Page 398 of The Romance Adventure

“Jerkovic,” CJ mutters.

I shift uncomfortably because he unknowingly answered correctly.

“Chip and Glandman’s old business partner?” Lally asks.

“So, they were all searching for the treasure,” Harley adds.

“What do we know about this guy? Let’s find him. Question him.” Ryan sets his jaw.

“No,” CJ and I say at the same time.

My husband eyes me in much the same way I would when filing away something notable for later.

I have files on Jerkovic that could practically fill this room. Instead, I simply say, “He’s a bad man.”

“Could he still be looking for the treasure?” Royal asks.

Against every bit of my training, I tell the truth. “Yes.”

All eyes land on me.

Magnus asks, “Was he a bad man like Glandman or is he a bad man as in he’d have eliminated Chip from contending for the treasure?”

“Do you mean like murder?” Isla’s voice trembles slightly.

I nod gravely because the guy has a high kill count.

“Did Jerkovic murder our grandfather?” Ryan asks.

My mind spins back to the hallway at the estate, moments after I pinched the map. I take a deep breath. “No, I don’t believe he did, however, he is capable of things like that.”

Ryan swallows thickly. “Could he have killed Mom and Dad?”

Neither CJ nor I answer, but I know what it would be. I hope not.

The crease between Ryan’s eyes deepens. “Why would Chip know someone like that?”

“CJ did say that Chip was involved in some crimes,” Harley says.

“What crimes?” Royal asks.

“I don’t know exactly,” CJ says.

“But you know crimes were committed,” Magnus states as if for the record.

CJ shrugs. “Minor ones. Pirate-type stuff.”

“I thought Chip was against pirates,” Isla says.

“He was, but if you’re going to play a game where your opponent doesn’t follow the rules or any rules, for that matter, sometimes you have to do the same,” CJ answers.

“How can you prove that?” Royal asks.

“I can’t.” CJ sighs the words.

“We could talk to the Pirate Defense League,” Lally says.

Harley taps the air. “Hang on, they said they used to be an army of thirteen. Who could they have meant?”