Page 146 of In the Pursuit of Haven
My gaze ran over the delicate locket’s jeweled exterior. The rubies acted as ridges against the glass, and in the next moment, I figured out how to solve both of our dilemmas. “This is the key to turn this on,” I said.
Thrusting the oddly shaped locket into the other side of the compass, I heard the mechanism connect.Nowthe cane could turn.
Jessie tossed me his lighter and wound up the lantern as much as it would go. I lit the wick. He released the cane, watching the contraption rotate in strange, multifaceted ways. A complex show of light and shadow flashed against the wall.
Each image felt intoxicating as it danced over the walls. Nautical directions, constellations, captain’s logs all played out before us. A ship sailed across the blue ocean and sank as three suns drifted across the wall to show the passing of three days.
I let out a breath. Anyone around here would know what three days stranded on an island referred to. “Misery Island,” Jessie said, only seconds before I did.
Moulton’s Misery was named after the man shipwrecked on that island for three days.
Jessie stared at the light show, dumbfounded.
We’d found it. After all these centuries, a struggling couple had actually worked together to unearth this treasure.
Pure joy ran through me. “This is incredible!”
The unmistakable shadow of the island took form in the light and then a part broke off to show another shape. “That’s the pond on the island,” Jessie said. “I’ve been there—that’s where the Pump House ruins are… a fire burned the resort down in 1926.”
Yeah, everyone who’d invested in the enterprise blamed his family’s curse on it.
The ship seemed to sink into the representation of the pond while crude shadows of men carried a treasure down into its depths.
“Unreal.” Jessie seemed like he was in shock. We’d found where they buried the treasure. He ran a hand over his reddened eyes. “When was the last time we slept?”
“Or ate?” I asked, not that I could think about food right now.
“I actually have no idea,” Jessie said.
And I couldn’t remember either. I was dizzy and giddy with exhaustion and excitement mingled into one. This treasure was ours. Unbelievably, and I was going to crash. Big time. I rested my head against his shoulder. Haven’s bed was calling me… so were my husband’s arms. I wanted to cradle into his side and sleep for days.
The Relics would be safe in Haven’s secret room.
We went through the process of concealing the entrance, breaking into smiles and yawns while we made our plans in happy whispers. Jessie tried to pick up Haven’s vandalized room and finally gave up when he got to the bed. He turned to me. “Hey, come here.”
I wandered over to inspect what he’d found, and it turned out, that was me.
He reeled me into his arms, pulling me onto the mattress with him. “Just a few hours until daylight,” he said. “Let’s make the most of it.”
I smiled against his chest and reached for the blanket on the other side of him, throwing it over the both of us. Jessie helped tuck it around my shoulders and I snuggled into my husband, reveling in the feel of him, his scent of cedar and the ocean, everything familiar that had felt so far away until now.
Strange how secure I could feel with Jessie in a room that had been torn apart by horrible intruders. None of us had to face a sea of troubles by ourselves anymore. We had each other.
He kissed my cheek seconds before I heard his steady breathing. He must be drained if he could fall asleep so fast after everything that had happened. Not too long after that, darkness overcame my senses, too, though something disturbed my rest.
Whoever this blackmailer was, he’d forced Jessie to work with him.
If it wasn’t Robert, would he come to collect more?
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Voices and Finn’s barking hijacked my dreams. I couldn’t tell what was real or not. Jessie was shushing our dog while trying to talk to someone… Luther?
That really sounded like Luther.
“Where did you put the Relics?” he asked.
“It was you?” Jessie’s voice was muffled, but nothing hid his surprise. “I really thought you were too self-righteous to be behind this.”
