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I didn’t watch TV since I’d spent the entirety of my adult life homeless, and even when I was in the orphanage, we didn’t have the freedom to watch whatever we wanted. I mused at the suggestion, reckoning it could have been possible I’d seen some show in passing with her in it. Shrugging, still unconvinced but willing to move past the question at hand, I added, “I don’t watch TV, but perhaps.” A knot in my stomach wrenched, reminding me I was wasting precious time. I wanted to come off as professional, so I didn’t rush my offer when I changed the subject back. “I ah, might be able to help you take your boat out.”
“You think so?” Her eyes brightened as they continued to hold mine. “There’s a storm, but I looked at the radar. If we left now, we could sail around it and wait it out at sea.”
Not wanting to seem too eager and make her suspicious, I started to coin a helpful-but-hesitant reply, but a flutter of light at the end of the dock stole my attention. Shadows were moving fast, and my senses told me the thugs were running this way. I couldn’t take my chances standing here, playing a game. I pinned on a gracious smile. “Well, I can certainly try.” I motioned to the row of boats. “Why don’t we board your boat, so I can take a look?”
“Um, yes.” Her eyes glittered back at me now. “I need to check your references.” Instead of walking forward, her feet cemented to the planks, making my heart ramp up because I could see the shadows drawing nearer.
In a panic, I took a step closer to the water’s edge, urging her along. “We don’t have time for references. We need to move because the storm is coming in fast, and we don’t want to get washed away.”
Not budging even an inch, she stayed fixed on me. “It seems a little odd you are out here with nothing to do. It doesn’t interfere with your schedule to do this?”
“My schedule?” A scowl started to cross my face before I remembered I was playing a role. “Ah, yes, I have a few days off before um, my next voyage and so, I um, can fit you in.” Her gaze turned skeptical, and I feared she was going to pass on my offer. To make the situation creditable, I threw out a number to her in offer. “My normal rate is two thousand.”
“Oh, yes of course.” Her lips took a curious angle, like she was going to inquire further. By now I heard the footsteps pounding like galloping horses coming right for us.
I didn’t have time for an interview!
“Look!” I blurted out. “If you want to hire me, we gotta leave before they close the docks because it’s going to get gnarly. Normally, I’d give you a list of references, and we’d sign a contract, but I don’t think we have time with this weather.”
Her head startled back, and she was quiet for a moment—way too long. I held my breath, dying a little each second, as I wished I hadn’t been so curt. She swiped away the last of her tears with her sleeve, and eagerly breezed out, “Well, why don’t I give you a tour of my boat and we can chat a little about the job.” Turning on her heel, leading me further down the dock to a large yacht, she hitched her hands to the ladder and climbed it.
I skittered up behind her. When my feet landed on the deck, my stomach dropped what felt like a foot, in sheer relief. Gulping down the fear that had bubbled into my throat, I didn’t think it was a good idea to tell her I’d never actually piloted a boat this big. I mean, I was sure it was a minor detail she didn’t need to know, and it would be like riding a bike.
She headed to starboard, calling back, “Follow me. I’ll show you to the wheelhouse.”
Thankful to have a place to hide out, I followed her inside, adopting my best captain’s gait and elevated chin. “Yes, I'm going to need to make sure it’s suitable.” My eyes traced the two throttles and buttons, and high-tech computer screens and my brain started to immediately swell. I was clearly going to have to Google some stuff. “Looks great.” I shot her a toothy grin, not at all as reassuring as I had hoped. Then rushed to add, “As an added safety precaution, why don’t you find a life jacket because these seas are rocky. I’d feel better if you wore one, at least until we got out of the bay,” I tried to sound as professional and cautious as I could, while still praying in my head I was convincing her.
“Yes, I can find a life jacket.” Her smile held a hesitation before she added, “If you’re sure you’re up to this trip, I’ll head back and untie us, so we can get going.”
Excitement flooded my veins when I realized that was a job offer. Not just any job offer, but one that would find me some treasure. I fought to keep my smile tame when I said, “I’ll set about pulling in the anchor and we should be fine. You have nothing to worry about.”
“I need to change my clothes, and I’ll be back to see if you need anything.” As she left, I was relieved of the pressure of running from the thugs, but now had a new pressure—one that had everything to do with not getting us killed.
Letting out a slow breath, I located the choke, pushing it down, and turned the key. Sweet mama, it worked! The engine roared to life, and she purred like a kitten. “I’m going to do this.” I chanted to myself as I adjusted my settings. “I’m going to escape those thugs and get this treasure.” Pulling the sealed plastic bag from my satchel, I retrieved the treasure map. Still dry and preserved, I rolled it out, trying to pin it flat as I found my coordinates and set the GPS. A laugh rolled out of my mouth, one that was joyful and mischievous. “This is too easy.”
I slowly pulled away from the dock, holding my breath as I steered out to sea. Once I passed the rest of the boats, I let out a sigh of relief and pinned a smirk on my face as I ramped up my speed. Rubbing my hands in glee, I looked back at the map, studying it.
I had taken my gondola out a few days earlier, trying to find the island where the treasure markings were. Even though I had easily found my way, I suspected the map’s scale had to be off. I had these waters memorized and I didn’t recall ever seeing an island the shape of a diamond anywhere near here. According to the map, the island was right to the west of the bay, but there was nothing but open sea there. I was hoping I only needed to travel out a little further. It was an odd map with everything perfectly plotted exactly as the sea laid it out, except for that stupid island.
There were also weird markings on the map, one which looked like half of a gold heart attached to a figure eight with writing below it:
True treasure can only be found by two souls fated for eternity.
Shaking my head, partly in disgust because I was never good with riddles, I cringed through the clue before sliding my gaze back to the water. It was dark, but I could see the waves were white capped, bouncing this yacht all over the bay. I checked the radar again, making sure we were set, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw Evie coming back. I quickly stashed the map back into the plastic bag, zipped it as fast as I could, and shoved it into my satchel. My eyes were locked on hers when she approached and I found my captain’s persona and saluted.
Chapter Two
Evie
Holding back my sorrow, I forced a queasy smile when I passed through the door and clung to the wall for balance. I was born with sea legs, but these waters were so turbulent it made the bottom of my stomach quiver. “Boy,” I pushed a calm tone. “Are you sure it’s safe to be out?”
“Yes, it’s safe.” He waved his hand in a dismissive way. “The waves are being funneled right into the bay and don’t have room to spread out, but once we get out of here, we can head west, and everything will smooth out.”
I looked past him, pretending to scan the sea, hoping he wouldn’t see my heartbreak on my face. With no idea how it got this bad, my life had clearly turned into one big disaster. Despite working my life away from the time I was a young child, going to every audition my parents dragged me to, and putting on all the smiles they asked of me, it wasn’t enough. It was never enough. They always had a critique for me and pushed me even harder. I went along with it, because all I wanted was to feel loved by them, and I had convinced myself that eventually I’d make them proud.
Never in a million years would I have wanted to steal my sister’s thunder on her wedding day. No matter how I tried to explain it to them, they would take her side. After all the years of performing for my parents, I had finally given up. There was no point. I would never make them proud. Now I was left with the haunting thoughts of having wasted my life trying to please people who couldn’t be pleased. It was time I did something for me. I was starting over by leaving the city forever.
It was dark out, I couldn’t see much other than the waves crashing into the front of the boat, and a few distant lights behind us now. Then I had an odd thought, in my moment of anguish, I had overlooked some details. “So,” I cleared my throat, and continued, “I never mentioned where I wanted to go. I’m a bit curious where you’re headed.”
