Page 62 of Untamed Coast

A knot grew in Marco’s stomach. He had never been able to bring himself to look at the memorial page friends had made for Michelle when she died. He just didn’t want all the validation that she was really gone. In some way, she was still there for him, just stepped out for a minute, maybe in another part of the boat, but still present and keeping him safe. Supervising him from some other dimension through the curved glass of the snow globe at the helm.

He fought back tears. Seems Crystal’s family and friends had accepted that she was gone.

Why can’t I?

The woman in the photo had stared directly into the camera lens, and her eye contact was hypnotizing. Marco felt like she was looking at him, just about to say something important.

What happened, Crystal? It was you on the radio, wasn’t it? Where did you go?

The lights blinked in the research room. Polo shirt guy had left. The woman from behind the counter was standing near the door with her hand on the light switch. “Sir, we are closing.”

Marco had always trusted his gut, and his gut was telling him there was still something unfinished. He still had a purpose; he just needed to figure out the next move.

Chapter 47

-.-. --- .-. -. . .-. . -..

Red Baron Bar—Sitka, AK

1938—Virgil T. Fellows

Virgil took a deep gulp of the frosty beer Nikolai brought him. The cold liquid passing through his throat brought a sudden throbbing pain to his forehead and face. He squeezed his nose and squinted his eyes as he waited for the pulsing to subside.

He took another swig, smaller this time.

Nikolai’s hands and forearms were bright red.

“What’s up with your hands, Mr. B?” Virgil asked. “You look like you just cleaned up a crime scene.”

Nik leaned over the bar and spoke softly. “Beets. Making borscht.”

Virgil could smell the aroma of the rich soup wafting from the kitchen. “Any chance I could get me a bowl of that?”

Nik looked Virgil up and down. “You not wearing usual suit. Never see you in Levi’s before.”

“Bought me a boat,” Virgil replied. “Gonna take my girlfriend for a ride later.”

Nik didn’t move. “Guy just left…he looking for you. Said you were friend. I thinking he up to no good. I give you warning. I tell him not know you. Way he walk past…Seem he not knowing you either. Also, Levi’s bad for boat. Soak up water.”

Virgil felt his heart skip a beat.

He said he knew me?

He took a gulp of his beer and wiped his chin. “What did he want? What was his name?”

Nik ran one red hand over the top of his head and massaged the back of his neck, turning to look up toward the ceiling. “Not leave name, kid. Say he working at Chichagof mine. Ask about you.”

Virgil set his beer back on the bar and motioned Nik to come closer. “Did he say anything else?”

Nik cracked his knuckles and wiped Virgil’s table with a pink rag. “That all he say. I don’t like him from beginning. Serve him warm bottle of worst beer. You still want borscht?”

“If you don’t mind, yeah. It’s lunchtime. Smells fantastic.” Virgil took another mouthful of beer, the sharp tartness lingering on his tongue. He tried to visualize the man he’d just passed. He was a little older than Virgil, shorter. His hair needed a trim. He had a ruddy complexion and a determined look on his face. Downright rude the way he ran into Virgil on the way in and didn’t apologize. Looked right past him. Virgil couldn’t remember what the man was wearing.

This must be the third guy—the guy from the mine.

If the third guy was looking for Virgil, he must be wanting his cut of the cash. And he would likely guess that Virgil had killed Joe. It wouldn’t be safe for Virgil to return to Radioville island to look for Joe’s gold.

Joe probably just made up that story about hiding half the gold to try and save himself. Not worth getting killed or arrested for. Businessmen know to walk away while they’re ahead.