Buccaneer (Dane Maddock Adventures) (31 page)

Dane was about to tell Locke exactly where he could stick his advice, but heavy footsteps on deck distracted him momentarily, and he looked around to see Willis and Corey hurry in.

“
Maddock,
”
Willis began,
“
Angel was
at the museum
, but she
’
s gone.
”

Dane nodded and turned away.

“
Just make sure you
’
ve got her there tomorrow.
”

“
It
’
s a date, then,
”
Locke said.
“
Be sure to dress smart.
”

The call ended and Dane stared at his phone for a moment before tucking it in his pocket.

“
They
’
ll trade Angel for the map and the dagger. They don
’
t know we
’
ve already found the spear.
”

“
A trade
’
s not good enough.
”
Bones took a deep breath, holding in his anger.
“
I want to hurt somebody, and I really don
’
t want to give them the dagger.
”

“
We might not have to,
”
Dane said.
“
I
’
ve got a plan.
”

Avery looked out
at
Baltimore
’
s Inner Harbor, drinking in the sunshine and watching the boats zip across the
gray waters of the
harbor. She looked to the southeast to see if she could catch a glimpse of Fort McHenry, but the distance was too great. All around her, tourists swarmed like insects, visiting the various attractions, including historic ships and the National Aq
uarium. Despite the pungent air
that carried a hint of rotting fish beneath the damp salt smell, it was a pleasant enough place. She looked across the harbor to the west, where she could just make out the shape of the
U.S.S. Constellation,
and wondered how Maddock fared.

“
Miss Halsey? I
’
m Director Sweeney.
”
A dark haired man with a thick circle beard approached, smiling, and shook Avery
’
s hand.

“
Thank you so much for meeting me on short notice.
”
Avery put on her most coquettish smile.
“
I know how busy you must be, and here you are giving us a private tour.
”

“
Not a problem. We don
’
t get many college professors here, and none from Canada that I can remember. Certainly none as attractive as you.
”
He leaned in just a little too close. Oh well, flirting was part of her strategy, so she couldn
’
t blame the guy for responding.

“
Aren
’
t you sweet?
”
She reached out and gave his arm the gentlest touch.
“
I
’
d like you to meet Corey, he
’
s my graduate assistant.
”

Sweeney
’
s smile, which had faltered when he saw Corey, returned immediately.

“
Good to meet you.
”
He shook Corey
’
s hand and turned back to Avery.
“
I thought for a minute he might be your husband. I was afraid I was going to have to get jealous.
”

“
Nope. Single as they come.
”
Avery wriggled the fingers on her left hand, calling attention to her bare ring finger. She hated this girly-girl crap, and the guy probably deserved better than to be manipulated, but this was too important to let feelings get in the way.

“
Well, if you
’
re ready to see the lighthouse, we
’
ll go on in.
”

Seven Foot Knoll was like no lighthouse she
’
d ever seen. The squat, round metal building, painted barn red, was supported by a stilt-like metal framework and topped by a short beacon.

“
It looks like some Wisconsin dairy farmers tried to build a UFO,
”
Corey observed.

Sweeney flashed him an annoyed look, but quickly forced a smile.

“
It
’
s called a screw pile lighthouse. The supports, or piles, are screwed into the sea bottom or river bottom and the lighthouse is built atop them. It
’
s not the design most people think of, but it
’
s not uncommon. This is the oldest screw pile in Maryland.
”

Avery could tell by the look in Corey
’
s eyes that he was about to make a really bad pun, and shook her head. She had no doubt this was Bones
’
influence.

“
I guess these have the advantage of not having to waterproof them against the rising tides?
”
Avery asked, feigning interest.

“
Very astute,
”
Sweeney said, leading them up a staircase to the deck that encircled the lighthouse.
“
Of course, the primary advantages were their relative cheapness and ease of construction. Here we are.
”
He opened the door and ushered them inside.

The interior was well-lit by the sunlight streaming through windows all around. Avery gushed over the various displays, asking detailed questions about the model ships and other exhibits, while Corey wandered around pretending to take notes.

Their plan was simple. Avery would keep Sweeney distracted while Corey found the chest and removed the map. She
’
d told him how to open the compartment, and hoped he wouldn
’
t be too clumsy about it.

“
Is that the Mayflower?
”
She pointed to a model high on a shelf.

“
Good eye. She doesn
’
t really belong in a Maryland museum, but she
’
s a personal favorite of mine.
”
He shrugged and gave her an embarrassed smile.

“
I thought I detected a touch of Massachusetts in your accent.
”

“
Wow. Nothing gets past you. You ought to be a federal agent.
”
Sweeney
winked.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Corey had found the chest, and her pulse quickened. Now was the moment. Cursing herself for what she was about to do, she pulled Sweeney
’
s head down and kissed him, at the same time turning him around so his back was to Corey. He tensed, then relaxed and put his arms around her and kissed her back. It wasn
’
t the worst kiss in the world, but she
’
d never been one to use her sexuality to manipulate a guy, which made this all the more uncomfortable. That, and she sort of had a thing for Bones, and hoped Corey wouldn
’
t say anything to him about this.

Hurry up Corey.

The kiss stretched beyond all natural and comfortable limits, and Sweeney started to pull away. Avery tangled her fingers in his hair and held on.

“
Ahem!
”

Avery broke the kiss and saw Corey standing beside them, an amused smile on his face.

“
Sorry to interrupt, but we have a plane to catch.
”
He tapped his watch.
“
We need to head out.
”

“
Oh.
”
Sweeney was clearly disappointed.
“
Do you need a ride to the airport?
”

“
That
’
s good of you, but we
’
re flying out of Dulles, and we
’
re in a rental car.
”
She gave his arm a squeeze.
“
Thank you so much for showing us the museum. I
’
ll text you next time I
’
m in town.
”

“
Sounds good.
”
He still seemed a bit dazed.
“
I
’
ll email you. You know, so we can keep in touch.
”

They left as quickly as they could without rousing suspicion. It wasn
’
t until they were crossing the Harbor Bridge Walk that she felt comfortable asking the question that was foremost on her mind.

“
Did you get it?
”

“
Yep.
”
He unzipped his jacket, pulled out a brass cylinder, and handed it to her.

The smooth metal was cool to the touch and she held it in trembling fingers, excited by the thrill of discovery. She couldn
’
t wait to take a look. She removed the end cap and withdrew the paper inside. Passing the cylinder
back
to Corey, she unrolled the paper, revealing another map. She wanted to take time to examine it, but suddenly felt a keen sense of vulnerability. She was
standing in a very public place, and
Locke
’
s men could be anywhere.

“
Hold this, and don
’
t you dare drop it!
”
She handed Corey the map, took out her phone, snapped a few pictures
of it
, then uploaded them to a private album.
“
Better safe than sorry,
”
she explained. Before she could return it to the cylinder, Corey frowned and looked over her shoulder.

“
That guy keeps
staring
at us.
”

Avery glanced over her shoulder and gasped. It was one of the men who had chased them at St. Paul
’
s church. She looked away, but not before their eyes met. She saw recognition in his face, and he began walking toward them.

“
Get out of here!
”
Corey gave her a push in the back to get her moving, and then followed along behind her.

“
What do we do?
”

“
He sees I
’
ve got the cylinder. When we get to the next bridge, I
’
ll lead him away. You blend in with the crowd and make your way back to the street and meet up with Matt. You and the map need to stay out of their hands.
”

“
But, you...
”

“
There
’
s the bridge. Go!
”

Before she could protest, Corey took off in the opposite direction. Avery hated to leave him to the mercy of Locke
’
s men, but what could she do? Cursing him under her breath, she weaved through a crowd of college kids who were poking along, taking in the sights. When she reached the end of the second bridge, she stole a glance behind her.

Corey
’
s ruse had not worked. The man was after her.

Dane stood on the deck of the
U.S.S. Constellation,
a nineteenth-century sloop-of-war. The last remaining intact Civil War ship and one of the last sailing warships built by the United States Navy, she had also seen action in both World Wars prior to her final decommissioning in 1955. She was now a National Historical Landmark and served as a floating museum and attraction.

“
Right on time, I see.
”
Locke seemed to materialize out of the crowd. The man was good. He stopped a few feet from Dane.
“
Do you have them?
”
His tone was relaxed, as if they were two friends engaged in a casual conversation.

“
Where
’
s Angel?
”
Dane hated feeling he was at Locke
’
s mercy. Hopefully, their plan would turn the tables.

By way of answer, Locke pointed toward the harbor, where a speedboat floated fifty feet from
Constellation
’
s
stern. A man stood guard over the hunched figure of a dark-skinned young woman. She was gagged
,
her hands
were
bound
, and her face was a
mask of bruises. Anger surged through him.