Buccaneer (Dane Maddock Adventures) (5 page)

“
I heard that.
”
Bones had caught up with them. Ignoring the sign that read
“
Please Wait to Be Seated,
”
he sat down at a table with a view of the parking lot and flagged down the first waiter who passed by.

“
Dos Equis for me and my friend, who
’
ll be back in a minute,
”
he nodded at Maddock
’
s empty chair.
“
Nothing for this girl,
”
he indicated Angel.
“
Indians can
’
t hold their liquor, you know.
”

The young man looked
thoroughly befuddled.

“
Just kidding, bro
.
Get them whatever they like. Oh, and another thing.
”
Bones
took out his wallet and handed the young man a
twenty
.
“
Keep an eye out for me. If any cops or angry dudes who look like they just got slapped around show up, let me know.
”

Maddock came back, a grin on his face. Bones gave him a questioning look, but he shook his head. Avery wondered what he was up to, but that wasn
’
t her biggest concern.

They lapsed into an uneasy silence while they waited for their drinks. Maddock clearly wasn
’
t going to broach the subject, and Avery had been nervous enough without wondering when Rodney
’
s dad would show up. When her rum and coke arrived, she took a healthy gulp, hoping to find some liquid courage there. Maddock seemed like a good man, after all he
’
d saved her twice, but when she
’
d mentioned his father, his blue eyes had turned to ice. There was something cold and hard inside him that made her distin
ctly uncomfortable. She sighed
. There wa
s no help for it. He was her best
hope.

“
I guess
,” she began,
“
we should get down to business.
”

“
I
’
m all ears,
”
Dane said. Truth was, he had a feeling he knew exactly what Avery wanted to discuss, and he wasn
’
t eager to talk about it.

“
It
’
s about your father
’s research
.
”

Dane kept his expression blank. It was exactly what he
’
d expected.

“
Specifically, Captain Kidd.
”
Avery must have seen something in his eyes because she hurried on.
“
Understand, I
’
m not some nut job or amateur treasure hunter. I
’
m an associate
professor
. I teach at the local community college. Captain Kidd is my area of professional interest.
”

“
Seems like an odd thing to build your profession around.
”

“
I have my reasons.
”
A shadow passed across her face, but it was gone as quickly as it arrived.

“
What
’
s so weird about researching Captain Kidd?
”
Angel asked.
“
Isn
’
t it his treasure we
’
re searching for on the island?
”

“
We
’
re investigating the so-called Money Pit, that
’
s all.
”
Bones said.
“
We
’
re not necessarily looking for something Kidd left behind.
”

“
Kidd
’
s treasure is a legend,
”
Dane said,
“
and a far-fetched one at that. He buried a few chests on an island down south but, other than that, there
’
s no reason to believe he had more to hide than that. If he had, he would have used it to bargain his way out of prison before they executed him.

“
I think t
hat
’
s exactly what he did.
”
Avery
’
s gaze grew hard.
“
I
’
ve done extensive research on Kidd, much of it I
’
ve kept secret, and probably will continue to do so until I decide I can trust you. But believe me when I tell you I have evidence that he did, in fact, have a treasure of immense value, and he tried to use it to buy his freedom.
”

“
Didn
’
t work out for him, did it?
”
Bones took a swig of beer.

“
No, but the important thing is, he did have a treasure of immense value.
”

“
How do you know?
”
Dane couldn
’
t keep the doubt from his voice.

“
I told you, I
’
ve done extensive research,
more
anyone who
’
s studied Kidd or the island.
”

“
That might be
but, if you want my help, you’ve got to convince me
.
”

“
Your father believed it.
”

Dane shifted in his chair. She was probably right, but that didn
’
t make it true.

“
Did you know his father?
”
Angel asked.

Avery’s face reddened and she looked down at the table.

“He’s familiar to me.
He and I
followed
the same trail
s in our research
.
”

“
Dad enjoyed his pirate research, but it was a hobby, that
’
s all. I doubt he took it seriously.
”
Dane took a long, cold drink of Dos Equis to cover the brief wave of sadness that washed over him. His parents, Hunter and Elizabeth Maddock, had died in an auto accident years before, and he still found it hard to talk about.

Avery sighed and brushed a stray lock of
blonde
hair out of her face. She looked down at her hands, eyes narrowed. When she looked up again, her expression was resolute.

“
Captain Kidd hid clues, probably maps, in four sea chests. Your father owned one of these chests.
”

Dane raised an eyebrow.

“
That
’
s true, or at least he believed it belonged to Kidd. We don
’
t have it anymore, though. He donated it to...
”

“
The New England Pirate Museum.
”
Avery completed the sentence.
“
I
’
ve already examined it.
”
She saw the confusion in Dane
’
s eyes and hurried on.
“
I found a hidden compartment. Inside was a brass cylinder where a document could have been rolled up and hidden inside.
”

“
But it was empty?
”
Dane asked.

“
Afraid so.
”
Avery nodded.
“
I think your father found whatever was hidden inside before he donated the chest to the museum. In fact, I
’
m fairly certain of it.
”

“
What makes you so sure?
”
Dane wanted to dismiss her claim out of hand, but his instincts told him she was reliable.

“
Around the time he donated the chest to the museum, he wrote seeking permission to explore the island.
”
She paused, probably waiting for Dane to object or question her, but he remained silent, so she went on.
“
He indicated that he had new evidence that could be authenticated if need be.
”

“
I guess they turned him down?
”
Angel asked.

“
Yes. Around here, you have to throw a lot of cash around to get anywhere.
”
Bitterness cast a dark shadow across her face. Then, something seemed to click into place and she looked at Bones, eyes wide.
“
No offense intended toward your uncle.
”

“
Get real.
”
Bones waved the apology away.
“
We have no illusions
about how Charlie does business.
”

“
Anyway,
”
Avery said, visibly relieved,
“
I don
’
t know if your father didn
’
t have the money or simply was unwilling to play the game.
”

“
Maybe a little of both.
”
Dane shrugged.
“
I
’
m sorry to have to tell you this, but I looked through my dad
’
s research shortly after he died, and there was nothing like what you
’
re talking about.
”

Avery
hesitated.
“
Could I examine his papers? Perhaps there
’
s something you missed. I mean, you probably weren
’
t searching for a clue to Captain Kidd
’
s treasure when you were going through them.
”

Dane
considered that.
Sorting through those books and papers would dredge up memories he
’
d buried long ago. Besides, while Avery was correct
—
he hadn
’
t been looking for anything in particular when he went through his father
’
s research, he was certain something like an authentic document from Kidd would have caught his eye.

“
Captain Kidd
’
s sea chests hold the key to unlocking the secret of Oak Island. I
’
m certain of it.
”

Dane rested his chin on his fist, thinking it over.

“
If need be, I
’
ll take you to the museum and show you the secret...
”
She froze, staring over Dane
’
s shoulder.

Dane turned around to see a stout police officer of late middle years standing behind him. He was blocky with gray eyes and hair to match. The calm detachment with which he eyed the people at Dane
’
s table said,
I own this town and everyone knows it.
Rodney
’
s battered face
peeked
over the man
’
s shoulder.
He spotted Dane and
whispered something to the officer, who nodded and approached the table.

“
Good evening.
”
The man
’
s gravelly voice held no emotion. He took a chair from a nearby table and sat down.
“
Miss Halsey.
”
He nodded to Avery, whose face reddened as she whispered a soft hello.

“
My name is Charles Meade,
”
he said to Dane and Bones, ignoring
Angel
.
“
I am the sheriff and, as such, it is my duty to keep the peace.
”
The man
’
s calm demeanor and articulate speech took Dane by surprise
—
he
’
d been expecting an older version of Rodney.

“
Everything
’
s peaceful around here,
”
Bones said, his tone easy.

“
That is gratifying.
”
Meade steepled his fingers and his gaze turned flinty.
“
But I understand that was not the case only a short while ago. I need to see your identification, please.
”