Page 99 of In the Pursuit of Haven
Again, my thoughts shifted to these Shepherds of the Relics, and without my permission, my mind began to explore the role of Jude’s family in all of this.
Already we’d connected the Crowninshields to one of the Relics, but the family was so old and well-established in Salem that they might have more. And like Robert, their Relics might’ve been passed down through the generations, with some descendants actually having a duty to protect these heirlooms.
Of course, this thought might never have crossed my mind had Jude not reminded me of a guard dog when it came to this cane. Maybe there was a reason, besides him being a grumpy old man.
Jude tapped his pen against his notepad.
Jessie waitedpatientlyfor him to cooperate, looking as casual as a drifter on the wharf, but I knew better.
The bells on the door clanged together as more guests walked in. The newcomers made a beautiful couple—one of them a vivacious redhead (on the short side) and the other a tall blonde guy with a chiseled jaw. His hair was closely cropped like he belonged in the military.
They must be from out of town because I didn’t recognize them.
Jude dropped the pen on his notepad, snarling out in irritation. “Hold that thought.” He brought his facemask back up like a shield. “Are you here for the tour?” he asked the couple.
The redhead perked up at the idea, though she turned to the blonde man for guidance, and when he roughly shook his head, she lifted her shoulders. “That’s okay,” she said in an overly friendly voice. “We’ll just look through your gift shop for now.”
Jude grunted in return. Turning back to us, he tapped his notepad again. “I had my buyer write down his number in case I need to contact him again.” He ripped off the front page of the notepad. I straightened when I saw that’s where the number was written. It was too late to memorize it as he folded the paper in half. “How about I call him and if he wants to contact you, I’ll pass on your information?”
“Fair enough.” Jessie’s shoulders looked as tight as mine felt. “Tell him we’ll double his offer.”
“Double?” Jude’s eyes widened. “Where were you yesterday when this man was taking it off my hands? I could’ve upped my price with a bidding war.”
Yesterday? We’d only missed bringing this cane home with us by a day? Or had we? I still was suspicious that Jude was purposely thwarting our efforts, and if so, he’d never pass on our information to a buyer, assuming there was one. And yet, he’d definitely had a number on that notepad.
He was thwarting me in every way, and I tried to figure out how to outsmart him. “There’s so much I want to know about the Crowninshields for my exhibit,” I said. “How many of you are still around here?”
“A lot.”
Stupid question, and so I might as well get stupider.“Do you think that the Crowninshields were ever into treasure hunting?”
Jessie’s eyes bulged with disbelief, though he carefully kept his gaze from mine.
Jude turned stiff and shook his head.
“I see…” I might as well finish off my interrogation, even though I was beginning to doubt that he’d tell me the truth about anything. “Did any of your ancestors own an island?”
“No.” His answer came out so brusquely that my hackles rose along with my suspicions. Jessie now stared openly at me. The look he was giving me was to back off.
A crash near the magnets made us all turn. “Oh, sorry,” the redhead said. She sprang forward to undo the damage, her movements quick as a rabbit. Her boyfriend didn’t seem as concerned. He leaned against the display table, watching us with an even look.
Jude advanced on them with his lectures. “No touching the merchandise unless you’re planning on buying.”
“Oh, I am,” the redhead assured him.
Jude stared down at the mess she’d made of the magnets. “You plan on buying them all then?”
Jessie dug his elbow into the edge of the counter. “You came on a little strong,” he said behind his hand.
“You think?” But my mind was consumed with that notepad that once held the collector’s number. I stepped closer to the Plexiglas barrier. Seeing that Jude was busy reaming out the new customers, I reached through the window and ripped off the front page. I stuffed it into my pocket, ignoring Jessie’s shocked face.
“Did you just do what I think you d—?”
“Shh,” I hissed under my breath. I kept my face neutral when Jude glanced over at us.
Jessie cracked a smile. “And you were so upset when I took that Bible?”
No, I wasn’t! “It’s just a piece of paper!” I argued. Despite the fact that Jude had messed up all our plans by letting the cane go, I let out a laugh.
