Page 96 of In the Pursuit of Haven
Luther smiled, almost wistfully, like he was peering through time. “There was no keeping him back. My brother said something about wanting to know if there was any truth behind the Crabb’s family treasure.”
Was that it? The letter said he’d tagged along as a lark, but what if he was like Robert and had a personal investment in all this? Luther and Walt had Crowninshield blood, after all.
I’d even wondered last night if he could be a Shepherd of the Relics. In those letters, he’d taken a big interest in everything to do with this treasure and then abruptly left when they got too close.
Had he been guarding the treasure from Robert?
“Do you know what Walt was fighting about with Robert the night he died?” I asked.
Jessie winced.
“Hmm.” Luther’s lips pressed together briefly. “I’ll tell you exactly what I told Haven.” He gave a firm nod; it was the same plucky move he made when he was going into professor mode and about to give a lecture. “It’s best to move on.”
Strange. He’d kept his advice brief.
“I know a good way to do that,” Jessie said behind him. His voice was low with unrepressed emotion. “We move on the one thing that caused him to throw everyone’s lives away, and we make sure it never reaches his hands.”
And that was his father speaking… yesterday actually—make them hurt like we hurt.If Robert was really the one behind Hunter; he’d never see a glittering speck of that treasure.
Even, I’d make sure of that actually.
Luther sighed heavily, and I wondered if he also saw Pete in his friend’s son. “The one responsible for Walt’s death, well—I’m sorry, I can’t bring myself to say his name—but I believe he paid the price. It’s best to just give him his space. Don’t go looking for trouble.”
He was being brave, but I could see the glint of resentment behind his eyes. No one couldnotfeel deeply over the death of a brother. “We all have our own way of healing, but…” He rallied himself with a start. “What is this talk?” He clapped his hands and straightened. “What are you still doing here, you two? If you hurry you can catch Glover’s reenactment at the cemetery. They’re about to blast their cannons in their salute to Marblehead’s finest.”
I knew when I was being dismissed. I hoped that Luther hadn’t thought I was prying too much… even if I was.
Jessie found my arm, which was a feat considering what he was balancing. “We can’t wait to see it, Luther.” He hurried me to the door.
“Good luck, Roxy,” Luther called out. “I always knew you were something special.”
I wanted to cry. He was being such a good sport about all this; I never should’ve brought up such a painful subject. “Thanks for your time!”
We rushed straight out into the nautical exhibit. Holograms flashed against the walls in a colorful light show of captain’s logs, seaman’s journals and landing coordinates. I held my breath at its beauty while the sounds of ocean waves and seagulls drifted around us.
For a moment, it was nice to breathe in the eerily familiar, especially after such an uncomfortable exchange. I glanced over at Jessie. “You didn’t know Walt was Luther’s brother?”
He jumped then looked guilty. “Uh… there was just so much going on, and I didn’t want to throw our family feud at you too.”
Jessie! Hiding his family scandals under the rug again!
“You can’t do that!” All those familiar insecurities that he still had secrets came back to swamp me. What else was he keeping from me because he was protecting his family? I broke from him angrily.
A ship sailed past us from the nautical exhibit, making a haunting image against the ceiling before it sunk silently into a black shadow.
My heart pounded loudly, and for a moment I felt like I was in that shipwreck. After visiting Luther’s secret sorrows, my thoughts flew to Haven’s and what she’d gone through when she’d lost Matthew at sea.
He’d joined the countless souls our waters had taken. I’d seen their gravestones and memorials in the cemeteries we’d traveled through. They’d left their homes and witnessed unimaginable sights and terrors that we’d never know, and just like this flotsam of troubles spiraling around me, they’d sunk into a cloud of mystery.
I’d uncover every last one of them if I could—Walter, Drake, Matthew. I wouldn’t be shielded from this anymore.
Jessie took a deep breath. “We’ve got to go. The cane.”
My stomach twisted with discomfort and I shot ahead of him through the door.
Chapter Twenty-Six
We sped down Salem Museum’s stairs onto the street.
