“There’s one thing I’m grateful for, Harlow,” Tuesday said, “and that’s you. You came here broken and discouraged, but look at you now.”
“Granny, where’s the deed to the rink?” Matt and Booker banged through the door like they were boys again. “Is it here or at home?” He started opening cupboards and cabinet, the filing drawers.
“What’s going on? Why do you want the deed?”
“Miss Tuesday,” Booker said in such an urgent breath, “the deed to the Starlight shows ownership.”
“We’ve been over this, Booker. While I’m the owner, the law gives Harry the right to take the land.”
“Yes, under the US Constitution. But not under Lauchtenland rule. The rink belongs to the Royal House of Blue. Not Sea Blue Beach.”
“Slow down, Booker.” She glanced from him to Matt. “Are you two friends again?”
“Turns out we were both to blame,” Matt said. “And I’ll regale you with that story after we save the Starlight. Granny, where’s the deed?”
“Miss Tuesday, if the rink and the land belong to the royal family, Harry can do nothing without their permission.”
Tuesday pushed away from her desk. “This is news to me, Booker. How do you know?” She could just burst seeing him teamed up with Matt like the old days. “Do they own all of Sea Blue Beach?”
“Grandpa Morris only talked about the Starlight.”
“God bless your grandpapa. That man was a wealth of Sea Blue knowledge.”
“Granny, we can reminisce later. Where’s the deed?”
“Matt, I don’t know.” She dropped down onto her chair. “The only one who did is buried in the English Channel.”
MATT
“Okay, humor me, Granny. Map out all the places Uncle LJ might have hidden the box.”
“I have no idea, Matty. He was hiding it from your grandpa. So, discount the Starlight or the house, even the barn.”
“We discount nothing.” He took a pen from the holder and pointed to the legal pad centered on her desk. “Sometimes hiding in plain sight is the best. What did he love to do, where did he hang out?”
“He loved to skate and fly. He spent all his free time watching the boys at Eglin and flying an old crop duster.”
“Let’s hope he didn’t hide it at the airbase. We’ll never get it back.”
“Or in an old crop duster.” Booker paced, thinking.
“I know this is a crazy idea,” Harlow said, “but what if wereach out to Lauchtenland and the House of Blue?” Matt loved his beautiful fiancée—for whom he had yet to buy a ring. He’d not found the right one.
“Great idea, babe, but how? Do you know anyone with connections?”
She winced. “Xander. He attended Princess Catherine’s twenty-first birthday party right after he dumped me. It was all over the news.”
“Then never mind. We’ll find what we need another way.”
“I’ll call him. I have one more guilt-trip point to spend.”
“That’s my girl.” He gave her a quick kiss, loving that he could do that any time he wanted. “Even if he agrees, we may not cut through the diplomatic red tape in time.”
“We have to try.” Booker leaned over Granny’s shoulder to read her list. “The back room, the barn, under your bed and back of the closet, the school, my grandparents house.”
Granny tore off the list and handed it to Book. “We have until morning. Harry assured me the wrecking ball crew would arrive first thing.”
While Harlow returned to manning the Starlight, Matt and Booker searched from the back room to concession just to be sure. Even gave the Wurlitzer the once-over.
