“According to this,” I said, “the bars should be on the other end of the lagoon. Near the eastern side.”
“Which is the opposite side from where Lynch’s thugs were searching,” Ange said.
“Were searching?” Scarlett said. “So, you two finished them off, then?”
Ange and I exchanged glances.
“Let’s just say they had an accident and their boats flipped,” I said.
The light went green and I turned onto Palmetto Street, heading home. We reached our driveway minutes later. I pulled up alongside Harper’s Bronco convertible and killed the engine.
Scarlett clicked herself free from her seat belt and leaned forward between the front seats.
“So?” she said. “We gonna go and find this gold or what?”
I pushed open the door and stepped out. Placing one hand on the roof, I glanced back at Scarlett.
“All right, I’m impressed,” I said. I picked up the folder and added, “This is great, Scar. You know how much I admire people taking the initiative. But two things: first, you’re going to call your teachers to apologize and get the coursework that you missed. And second, next time, call and ask us before you decide to pull a Ferris Bueller.”
Scarlett nodded, then giggled. “Who’s Ferris Bueller?”
I looked over at Ange, who just raised her hands and shook her head in disbelief.
“Okay, never mind, three things,” I clarified. “Third, we order pizza tonight and watch a movie.”
TWENTY-FIVE
We headed upstairs and met up with Harper, who looked much better than she had when we’d left. She looked relaxed, her eyes brighter and no longer ringed with dark circles. She was happy to learn of our progress against her uncle’s killers in the Upper Keys and thanked us again.
“The members of the Aryan Order aren’t quite all dead and buried yet,” Ange said. “But they’re definitely on the ropes.”
“You’re letting law enforcement take over from here?” Harper said, shooting us both incredulous gazes.
“They’re better equipped to track them down,” I said. “Especially since Jane said that they’re close to closing in on Lynch’s new residence. Once that hammer drops, it should be the final nail in the coffin.”
As we unloaded our stuff from the truck, we noticed that Harper had set up her laptop and notepads on the living room table.
“Sorry about the mess,” she said.
I waved her off. “It’s no problem. I just thought that you were taking some time off.”
“I am, technically,” she said. “But I’m writing up my uncle’s obituary for the next edition of the Keynoter. I want it to be good. He was a great man.”
Ange and I showered and changed into fresh clothes, then headed into the backyard to relax and play with Atticus for a few hours. The happy yellow Lab loved pretty much everything, but I think his favorite was playing fetch. He relished the opportunity to show off his running, catching, and retrieving skills, especially when there was an audience.
We ordered a stack of pies from Duetto Pizza and Gelato at half past seven. The boxes of round Italian masterpieces arrived just before Jack and Isaac showed up, and we all ate out on the back patio while watching the sunset over the channel. Everyone had a good time, just relaxing and enjoying the food and company. It felt good to be back among family and friends. Even though Ange and I had only been gone for barely over a day, it had felt a lot longer.
We told them all about our encounters with the Aryan Order. My freedive in Jones Lagoon, the altercation on the Baia, the scuffle at Teddy’s Marina, and eventually the wild late-night boat chase.
“That’s a new use for a towfish,” Jack said with a laugh. “We’ll have to contact the manufacturer and let them know to add that to the product’s sales page. ‘Not only a prospector’s dream, but this baby’s excellent for stopping bad guys in their tracks!’”
We all laughed, then Scarlett and Isaac told the others about their visit with Professor Ashwood. The look in Jack’s eyes told me that the idea of us going after the gold lit a fire within him. But I wasn’t thinking about the gold or Lynch. I was just looking to enjoy an evening with friends and regale each other with wild sea stories, both factual and fictional.
We finished off the pizza as the last remnants of the sun sank into the palm trees and water. We washed the food down with Paradise Sunset beers and lemonade, then spent another half hour on the porch before heading inside.
While we tidied up, Harper fell quiet, then approached Ange and me.
“If it’s all right with you both,” she said, “I’d like to stay here another night… I just… I just don’t want to be alone right now. Not yet.”
Ange stepped over and wrapped an arm around her.
“Stay as long as you want,” she said. “Our house is your house.”
“Jack, you’re welcome to stay as well,” I said as he popped open the fridge for another beer. “We’ve got a few air mattresses if you’re tired of the couch.”
“And we’re watching a classic movie that I apparently need to see,” Scarlett said. “Harris Mueller.”
Jack stared at her, confused.
“It’s Ferris Bueller, Scar,” I said.
Jack’s eyes widened like he’d just seen a ghost.
“You’ve never seen…” He was at a loss for words. First time for everything, I guess. After a few seconds, he found some. “All right, I’m staying. Pop in the disc. Time to show this kid what a real comedy looks like.”
I was eager for her to see it as well. It’s funny how watching someone else’s reactions to seeing a movie for the first time is nearly as
