“By the way, I found your cannon,” she said.
He shifted, wincing at the pain.“Where?”
“The Hamilton’s shed.I don’t know how they got it off the ocean floor, but it was sitting there right in the middle of the concrete.”
“I’ll need to arrange for it to be taken to Perth.”He reached for his phone.
“The museum knows.I called them earlier and they’re arranging transport in a couple of days.”She smiled.“You can focus on talking your students through the last of the expedition.”
“Thank you.”He settled back and tried to get comfortable.
They chatted about his parents on the journey out until Dot turned into a gravel driveway with a picture of an angry-looking ram on the gate.
“We’re here.”She pulled up at the quirky homestead where several utes were parked outside.His chest twinged as he shuffled out of the car.
A blue heeler gave a half-hearted woof from where he lay on the verandah but didn’t move to greet them.Oliver didn’t blame him.The sun had a real bite to it today and the heat enveloped him the second he got out of the car.
Inside the homely kitchen sat an extended family with a pot of tea and scones on the table.They all turned to look at him.Sam and Sherlock were there, as was Tess, but the others were strangers.Dot made the introductions.
Brandon and Darcy Stokes both had chocolate brown hair and tanned skin from working outside.Ed and Georgie, the other two siblings, had more light brown, almost blond hair.Then there were the partners; Amy, Faith, Tess and Matt, and with Sam and Sherlock were Penelope and Gretchen.
It would take him a little while to get everyone straight.
Two kids ran in, the girl calling, “Are we going to show him now?”
Darcy shushed her.“This is my daughter, Lara and Gretchen’s son, Jordan.”
Oliver smiled and shifted a little, his chest giving him some discomfort now he was standing.“It’s nice to meet you.”
“I’ve been making discreet enquiries about what to do, but we haven’t come up with a solution,” Dot said.“We’re hoping you might advise and get it somewhere safe.”
“You’re talking about the treasure?”he asked Dot, as his pulse increased.“It’s here?”
“You should see it for yourself.”Brandon stood.“Follow me.”
Dot nodded and he followed Brandon into the laundry.The linoleum floor had been rolled back, exposing a door in the wooden floor and Brandon lifted it, revealing a cellar.
“Is this where you push me down the stairs and lock me in?”Oliver joked.
Brandon smiled.“No, but I will help you down because bruised ribs hurt like a bitch.”
Oliver used the man’s broad shoulder as a crutch as he hobbled down the stairs.The small room had shelves on the walls and a small table, but it was the centre of the room which caught his breath.An old wooden travel chest, and surrounding it, several backpacks.“Holy shit.”He examined the chest.It showed no signs of having been underwater for any length of time.“Where was it?”
“In a cave near the gulf,” Brandon said.
Oliver frowned.“When did you find it?”
“A week ago.”
Surely someone had explored the cave before now.
“The storm surge uncovered it,” Lara said.
He glanced back to find half of the family had come into the room behind them.
“The cave was buried under sand,” Tess added.
That made more sense.He ran his fingers over the rough wood.“May I open it?”
