Page 85 of Untamed Coast

Sam found a slipper with his toes, pulled it toward him, and slid his foot inside. His other foot searched the cold carpet for the remaining one. “No. I didn’t know—I don’t know how he—Where are you?”

Barb tugged the blanket toward her, jerking the edge out from under Sam’s butt.

“Well, where I’m not is on Radioville Island, digging up Joe’s gold, thanks to you.” Fellows sighed. “This was just business. That Chilton fellow was on to the gold. I had to protect my interests. I reckon my only blunder was not takin care of the woman too.”

“You made plenty mistakes.” Sam’s toe caught the other slipper and he jammed his foot inside. “We will find you.”

“No, you won’t.” Fellows laughed again. “Ain’t it bout time for your retirement? Plus, ain’t it better for both of us if you don’t find me? Be a shame for you to go down for accessory to Joe Baxter’s murder right here at the end of your illustrious career.”

Barb pulled the covers over her head and said something incoherent.

“I have one question for you, Fellows.” Sam got to his feet. “Why did you sell only half of the gold we stole?”

Fellows whistled. “That’s good, Chief. How’d you put the pieces together?”

Sam picked up the phone cradle with his free hand and walked toward the bathroom door, then turned back toward the bed.

Barb curled into a fetal position under the covers, Sam’s pillow now over her head.

“Four decades back when you supposedly bit the dust, I scoured for that cash or gold for a whole year.” Sam paced between the bed and bathroom. The baseboard heater kicked on. “I went to the assay office to confirm if you really cashed in the gold, and could never figure out why you only sold half of what I swiped. What did you do with the other half of the gold?”

Barb snored softly.

“I sold every ounce of gold that Joe gave me.” Fellows didn’t sound surprised. His voice had almost a playful tone.

Barb snorted and rolled over.

“I checked the records. It was almost exactly half. Are you saying you didn’t…” Sam moved the receiver to his other hand. “…Oh. Baxter. You reckon he kept half the gold?” Sam sat back on the bed.

Barb kicked the covers.

“I think old Joe got the last laugh on both of us,” Fellows boomed a bit too loudly. “Well, there’s a new mystery for ya, Chief. Good luck. Wonder where he stashed it? Somewhere on that little island, I’ll bet. I was hoping to buy the island and go have a look for myself.”

“You take that paperwork to a title company and you’ll be arrested on the spot,” Sam replied. “Anya owns that island.”

“Don’t expect to be hearing from me again. That is, unless I find out you went for that gold yourself.”

The line went dead.

Chapter 66

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

Hoonah, AK

2017—Marconi Franco

Marco was in the engine room changing the oil on Radio Flyer’s big diesel. He’d grabbed his phone to look up the sump capacity again when it rang in his hand.

The display showed it was Bill. Marco was busy, but he tapped the Answer button anyway.

“Hey, big news! You gotta get to Radioville.”

“What? I’m done with that whole Radioville thing, Bill.” Marco was still a little upset at Bill for talking to the reporter again. “Things turned nasty after you left. Someone even broke into the boat and stole Joe Baxter’s journals.”

“Really?” Bill continued unfazed. “Well, lucky I took photos of all the pages with my cell phone before I left. I’ve been working that code since I got back home and…I cracked it!”

“You did?” Marco put the cap on the used-oil jug.