“Just the person I was looking for,” Remi said.
The barista left them and headed back to her counter.
“It’s nice she brings us coffee, and we don’t have to stand around and wait for it.”
“I’m pretty sure she called your name.” Remi chuckled.
“Oh, wow. Well, this won’t let me go. Who took it?”
Remi flicked her gaze to the picture. “The photographer chose to remain anonymous for a reason.”
“I’d really like to talk to the photographer. If you know this person, maybe you can pass my information to them.”
“We’ll see. Why don’t we head to my office, and we can talk about that interview.”
Inside Remi’s office, Cressida sat on the sofa, and Remi sat in a side chair. This had the feel of two old friends drinking coffee and catching up. Remi was obviously well-suited to her job in hospitality. Cressida shared the details about her father and why she wanted to finish his book.
“And theSpecter’s Bountyis the last boat to be included in the book. I have so much information on everything else but not nearly as much on the boat depicted in that photograph on your wall. I’d love to know more. Anything at all you or anyone else can tell me? Something I can’t find in a museum? I understand fishermen and sailors can be superstitious, so there must be some talk around the Hidden Bay area about theSpecter’s Bounty.” She kept to herself that she hadn’t been to the local museum yet. But one thing at a time.
Remi sipped her coffee and stared at Cressida over the rim, possibly giving herself a moment to digest everything Cressida had said.
Cressida continued. “So you can understand why I’d want to speak to this photographer. I’m here to talk to everyone and immerse myself in the area, the Hidden Bay culture. And then, voilà, I find a photograph—an actual photo someone took—at this lodge. I’d say that’s fortuitous.”
“Fortuitous?” Remi’s laugh sounded warm and friendly. Good-natured.
“Yeah, I kind of slip into my father’s way of writing and thinking at times. That’s a word he loved. I want to keep his voice as I continue with the book.”
“Ah.” Remi nodded, then said, “To be honest, the photographer has no issue with sharing her name now, but in the past, sure. I didn’t want anything to draw attention to myself.”
Cressida stared. “Youtook the picture?”
“I did.”
“I’m impressed. You’re quite accomplished with running a lodge like this and taking such exceptional photographs. With that kind of patience and talent, you could work for—I don’t know—National Geographic.” Cressida could potentially reach out to her contacts in her world ... except that wouldn’t do anyone any good. She was now well-removed. Besides, she knew nothing at all about Remi. The woman could very well have been working for a magazine as prestigious asNational Geographicbefore she came to Hidden Bay. She’d mentioned that in the past she wanted to hide. Interesting.
Cressida set the coffee mug on the side table and opened her notebook. “Do you have time to talk about your photographs now?”
“What’s there to say?”
“What about theSpecter’s Bounty? When did you take that shot? I’d love to hear the circumstances. Did you know what you were looking at when you took the picture? I guess I need to schedule a longer interview with you.”
Remi smiled. “I think that’s a good idea. For now, let’s stick to the reason you want to speak to Evelyn Monroe. You’re here about theSpecter’s Bounty, so why the interest in Mrs. Monroe?”
“You sound like her gatekeeper, Madeline.” Cressida wanted to keep things light and friendly. She leaned forward and held Remi’s gaze. “I want to talk to her because my father had her name in his sparse notes of the vessel. He had one question—““Does Evelyn Monroe know?” No other notes. She got the sense it was all tacked on to his otherwise well-organized plans.
“What? You think she has a connection to the ghost ship?”
Cressida lifted a shoulder. “That’s what I hope to find out.”
Remi pushed to stand. “She’s eccentric and keeps to herself for the most part, but she’s generous beyond imagination. I’d love to know more about her story as well. Honestly, this might be harder than I thought.”
Remi pursed her lips and paced. She was overthinking, and this could be bad for Cressida.
“Listen, don’t worry about it,” Cressida said. “I spent years in investigative journalism, and I can find another way to talk to her.”
“No, no you won’t. She’s an enigma, and she rarely leaves her house. I just didn’t realize there might be a possible connection between her and theSpecter’s Bounty, and now you have me intrigued.”
“Weren’t you curious at all about it before? After all, you took the photograph.”
