Page 124 of In the Pursuit of Haven
Brecker’s hand went to Caitlyn’s back as he returned Jessie’s disdainful glare. “It’s going to be a blast working with you; I can’t see why my source thought you were so difficult to work with.” His sarcasm seared me as he broke away. The café door shut firmly behind them.
I swiveled to Jessie. “What did you do?”
He shook his head darkly and dug into the shrimp scampi. “We won’t see them again.”
“Yeah, that’s the problem!”
“They’re lying through their teeth. They want something from us, all right, and that’s to steal everything out from under us while our back is turned. No, I made the mistake of trusting the wrong people and look where it got us!”
“They gave us the Dimond Rattle!” I argued.
“Yeah, why do you think I’m not buying their story? Hunter had it—he wouldn’t just let it go unless he meant to gain our trust with it.”
“You’re so wrong!” I said. “Hunter would never give it up to us.”
Jessie turned silent. The instant I saw the frustrated gleam in his eyes, I knew he had inside information that he wasn’t sharing. I took a deep breath. “Out with it.”
“You don’t know him like I do. The guy thinks he’s been playing us all along.”
My gaze sharpened on him. “Maybe it’s time we got some inside help then. If he’s so dangerous, we could use someone on our side. I’m tired of cutting out perfectly good connections. You did it with Bette Ann; you did it with Luther; and now you’re doing it again.
“Wait? Luther? You want us to use Luther?”
“You think he’s some kind of snob or—or hates you, but… he works at a museum. He can be very helpful. He’s the one who gave me the other side of Haven’s locket!”
Jessie’s brows furrowed.
He wasn’t ready to concede anything. If this was just about the treasure, I’d drop this now, but I cared for this man. I had a deep investment in showing him what could happen if he didn’t keep shooting himself in the foot. “Your dad sure did a number on you, Jessie! You think everybody’s out to get you.”
For a moment, I’d thought I’d gone too far. Jessie’s face had gone chalky pale. He took a deep breath and, steadying himself, he found my hand. His eyes didn’t leave mine. “Roxy?” Somehow my name made it through his tight lips “How about we make a deal then?”
My stomach clenched. “I’m listening.”
“We only have four more Relics to go.” He licked his lips. “One is on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean; one is with Corwin; and the last two? I think we should follow up on Abby’s lead at Seven Gables… tonight. If we don’t find what we’re looking for this time, then we let in that little redhead and her stiff of a boyfriend into our circle offriends… for real. Fair?”
I gulped. “Well, you’re not giving me incentive to try that hard.”
His brow went up. “And I have plenty.”
I huffed out at his audacity while I calculated my odds.
The clue from Baker’s Islandhadpromise. Haven’s notes had shown me that Captain John Turner had been a friend of Crabb’s, and our internet search had brought up that he’d been the first owner of the island where I’d spent every summer growing up.
But was the Relic in that intriguing museum they’d made of Turner’s home or was it on Baker’s Island somewhere?
Anywhere was possible with modern-day Shepherds watching over the Relics.
And Ruth was a tour guide in that museum now. If she was behind Caitlyn and Brecker, I’d get her to talk. Then no matter what happened, Jessie would have no choice but to let them in.
My appetite returned and I filled my plate with Red’s famous scampi dish. “Sure, babe,” I gave him my best Jessie impression. “Let’s do this.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
The House of Seven Gables was painted a dark charcoal gray, and sure enough, just like its name, it boasted seven gables over its many elaborate rooftops, although it wasn’t always so elegant before the remodeling.
Straightening the strap of my bag over my shoulder, I hoped that we’d add another relic to our collection before the sun set on this wild day. The gaudy cross from the cathedral was an amazing find—so fantastic that I hadn’t quite reconciled what we’d accomplished in my head yet.
Jessie kept his hands behind his back like he wasn’t up to anything. We headed up the walkway. His long strides were confident; his dark shades concealed his roguish, sparkling eyes.
