Tess shrugged.“It was worth the look.The captain said he and his first mate hid the treasure one night on the island.With the first mate dead, only the captain knew where it was, and his journal doesn’t mention him telling anyone else.”
“So Reginald ended up shipwrecked on the same island as theAvontuur?”Oliver asked.How ironic.
Tess handed over the final document.“This is the official manifest of what was on board theAvontuur.”
Oliver’s mouth dropped open at the list of coins and jewels.This was the real treasure.He scanned the pages listing spices, valuables, clothing, and wood.His breath caught.If they could corroborate the wood remnants Suzyn had found, they might be on to something.“Brandon’s family had this journal for a hundred and fifty years and said nothing?”
The young woman shook her head.“They only just discovered it, along with their ancestor’s journal.”
She wasn’t telling him something.“Are they the ones who found the wreck?”
This time it was Dot who answered.“Yes.”
Which meant they’d had the journal for several months.“Was the treasure still there?”Perhaps that explained the rumours.
“No.They took nothing from the wreck.The woman who found it understood the importance of leaving it undisturbed.”Tess gave him a small smile.“She told me, because she knew I’m into history, and I’ve been researching it since then.”
Suzyn reached for the journal, having found a pair of white cotton gloves somewhere, and Oliver handed it to her.“This is incredible.”
“So, what happened to the treasure?”Andrew asked.
“TheRetributionsurvivors found it and there was a mutiny,” Dot said.“Those who weren’t killed split it amongst themselves.”
It was resignation rather than disappointment that filled Oliver.Wrecks had usually been plundered.It was a shame, but hardly surprising.
Whatever the case, Oliver wasn’t getting any sleep tonight.Not until he’d read everything Tess had brought him.“Can I get your number?”he asked Tess.“In case I have questions.”
She told him.“If you need a hand with further research, I’m happy to help.”
She had an eagerness he recognised from his own time as a student.“Why don’t you come out with us tomorrow?”
She smiled.“I’d love to.”
He gave her the details and walked them to the door, conscious he had said nothing meaningful to Dot.“I really appreciate you coming forward.”He glanced at Dot.“Thank you for bringing Tess here.”
Dot nodded but said nothing.They both turned to go.
He needed to focus on his job, but he couldn’t with the ghost of their relationship getting in the way.They needed to talk, just the two of them.
“Dot, wait!”Oliver bit his tongue as she glanced at him.What excuse could he use?“I, ah, wanted to discuss the security of the wreck with you.”He cursed his hesitation.He felt like an awkward teenager around her.“Are you free tomorrow afternoon?”
Her lips pressed together.She was going to say no.
“Please,” he added.“I could do with some advice and local knowledge.”
Dot stared at him for a moment before sighing.“Call me when you get back to shore.I can’t guarantee I’ll be free.”
The rush of relief reaffirmed he needed to clear the air with her.“Thank you.”
The two women got into the car.He waited at the door until they drove away, then rubbed his chest.Tomorrow.
All he had to do was wait until tomorrow and he’d get the answers he needed to put their relationship behind him and move on.
A little voice in his head taunted him as a liar, but he ignored it and instead went inside to discover what other treasures the journal held.
***
Dot tugged her hair as she drove away from Georgie’s place after dropping Tess there.It had been another day of small issues; a vehicle crash—minor with no one hurt, alleged shoplifting from Brown’s newsagency, some drunk and disorderly at the brewery at lunch time, and an ex-boyfriend who was getting aggressive with the girl who had dumped him.Everything came with just enough paperwork to keep her busy until it was time to finish for the day and she hadn’t reviewed the notes she’d taken at the Ridge the night before.
