“I understand, Captain. I don’t want to endanger this ship or crew further. I need to get my house in order. Are you going on to see about the treasure?”
“We’re going to try. I haven’t been this excited in years.”
“What if you don’t make it?”
“I don’t think it will matter at this point. If you see your Mia again, tell her for me that I know that she did nothing wrong. This is hers,” Waite said, handing Murphy the demon blade. “I would have liked to give it to her myself.”
“I’ll make sure she gets the message and the blade,” Murphy said. He withdrew the saber from his waist.
“What are you doing?” Waite asked. “I gave you that blade. You keep it. It may come in handy in your travels.”
“Thank you,” Murphy said and climbed down into the boat.
The crewman left him thirty yards offshore. It was close enough for Murphy to connect with his power source and far enough not to drain the crewman’s energy.
The moment Murphy touched the sandy shore of the island he was filled with energy. He turned and watched as the Devil’s Pride waited for their boat to return. Once it did, the captain signaled to Murphy before they turned and moved into the storm.
Murphy felt the pull of the vortex and headed in its direction. He was approached by a ghost of an old man with gnarled hands.
“Bad night for sailing.”
“Not if you have the best navigator in the GSD.”
“Aye. How long you been gone?” he asked.
“I don’t know. How long have you been sitting here?”
“Four hurricanes.”
“The light never came for you?” Murphy asked.
“Nah, it came and went. I’m happy here just staring at the sea.”
“Fine then, I won’t keep you from it,” Murphy said and stepped into the vortex.
~
Patrick pulled into the reserved slip and filled out the paperwork while the others prepared themselves to disembark. Ted had communicated with them and suggested that they meet in a new restaurant near the marina. He told Burt that Mia was having a hell of a time at the hotel trying to keep the atmosphere from harming her. She worried about Sabine’s and Mike’s stomach if they were to eat in an old historic eatery.
The restaurant had a large outdoor eating area and a view of the old fort up on the hill. As the sun set, the lights would illuminate the walls of Fort Mackinac.
Mason was waiting at the table when they arrived.
“Mia was running a little late. They’ll be here soon,” he said. “Sabine, you look lovely.”
Sabine’s lightly floral, knee-length dress flowed around her thin body. Her arms were bare, and she sported a light tan. She had arranged her hair in a long braid and pinned it up on the back of her head. She looked regal.
“Thank you. I’m surprised to see you with a jacket on.”
“They do that here, dress for dinner. I feel like I’ve fallen through time,” Mason admitted.
Mike looked around at the restaurant and motioned for the waiter. He gave him a drink order, including what he thought the absent Martins would like. It wasn’t long before they arrived.
Burt watched as Ted guided his beautiful wife through the tables. Mia’s smile was wide and welcoming as she greeted them. She wore a dress Burt had seen before, but it looked different tonight. Was it the long gold chain that emphasized the low neck of the moss-green gown or the absence of Mia’s regulatory army boots?
Mike watched the way that Mia clung to Ted’s arm as if she was walking through a pit of vipers. He only could imagine the horrors she was seeing or, more correctly, trying not to see. He leaned down. “Sabine, is there something between the Martins and us?”
“Just some French trappers. They’re active and commenting on Mia.”
“Mia’s not fond of French trappers,” Cid said, standing up.
Mia disengaged and flew around the table hugging each person. She stopped before Cid, drew his head down, and whispered, “He’s heading home. I felt him the minute he hit the beach.”
“Thank you for telling me,” he said stiffly.
Mike, who was standing next to them, was confused by Cid’s reaction to Mia. He stepped in and picked Mia up and kissed her right on the mouth.
Mia hit him on the arms until he let her go. “Honestly, you’re going to rile the French.”
Ted, who was across the table, shook his head. Part of him understood why Mike did that, but the other part knew that Mike enjoyed every minute of it.
“I hope the child behaved himself,” Patrick said, walking up for his hug. “Mia, what a lot of gold you’re wearing. Have you already found the treasure?”
“It was a gift, and I didn’t think it was safe to leave it in the hotel,” she said. “And Mason has been a big help, and damn, he’s a great guy.”
“Mason?”
“Yup. Now let’s sit down, I’m starved… wait… Kevin, catch Fergus before he hits that trapper… Too late. Folks, hang on to your drinks.”
Fergus flew across the table and landed at Mia’s feet.
She looked down and said, “I’ve missed you and your subtle ways.”
“He called you a strumpet,” Fergus said.
“I’ve been called worse. Ignore them.”
“Mia, I’m curious about why men always end up at your feet?” Sabine asked sweetly.
“Someone has to polish my shoes. Speaking of shoes,
