A Spirited Gift (37 page)

I knew I couldn't do
exactly
as Chief Michaels asked, but I told him how I'd found the picture (not that a pirate ghost had purloined it from Marissa's house) and that she'd attacked me upstairs when she got back from the arraignment.

“This is some mighty compelling evidence with everything else we have,” he said. “I just had to make sure there was no hoodoo involved. You'll have to testify in court, you know. It would look bad if you explained that you'd held her hand or something to find it.”

“I was just looking for some tape, Chief. And I'll be glad to testify to that, if you need me.”

“All right then. I think we have our killer.”

Chapter 49

I brought Gramps with me to the docks that night.

I didn't like the idea of being out at sea in the middle of the night by myself. Besides, without him, I would've had to take a rowboat. Having Gramps there meant we could take the
Eleanore
—fitting since Rafe was related from the Bellamy side of the family.

The air was very cold—icy winds blowing off the sea—as we waited for Rafe to make an appearance. It wasn't easy explaining all of it to Gramps, but the fact that he'd lived with two women who were gifted was enough to make him a little more open-minded. He'd loved my grandmother. Her gift for finding things had made my life easier.

“Are you sure your friendly pirate ghost meant tonight?” Gramps stomped his feet and blew on his hands.

“Yes. But maybe they have a different sense of time than we do. Let's give him five more minutes. I'd really like to close all of this out between us. You can't imagine how awkward it is not knowing if a giant pirate ghost is lurking invisibly while you're sleeping or taking a shower.”

Gramps cleared his throat and smiled. “I suppose that would be true. Your grandmother would've loved this. I always thought she was part pirate.”

A minute later, Rafe's ghost appeared. “He's here,” I told Gramps. “I wish you could see him.”

“That's fine. Don't wish too hard. Just have him tell you where we should go.”

“I see you didn't come alone,” Rafe snickered. “Aye, you talk a good fight, but you lack the backbone, girl. That's as well. Get in yer vessel and follow closely. There are rocks hidden beneath the water as you get close to the shore. Be sure to give the captain my regards.”

I told Gramps what Rafe had said. We climbed into the
Eleanore
and were able to follow Rafe only because I could see a dim fluorescence around him. He floated right at the bow of the boat and kept us going straight in the night.

The beams from the island lighthouses played across the dark, cold water. The boat was tossed a little roughly in the waves coming up. Autumn was a time of sudden storms. I hoped we wouldn't run into one as we went to retrieve Rafe's treasure.

“How much treasure are we talking?” Gramps asked. “Maybe we should've brought Carter Hatley's boat out. It's much bigger.”

I pulled my jacket and rain poncho more tightly around me. My fingers felt numb with cold. I wished I'd worn gloves. “I guess if it's too much treasure, we'll come back out for the rest. It's been there for three hundred years. Another night or two probably won't matter.”

Rafe's form stopped, standing near one of the smaller islands that surround the Outer Banks. He was pointing toward a cove that was frequented by tourists. It was hard to get to but a nice place in summer to paddle around in the shallow water.

“Is this it?” Gramps asked. “No way we can take the 
Eleanore
into Pirate's Point. There are too many rocks. Even during the day when you can see them, you can only take a dinghy in there.”

I knew all that, of course. It suddenly struck me—Pirate's Point. There was a reason for that name, and Rafe probably buried his treasure here because of the rocks.

“I can't stay past tonight.” Rafe was suddenly standing beside me in the boat. “You'll have to come ashore so I can show you where the treasure is buried.”

I looked at my watch. It had taken us almost three hours to get out here with the wind against us and the heavy fog bank we'd encountered after leaving the island.

I knew Gramps had an inflatable dinghy. It looked like I would have to row to the treasure anyway. At least the
Eleanore
had gotten us this far.

Gramps was skeptical when I told him what I had to do. “You're sure about this, Dae? This pirate isn't leading you on a wild-goose chase, is he?”

“I don't think so. He didn't have to come back. He wanted to keep his word to me. I'll be fine. It shouldn't be too bad from here to the shore.”

We both knew it was going to be treacherous—especially in a rubber dinghy. No boat would ever come out on top after scraping one of those sharp rocks that I knew lay between me and Rafe's treasure. But I had to try. It would be nice to be rich and even better to find a real buried treasure chest.

I took two flashlights and threw on an extra poncho for warmth. Gramps found me some old gloves. We launched the dinghy, and I climbed down to it.

“Careful with the motor,” Gramps shouted. “It can be a little temperamental.”

“Okay. I have my radio and cell phone. I hope one of them works once I get there.”

“I'm giving you thirty minutes,” he said. “After that I'm calling Gus to bring out the Coast Guard rescue ship.”

I laughed—but he was probably serious. Anyway, thirty minutes should be plenty of time. I got the little outboard engine started and held tightly to the rudder to steer it toward shore.

Gramps shone a spotlight from the
Eleanore
, but once I was out of its range, the water and the night around me were pitch black. Out here there were no streetlights—not even any lights from houses. No one lived out here. I remember someone telling me once that it was owned by the government as part of an offshore training area. I didn't know if that was true, and if it was, how it would affect claiming the treasure. The government might want a cut.

“Steer a bit to port,” Rafe said, sitting next to me in the boat. “There's a big rock you could end up on top of in this little craft.”

I did as he said. If he could see rocks in the water, he was doing better than I was. “Thank you for saving my life. I thought Marissa was going to push me out the window.”

“Don't be daft! You're a fair, strapping girl. You were just afraid to do what ye needed to.”

“What was that?”

“Why, punch her in the mouth. Slap her silly. Kick her in the knee. Nothing more satisfying than hearing a knee crunch. Hard starboard now.”

I turned the rudder. “Maybe you're right. I really didn't think about hitting her—but I did think about getting to those cleaning supplies on the bed.”

He laughed. “That's my girl! You'd have made a fine pirate.”

“Thanks. But I'm afraid I have too much O'Donnell in me to be a great pirate.”

“You may be right. O'Donnell was one of the worst pirates I've ever known. Stop here. Let the current take you into shore. The water runs past the rocks now. That little noisy contraption will only put you in harm's way.”

I cut the engine, wondering what Gramps would think— hoping he wouldn't call the Coast Guard just yet. “So what happens to you now?”

“Blast if I know. There aren't any rule books for this. One minute you're dead and the next you don't know where you are.”

“What about relatives? After I found out you were innocent, did you go someplace nice and have lunch with Mary?”

“You're a dreamer, girl. If my Mary is out there, I've not seen her. I feel certain I will roam the seas for eternity. A man makes his choices. After that, he must abide with them.”

It sounded depressing to me. I'd always hoped I'd see my mother again, either here or in that other place. But if Rafe and Mary weren't together, I had my doubts.

The boat bumped up against the shore. I jumped out quickly and secured a line to a large tree root sticking out of the sand. The flashlight was only so much help in this kind of darkness. Rafe floated before me with a kind of glowing light that helped me know where to put my feet. I grabbed the collapsible shovel from the dinghy and quickly followed him.

“All the kids in the area have been here at one time or another,” I told him. “It's hard to believe anything could be buried here that the government or teenagers didn't find.”

“Trust me. It's here. You're standing on it right now.”

I looked at the sand under my feet. It didn't look like anything special. There were even some blackened leftovers from beach parties held here recently. I took off my extra poncho and unfolded my shovel.

Lucky for me, the sand was soft and easy to dig. There were some rocks and tree roots that slowed my progress. I wished I'd brought an ax or something stronger than the shovel I had. But Rafe was insistent that we find the treasure right away.

My pirate ancestor hovered over the tip of a rock about five feet from where I was digging. Oddly enough, it was shaped like a duck head. I was surprised by how accurate my dreams about him had been.

“What will you do with the treasure once you find it?” he asked as I dug. “I always imagined buying me a big house in Barbados with it. I'd have a hundred servants and a gold sword to carry. Maybe even a ship with a crew to take me wherever I wanted to go—without pillaging to get there, you know?”

“Why didn't you come and get the treasure so you could spend it after you and Mary were together?”

“Too many cursed eyes watching me,” he snarled. “I couldn't risk showing them the way.”

It seemed to me he hadn't gained anything from the treasure—if he never had the opportunity to spend it, what was the difference if someone else got to it? But I guessed the treasure meant more to him than just the gold, and possibly jewels, it contained.

“I suppose you'll be decking yourself out in some fine doodads,” he suggested. “You could take a trip around the world. Or you could help yer old dad.”

“I'm not making any plans yet.” As I said the words, the shovel hit something hard and solid. I couldn't tell what it was. The horizon was getting light, but not enough yet for me to see by. I could barely make out the shape of the
Eleanore
where she rode anchor off the island.

“That must be it,” Rafe said. “I think that means it's time for me to leave. It's been grand meeting you, girl. I'm proud to be your relation.”

“You could at least wait until I bring the treasure up.”

“I could—but that sunrise can't wait. Good luck to you.” He looked up toward the pale sky showing at the horizon. He smiled and held out his arms. “Well, look here. It seems you were right. I see my beautiful Mary coming for me. After all these years of being alone.”

I followed his gaze but couldn't see anything. When I turned back toward the duck-shaped rock again, he was gone. I sighed, hoping it was as he thought—Mary was coming for him and they would be together again. Then I dug some more until I saw the outline of the old wood chest Rafe had buried here three centuries ago.

I thought about the mates he'd left here after the treasure was buried, and got a little creeped out. I called Gramps on the radio to let him know that I was all right. “I don't know if I can pull this chest out of the sand. It's big and probably waterlogged. Any ideas?”

“I have a few. Can you hold on until I get back? It shouldn't take more than an hour each way with the fog gone. I can get some equipment and a few spare hands.”

“Yeah. That's fine. It should be completely light by that time, so we'll be able to see everything. Bring back some coffee and biscuits with you, huh? All this predawn work is making me hungry.”

I worked for a while longer after I heard the
Eleanore
's engines leaving the area. I sat down on the hard, damp sand when I just couldn't dig anymore. My shoulders ached and my hands burned. Probably blistered, but no one ever said finding treasure was easy.

It was sunrise—pink and orange streaks running across the sky. I watched a few ships going by and enjoyed the antics of some seagulls. The island was a beautiful place. Who knew pirates and treasure lay buried here? If anyone had known, no doubt the wood chest would've been long gone by now.

I finally heard the
Eleanore
return. Gramps called to let me know he was back. I had dug enough sand so that the box was visible, but the bottom half was still embedded.

I wasn't surprised to see Kevin with Gramps when they brought the second dinghy to the island a short time later. They tied up to the same spot I did and came toward shore with block and tackle and sturdier shovels.