Mercedes eased the bottom drawer shut and stood. “That was a bust. You got anything?”
“Yeah. It looks like the Mystic Dream business files are in this drawer.” Autumn shined the flashlight onto the desk as she scanned the top file. “This looks like employee files. There are a bunch of names and dates. Probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a picture of this.” She pulled her cell phone from her jacket pocket, switched it on and snapped a picture.
“There’s another sheet, too. Wow! It looks like Lawson has gone through a bunch of employees in the last several months. He must be a real jerk.” Autumn snapped another picture and then closed the file before placing it back inside the drawer.
While Autumn continued her search, Mercedes tiptoed to the other side of the room to a set of bookcases. “I see several interesting books about Savannah’s history. I would love to check some of these out at the library.”
Mercedes finished scanning the bookshelf before making her way along the perimeter of the compact office, past a porthole, a small coffee station and finally an empty coat rack.
Nearby, a large ship wheel clock ticked loudly, a reminder they needed to move fast.
“I’m almost done,” Autumn muttered.
“I’ll check the files on top of Lawson’s desk.” Mercedes sifted through the folders including menu planners, kitchen food inventory and a profit and loss statement. She paused when she reached a folder containing bank statements.
“Jackpot!”
“You found something?” Autumn dropped the folder she was holding.
“Well, for Ma I did. This is a copy of the Mystic Dream’s profit and loss statement, menu planners and food inventory. These might come in handy for Ravello.” Mercedes whipped her phone out of her jacket pocket and began snapping pictures.
“I’m done. If there are clues here, I’m missing something.” Autumn shoved the file folder in the drawer and pushed it shut. “What’s behind door number one?” She pointed to a wooden door not far from the hall door.
Mercedes joined her friend. “You first.”
“Uh-uh.” Autumn stepped to the side and motioned to Mercedes. “You first. I insist.”
Mercedes twisted the knob and gingerly opened the door. She tightened her grip on her flashlight as she peered around the corner. Inside the small room was a toilet and pedestal sink. It reeked of mildew mingled with urine. “Gross.”
She clamped her hand over her mouth and quickly scanned the room before slamming the door shut. “It’s a nasty bathroom.”
“Shhh.” Autumn pressed her finger to her lips. “You’re going to wake the dead.”
“Did you hear that?” Mercedes lowered her voice.
“What?”
“That.” The faint sound of wailing sirens grew louder. “We need to get out of here.”
Mercedes followed Autumn into the hall, pulling the door shut behind her. “Lead the way.”
With a quick glance behind her, Mercedes followed her friend up the steps. She was almost to the top when her foot slipped. She reached for the railing, but it was too late.
Mercedes teetered for a moment before falling backwards and tumbling down the steps.
Chapter 13
“Oh my gosh!” Autumn raced down the steps and dropped to her knees. “Mercedes, are you okay?”
“I…think so.” Mercedes pushed herself to a sitting position and rubbed the back of her head. “Klutzy me missed a step.”
Autumn helped her friend to her feet. “I probably dripped water on the steps and you slipped on it.”
The women carefully made their way back up the steps.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Autumn fretted.
“I’m fine.” Mercedes stepped onto the open deck where a droplet of rain splashed her cheek. A low rumble of thunder followed. “We better get out of here before a storm lets loose and Pete can’t come back for us.”
The women stayed low as they made their way to the rope ladder.
“I’ll signal Pete.” Autumn placed her fingers in her mouth and belted out two sharp whistles.
“I think I see him.” Mercedes pointed to a shadow near the stern of the ship.
“I’ll go first.” Autumn scampered down the ladder, just as Pete and the small boat eased alongside the Mystic Dream.
Once Autumn was safely on board, Mercedes began to back down the ladder. She was eye level with the deck when a movement near the steps caught her eye. She could’ve sworn she saw someone dart to the other side.
She paused for a moment to see if she could spot the person again and then mentally shook her head, certain her eyes were playing tricks on her.
When she reached the bottom of the ladder, she hopped off the last rung and landed lightly in the bottom of the boat.
A flash of lightning lit the sky, followed by another rumble of thunder, this one closer than the last.
“Hang on, ladies. We gotta get a move on if we want to beat the storm.” Pirate Pete hit the gas and the small fishing boat skimmed over the open water.
The light mist turned into a steady shower. By the time they reached Pirate Pete’s ship, the skies were lit up like the Fourth of July.
Pete tossed the rope to Carlita, who was standing near the water’s edge waiting for them. She quickly secured the small boat and then helped her daughter and Autumn make their way onto the dock. Pete was the last to join them and they raced down the sidewalk.
The pirate ship gangway was open. They darted inside, seconds before the skies opened up and sheets of rain pelted the sidewalk.
“That was a close one.” Pete and the women stepped away from the gangway. “I was beginning to think I would have to leave you girls on the riverboat until the storm passed.”
“Well?” Carlita asked. “Did you find anything in Lawson’s office?”
“Sure did,” Mercedes said. “I found Mystic
