Page 32 of In the Pursuit of Haven
“Excuse me?”
This definitely sounded like daddy issues. And deciding it had nothing to do with me, I popped my head into the room to make my quick announcement: “I’ve got to head into town.”
The siblings exchanged glances.
“I’m checking up on that figurehead at the museum,” I said.Not a complete lie—I should probably make sure that they weren’t undoing all my work while I was in Salem. I set down the box of chocolates next to Abby. She needed them more than I did right now. “Bette Ann says there’s more of that where those came from.”
Jessie pushed off the floor where he’d been organizing books. “Hey, Roxy, I need to talk to you alone for a second.”
My heart skipped. Was he ready to clear up things between us after last night? “Yeah?”
He followed me into the hall and pushed his palm into the wall on the other side of me. The muscles in his upper arm tensed. “There’s been an uptick of crime in Salem lately.”
No, there certainly isn’t. What’s he pulling?My brows rose. “Yeah, what happened?”
He tried to defend his position. “It’s just, suspicious characters are hanging out by the wharf. Abby said that some strange people have been following her around, and… um, do you want me to go with you into town?”
He was being ridiculous, and suspicious. Did he want to get out of packing or did he just want to pursue more trouble in town? “No, I’ll be fine. Thank you.”
Jessie didn’t seem happy with my answer, but he nodded. “Just be careful out there, okay?”
This was more odd behavior. Now I began to wonder if I really was in danger. Had Jessie tangled with the wrong crowd? Or was it Abby this time? “I’ll bring my pepper spray.”
His forehead wrinkled, but he didn’t fight my struggle for independence like he normally did. If he had, I’d go out of my way to do the opposite.
And he knew that.
I pushed on my boots and ripped my coat off the hook. The mystery behind this silver-handle cane was calling to me more than ever.
Chapter Nine
The clouds were frozen in the cold January sky while I tied up Haven’s boat. The brisk wind tossed around my dark hair, and still no snow.
I didn’t mind a bit.
Haven’s letters hadn’t left my mind all day. The tragedies she’d undergone blew my mind, and still, I didn’t see why she’d hated the Crabbs so much. After all, hadn’t Matthew been good to her? Wouldn’t she see him in Jessie?
There had to be more to this story. I hoped whatever was on the cane might tell me more.
After docking at the wharf, I walked past a houseboat. If anything was a rundown trailer house on the water, this was. The red paint on the metal roof was practically worn off, and half the mint green shutters had been ripped away by the wind. I passed a cute little white picket fence at the front of it and almost stumbled over my feet when my eyes met an old man’s—a grumpy one judging by that scowl.
I straightened, not wanting to be rude. “Oh, hi.”
He didn’t answer. His heavy coat was open in the front, showing an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt that bared a rounded belly tucked into sweats. He wore clunky fishing boots.
His unwavering gaze broke off to check out Haven’s boat before shooting back to me.That’s pretty creepy, guy!I waved quickly and moved on.
There was nothing to worry about. I was just on high alert after Jessie’s warnings, and Jessie was probably just trying to get me alone again to romance the “anger” out of me. Besides that… this guy was old. What could he possibly do?
His boots thudded loudly behind me. He was following me.
Well, the guy was kind of big and menacing, really menacing. I didn’t want to stick around to see what he could do!
I picked up my steps, wishing my boots didn’t have such tipsy heels on them. Once again, I needed the cover of those claustrophobic crowds that flooded the streets during the Halloween season. Running away was turning into a habit with me.
I ducked into the alley again. Maybe not the best idea, but I knew this place better than any drifter. Taking the long way to the Witch House, I weaved around the streets until I finally reached the pedestrian mall. Bridget Bishop’s apple orchard used to cover this area. It was said that the executed witch haunted the adjacent tavern, and why not? She used to run a tavern herself.
As for me, I had the deserted, historically rich, red-cobbled street all to myself.
