us.”
A waiter walked by us with a tray of champagne and paused for Nina to grab a glass. He offered one to me, but I shook my head.
“Why are people drinking at noon on a Wednesday?” I asked the group. “The last time I was here, we had tea and coffee, not alcohol.”
Valentina sighed loudly. “This is an event, Harper. They serve alcohol at events. They don’t have events in New York?”
“Yeah, and it’s a Cunningham event. Mrs. Cunningham can’t be seen without a glass of something at these things.” Nina said. That must be why she doesn’t give a shit that the waiters are serving minors.
“Well then, she and my mom have that in common,” Valentina said to no one in particular.
“Someone’s in a bad mood today,” Nina said. “What happened? You woke up on the same side of the bed as you always do?”
“Oh, bite me, Nina.” Valentina shot back.
I cleared my throat, feeling awkward at Valentina’s sudden mention of her mom. “Can we get back to 1923? Obviously, we all agree we’ll find the scrolls somewhere at this event, in some capacity relating to 1923. Now, what could 1923 mean? Could it be… the last four digits of a phone number? Maybe someone here has them on their person? Does anyone know anyone here with the phone number ending in 1-9-2-3?”
Everyone pulled out their phone and searched their contacts. At the same time, everyone mumbled.
“No.”
“Nuh-uh.”
“Nothing for me.”
“Okay,” I closed my eyes, brainstorming. “It could be an address?”
Adan drummed his fingers on the tablecloth. “V and I thought of that already. We checked the maps last night and couldn’t find any address starting in 1923 in Rhode Island.”
Nina bit her bottom lip. “It could be… a time stamp on a video? 19 minutes and 23 seconds? Or… maybe it’s supposed to be two numbers, 19 and 23. Or the last four digits of a social security number.”
“And then there’s the obvious,” Valentina said, looking around presumably for a waiter. I raised my eyebrows at her, and Adan jumped in.
“V and I thought it could be a date. You know, maybe something happened in 1923 that could give us a hint to finding out the location of the scrolls.”
Nina clasped her hands together. “Ooh, what if the scrolls are hidden inside a famous painting! And the painting is of, like, something cool that happened in 1923. Did Mrs. Cunningham bring one for auction this year?” She asked hopefully.
Valentina shook her head. Then, to a nearby waiter, she mouthed, “Can I get some wine, please?”
“Oh,” Nina said, disappointed about the painting.
“So, what kinds of things happened in 1923?” I asked. Adan pulled out his phone, presumably looking at a list of some kind.
“Um, well, King Tut’s burial chamber was opened in 1923. The first issue of Time Magazine was released that year. Oh, in Ireland, the Civil War came to an end that year as well.”
“What else?” I asked. He lifted his phone again.
“The Republic of Turkey was established. Alan Shepard was born that year.”
I cut in. “Who?”
“He was an astronaut,” Nina whispered.
Adan scratched his head. “Um, the first refrigerator was sold in Sweden in 1923. Oh, and Harper, you’ll like this, the first home game played at the original Yankee Stadium was that year.”
I sniffed. “I don’t follow sports.”
Nina’s shoulders fell. “Well, we could… check the fridge here?” She suggested weakly.
“I don’t think it’s any of those things,” Valentina said.
Nina snapped her fingers. “What about local history? Like here in Newport? Come on, why would Cunningham send us on a wild goose chase if it didn’t have something to do with the Order?” She whipped her cell phone from her lap and typed feverishly.
“Okay, ooh, the Rose Island Cafe opened up a couple of miles from here.”
Adan clapped. “They have the best clam chowder.”
“Right?” Nina screeched. I shot her a look, and her eyes dropped to her phone.
“Oh, wow, okay, it looks like the Wellsley Prep church we’d just escaped through the other night started its renovation that year. That’s interesting.” She bit her pinky nail and kept her eyes fixed on the screen.
“What’s the connection?”
I asked. “It’s too on the nose; there’s got to be some link to the Country Club.”
Adan rubbed his hands over his face. “I don’t know… I’m not seeing a connection there. It could be just a coincidence.”
“And then there’s Malloy’s treasure,” Nina said. “That was the year they found his ship, not too far from the coast, actually. Fascinating.”
“Malloy?” I asked, suddenly sick of being the only person around here who didn’t know shit.
Adan nodded at Nina, then spoke to me. “Remember how I was saying there are legends about Pirates around here? Malloy is that pirate. He’s kind of the fun local legend parents tell us when we’re kids. I guess he was kind of like a pirate robin hood, stealing from the rich all over Europe and America and then giving as much of it away as he pleased.”
I leaned in, eager to hear more. “Cool,” I whispered,
“Yeah.” Adan mimicked my gesture across the table. “Don’t get me wrong, he definitely kept some of it too. Like, millions of dollars worth, according to legend. It was weird though when they found his boat, I guess back in 1923,” Adan looked at Nina for confirmation, and she nodded, “The shipwreck was found with not a single piece of treasure on it.”
Nina piped up, her excitement bubbling. “It’s such a crazy story, though, because there are all kinds of rumors. Most people think Malloy was killed back in the 1800s, his treasure sinking to the bottom of the ocean and apparently discovered later. Others think whoever killed him stole his treasure first. But my parents always taught me that Malloy fell in love here in Newport, secretly stashed all his money somewhere, then sunk his own ship to fake his death. He did all of that just so he and his new wife would always be provided for. Then, he changed his name, and they grew old together, the treasure never to be found again. So romantic, isn’t it?” She sighed.
“Yeah,” I admitted. “It kind of is.”
“And yet, at this moment? Totally unhelpful.” Valentina said, still trying to wave someone down for that glass of wine. “God, what does a girl have to do to get a glass of wine around here?”
Just then, my ears narrowed in on a conversation behind me between an old lady and a waiter.
“What year is the Cabernet?” The woman said.
“1954, ma’am.” The waiter replied. I sat up a little straighter in my seat and looked around. Though many people were drinking champagne, a plethora of people were drinking red wine. Bottles were being carried around by waiters, though apparently none were near our table.
I turned to Valentina. “Is there a wine cellar here?
She nodded. “Of course. In fact, the Club is famous for its wine selection. A lot of the wine comes from local vineyards.”
“So, you’d say that wine is kind of a big thing here?” I asked.
She snapped her fingers in the direction of a waitress, but they were too far away. “Yeah, actually, I would. You’d think they’d want to serve me some of it.” She complained, then shifted her focus on me. “You don’t think…?”
“What if 1923 is the year on a label of wine, and we’re supposed to find a bottle from that year? Maybe there’s a message written on the bottle or something else about the label will give us another clue.”
“It’s worth a shot,” Adan said, standing.
“Wait.” I waved Adan back down. “We absolutely do not want Shane or his flunkies following us and sabotaging us again. Even if this could be a dead-end, it’s the only lead we have at the moment.”
“Okay,” Nina said, “Then we spread out. Whoever goes to the wine cellar slips out when Shane’s group is looking for the others. The others can be a distraction.”
I shook my head. “Perfect. Nina and I will draw the attention from Shane’s buddies while you two sneak down to the cellar.” I started to stand when Nina cleared her throat.
“Actually, why don’t Adan and I distract them, and you and V slip downstairs? Shane would never expect you two to pair off.” I shot Nina a look, my eyes widening in warning. I didn’t think Valentina was in the mood to play Sherlock and Watson with me today, and the last thing I wanted was to be caught alone with her.
Nina not-so-subtly slid her phone off her lap towards my feet. “Oh no, Harper, could you grab that for me?” she said, her high-pitched voice lilting more than usual. Grinding my teeth, I reached down, my head dropping out of sight amongst the skirts of the tablecloth. A split-second later Nina’s head was hovering inches away from mine.
“Nina?” I hissed, flashing her a wide glare.
“This is your chance, Harper!” she whispered aggressively. “V knows your gay now. You saw how she was with you at the school, all flirty and touchy.”
“Flirty? Nina, she told me I was short and then pushed me into a dirty air duct.”
“Shut up! I think you were right, she’s totally into women, meaning you! Sure, she walks around in a permanent bad mood, but you obviously like her, so I say, go for it! I’m giving you guys a chance to be alone. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“Uh, she murders me?” I scoffed.
She rolled her eyes. “Harper, you need to make your move. With Adan all over you, V is never going to do it. Catch her alone and kiss her!”
“I’m not doing that, Nina.”
The sound of coughing echoed from across the table. “Everything okay down there?” Valentina shouted in an uninterested tone.
“See?” I hissed.
“Sexual tension!” She poked me in the shoulder. “If you don’t want to make a move, that’s up to you, but I’m giving you an in. Take it or don’t.” With that, Nina popped up from the table, phone in hand.
“I’m going to go check out the fridge. I think I was onto something with that,” Nina said above me.
I sighed, face still inches from the carpeted floor. I pressed my fingertips against my temples, took a deep breath, and slowly sat up.
“Fine,” I said, silently protesting to Nina. “I’m going to head to the ladies’ room if anyone cares to join me.” I shot a meaningful glance at Valentina and headed off in the direction of the restrooms. My eyes darted to Shane’s table, where I noticed for the first time Jamie was sitting and breathed a sigh of relief that they’d brought him along. I worried all day yesterday that Shane wasn't going to tell Jamie the location of the next challenge since he’d essentially failed Shane twice at this point.
My gaze landed back on our table, which was now empty. As I hit the powder room hallway, I turned, watching two of Shane’s pals following Nina, who was walking in the direction of the kitchen. Adan was slinking towards the auction room, Shane trailing behind. Jamie was now sitting alone at his table, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.
I felt a sudden yank on my elbow as Valentina slipped by me, pulling me covertly into a hallway. Her usual smell of French linen hit me as she brushed past me. “The wine cellar is this way.” She said, not looking me in the eye. I followed her silently as we made our way down a series of hallways and stairs, avoiding workers or stray guests.
“How did you know where to find this place? This building is huge.” I asked her as we entered the wine cellar.
She laughed. “Seventeen years of Sunday brunches. Most of the local kids know their way around this place.”
I went to say something back to try and ease the apparent tension between us by having a light conversation. Instead, Valentina ignored me and started pulling out bottles from huge wooden racks built in the shape of diamonds lining the room. She checked their labels and slid them back into place each time she found a bottle that wasn't dated 1923. I watched her for a moment, then headed to the opposite end of the room to do the same.
At one point, Valentina and I met in the middle, my hand landing on top of hers as we reached for the same bottle. Our eyes shot up at one another instinctively, and I fought the urge to move my hand. Nina was right, now was my chance to make my move. Sure, Valentina may hate me, but I still felt something for h
er, as much as I hated to admit it. I had to do something. So, I left my hand there, my palm heating up her skin beneath me, her own hand frozen in place.
We hovered there for a moment. Her eyes dropped to my hand, then back up to my face. Nothing in her expression gave away what she was thinking. I swallowed and looked down my confidence breaking. But Valentina didn’t move. She was still standing there, her hand resting comfortably beneath mine. At that moment, I knew I wouldn’t be returning to New York. Not just for Zeke. Not just for myself. But for her.
The thought offered me a surge of confidence, and I peered up at Valentina through my lashes. She blushed. Yes, “my friends call me V, but you can call me Valentina,” blushed, pink spreading quickly across her cheeks like powdered bubble gum. She blinked hard and yanked her hand away, her body angling away from me. I let my own hand drop and watched her flit to the other side of the room, where hundreds of wine bottles still lay untouched.
“You don’t like men, do you, Harper?” She said finally, after moments of torturous silence.
Wait, was this it? Were we actually going to talk about this? Was there any chance the tension I’d been feeling earlier had, in fact, been sexual tension with a capital S?
My back to Valentina, I picked up a bottle and held it up, though I wasn't really looking at it.
“No, I don’t,” I said quietly. I watched her through the reflection in the bottle. The Pinot Noir she was holding dangled unimportantly from her left hand as she spoke.
“Interesting.” She said, and my lip twitched. Interesting?
“Interesting.” She said again, her voice dropping an octave.
“Really?” I asked with an edge, my head turning towards her over my shoulder, but my eyes fixing on the wall on my right.
“Really.” She said, her tone matching mine. “It is interesting because that doesn’t really line up with the way you act towards my brother.” Her back was to me, but she turned her head over her own shoulder, our posture identical.
I scoffed at her absurd statement. Was she kidding? I’d never led Adan on. Well, okay, there was that time when I’d maybe kind of flirted with Adan in front of her the first time we’d met, but once I realized how serious his feelings were for me, I never touched that again. “You’re insane, Valentina. I’m obviously not interested in your brother.”
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