“Perhaps Moreau’s contact is Dubois? Who else would want her specifically? The boy said the man he heard said he knew someone who had been looking for her for a long time.” Winters said.
“Yes, that’s true.” Jack nodded his head in agreement.
Gabrielle came rushing through the door. “Jack, Vivian’s gone missing!”
“Yes, she was kidnapped from the stables not an hour ago,” Jack replied.
Gabrielle looked confused. “Kidnapped? I was up in Vivian’s room looking for a book, and I found this sitting on her dresser. If I hadn’t gone up about the book, I wouldn’t have even thought twice about her whereabouts. I assumed she was with you.” She handed Jack a piece of foolscap.
Jack looked down at the tightly scrawled writing, he read it out loud. “If you want to see Miss Jamieson again, bring the map to the Royal Arms Tavern in Portsmouth tomorrow night. What map?”
“I have no idea,” Gabrielle replied.
“I know what map they want.” A deep voice came from across the room by the door.
Chapter Thirty-One
“Captain Jamieson?” Jack’s shock at seeing the missing captain turned rapidly to anger. His temper exploded. “Of course you do. This all has to do with you, doesn’t it?” He threw the note down and crossed the room. “What map?” he bit out.
Robert Jamieson sighed. He put one hand on Jack’s shoulder. “A map to my treasure stores, of course.”
Gabrielle launched herself across the room, pushing past Jack to fling herself into Jamieson’s arms. The captain embraced her tightly. “Ah, girl, I’m so sorry.” He looked up at Jack. “This is exactly what I was afraid of happening. This is why I sent her here to England with you.” He hung his head down in defeat.
“Sit down,” Jack said, most of his anger draining out as quickly as it had flared. “Why don’t you start with where the hell you have been? Vivian has been worried sick about you these many months.”
“When I wrote you, we were headed to Le Havre to catch up with Dubois. He met with General Napoleon in Paris. You know he is not only in the slave business anymore. Word is he is funneling secrets for Napoleon. Napoleon is looking to make a big move politically. He has promised Dubois a position in his cabinet in return for his help.
“The plan was to surprise him on his way upriver, but he was faster than we anticipated. He and his men ambushed us one night in a tavern right there on the docks in Le Havre. The brawl spilled out onto the street and caught the attention of the authorities. I don’t know how Dubois managed it, but he got me and my crew imprisoned for inciting a riot and conspiring against the government.” He snorted loudly. “I have spent the past six months in a stinking hole of a jail cell in France. We were finally released two weeks ago.
“I had false news of my death in prison delivered to Dubois, care of a certain artifact dealer I know. I hoped with Dubois thinking I was dead, he would lower his guard and I would be able to sneak up on him.”
“All right, that explains where you’ve been, but what’s this about a map?” Jack asked impatiently.
“The map, yes. I had the map drawn up to show Vivian where to access my treasure stores. I hid it in the secret compartment of her trunk. If I should die, my will explains where the map is hidden.”
“Why hide your money? Why a treasure map? Couldn’t you use a bank like the rest of the civilized world?” Andrew interjected.
“Well, boy, it’s like this—most of the assets are not cash…more in the way of jewels and artifacts and such.”
Jack shook his head tersely at his brother. “Who else knew about the map?”
“Just the solicitor. Collins is his name. But how would Dubois even know Vivian was here in London?”
“I don’t know. I do know he’s been docked in London for the past several weeks. If he is here in England, then he could have been passed info about her whereabouts. In fact, did you say Dubois is dealing in espionage now?”
Jamieson nodded.
Jack caught Winters’ eye. “Moreau.”
“What does Moreau have to do with espionage? Or this character Dubois?” Andrew asked.
Jack looked over at Winters, silently asking his consent. If they were going to find Vivian, everyone must understand the situation. Winters gave him a small nod.
“I have in the past done some work for the Foreign Office in the way of ferrying information and sometimes extracting agents from difficult situations.”
“You are a spy?” Andrew asked with disbelief.
Jack nodded. “Not all the time, but when called on I can step in to help. Moreau is my current assignment. I was told to watch him and find out who was passing him sensitive government information. Vivian and I found out who it was and retrieved the information before Moreau could pass it on.”
