“We went to the beach and discovered one of Tess’s ancestors was on the Retribution,” Ed said.
Lara gaped at her. “Really! Which one? What was he like? Why was he there?”
Tess chuckled. “Her name was Da Lim. I’ve read one of her journals, but it was written after she returned to Singapore, and only alludes to her time in Australia. She came here to be a pearl diver.”
“We thought we’d go through the old chests to see if we can find more information,” Ed added.
Lara’s face lit up as if they’d told her it was Christmas. She clapped her hands. “Yes! Can we do it now?”
“Do you have any homework?” Faith asked her.
Lara waved her away. “It can wait. This is epic.”
Tess glanced at Faith, who pressed her lips together. Her parents would have made her do her homework first. Would she have to wait another couple of hours before they explored the trunks?
“Ple-e-ase,” Lara begged.
Ed put his hands together in a prayer, and Tess followed his lead. All three of them waited for Faith’s answer.
She laughed. “I don’t stand a chance. Go for it, but you’re not leaving me out.”
Tess grinned as Lara whooped and fist-bumped Ed.
“Let’s finish afternoon tea, so we don’t have to stop for a snack break,” Faith suggested.
Tess grabbed her scone and took a large bite. Next to her, Lara did the same, cream smearing all over her face. They glanced at each other and grinned.
Faith handed Lara a tissue as she spoke to Tess. “It’s amazing your ancestor was on the Retribution.”
Tess nodded. “All I knew was she worked out of Cossack, so maybe she was on the way there when the cyclone struck.”
“Or maybe she was hired to dive on a shipwreck,” Lara suggested, her eyes wide. “To bring up sunken treasure.”
Tess chuckled, but her pulse accelerated at the thought. She’d been obsessed by pirate tales as a kid, and Ed had the old coin. “Maybe.”
Soon they all stood in the craft room, surrounded by suitcases and trunks. “Which one first?” Faith asked.
Tess eyed the trunks, and Lara pointed to one of them. “That one.”
Lara braced herself before she lifted the lid.
It didn’t budge.
She frowned and tried again. Nothing. “It’s locked.”
There was a keyhole in the front. They all turned to Ed.
“Don’t look at me. I’ve got no idea. There might be something in Dad’s—Brandon’s office.” A burst of grief flashed over his face.
Tess squeezed his hand.
“Maybe in the cabinet,” Lara suggested, already charging out of the room.
They trailed after her, and Ed opened the cabinet full of old artefacts. Tess’s eyes widened. The pearl comb was exquisite, with an engraved pattern on its edge. Next to it stood two old green glass bottles and a brush. On the second shelf were two chunky metal keys. Ed grabbed them both, and they returned to the trunk, where Ed tried the first key. Nothing. Tess held her breath as the next key rotated in the lock.
Lara cheered, and Ed lifted the lid. The scent of mothballs wafted out.
Tess winced as Lara snatched the yellowed cloth on top and pulled it off, dumping it on the ground.
