That was how they’d all rationalized it when Jace came to them with the plan and begging for their help. They’d leave plenty for the salvors who’d found the loot.Morethan enough.
Jace dragged a hand down his thick beard. “So what do we do now?”
“Let’s find the ship first and see what we see.” Will gave a decisive jerk of his chin. “Thenwe can decide what comes next, ayuh?”
“Ayuh,” all three of his buddies answered.
It didn’t take them long to locate theWayfarer II.Most of the vessels anchored in the marina were small fishing boats or pleasure cruisers. The big salvage ship reminded Will of that oldSesame Streetsong.One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn’t belong.
Adrenaline made his scalp prickle as they slowly made their way down the long pier. The ship’s upper hull gleamed a shiny gray in the marina’s lights. Her waterline and lower hull were painted a deep, almost blood red. And when the ship’s bell rang without the aid of human hands—a bad omen according to pirate superstition—Will ignored the hairs that lifted on the back of his neck.
“She looks deserted,” Brady muttered.
Will checked all the windows but couldn’t find any sign to make him disagree. Not a single lightbulb burned in the pilot house or lower, in the crew’s quarters, galley, or engine room.
“They wouldn’t leave all that treasure unattended, would they?” Fin whispered.
“They might if they didn’t think anyone would come lookin’ for it,” Jace countered. “Remember, no one outside their little operation but us and Bernie knows they’ve actuallylocatedthe treasure.”
Bernie Lutz was a fuckup of epic proportions. The dumbest of all Jace’s dumbass cousins. Atruemanifestation of a dink—which was the term Mainers used in place ofloser. But Bernie had certainly come through with this score.
“So what d’ya wanna do?” Brady looked at Will expectantly.
Will was the oldest of the bunch, having been born a whole seven months earlier than Jace, the youngest of them. Which, in the uncomplicated way of children, meant Will had naturally been assigned the role of leader. And he’d maintained that title in all the years since.
“Let’s make sure no one’s home first,” he said.
Brady, always one to jump the gun, cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, “Ahoy the ship!”
“Jeezum crow, Brady!” Will hissed. “That’s not what I meant, and I—”
“Aroooohhh!” A loud bark sounded from the deck and had them all craning their heads up to see the flat, wrinkled face of a disgruntled bulldog. To add to the shock of the moment, the dog’s bark was followed by the crow of a rooster. A brightly feathered fowl alighted on the top rung of the deck railing next to the dog.
Apparently,Wayfarer IIhad modeled itself after Noah’s Ark.
What’s next?Will thought.A pig? A goat? An elephant?
“They disembarked about forty-five minutes ago,” a low, tired-sounding voice called from behind them.
As a group, Will and his friends turned to the slip next to theWayfarer II.A sixty-something guy stood on the deck of the mid-sized sloop anchored there. He had on slippers and a silk robe that was tied loosely around his waist. Gave off a real Hugh Hefner vibe. “You friends of theirs?” he asked.
“Ayuh.” Will was quick to answer. “Heard they’d just pulled into port. We were hopin’ to say hello.”
Hugh Hefner’s twin cocked his head. “You boys are a long way from home. Hail from New England do you? Maine? Massachusetts? I spent a fair amount of time anchored in North Haven three years ago.”
Will’s smile was tight. He didn’t like the thought of standing out in anyone’s mind. He was careful to answer without really answering. “What gave us away? The accent or the Bean boots?”
“Probably both.” The man hitched his chin toward the island and added, “Try the Harbor Inn. I overheard the ladies say that’s where they’re staying for the next couple days.”
“Thanks.” Will bobbed his head, hoping he looked convivial.Nothin’ untoward here, bub. Appreciate your help and please tie one on tonight so you forget you ever saw us.“We’ll try to catch ’em there.”
The man waved a hand and then disappeared through the sailboat’s cabin door. Will didn’t realize he’d stopped breathing until the sound of the door locking tightly into its frame had him blowing out a blustery breath.
“What now?” Brady whispered from the side of his mouth.
“Now we amble on down the dock a piece like we’re headin’ to that hotel,” Will said quietly. “Once that old fart is asleep, we come back, board that ship, and take what we came to take.”
“Think it’ll be that easy?” Fin asked.
