Kathy Reichs - Seizure

I groaned, frustrated. But the boys were right.

Working quickly, we broke down the work site, keeping a close watch on the unconscious duo sprawled on the sand. In minutes we were packed and ready to go.

“We just leave them here?” Shelton asked. “They tried to kill us. Twice.”

“You have a better idea?” Ben grabbed the chest by one handle, motioned for Hi to take the other. “We can’t both escape with the loot and deal with police. I choose the treasure. Otherwise, what was the point?”

“Seconded,” Hi said.

“Agreed.” I shook my head to clear it. “We can plot our next move once we’re safe.”

“Okay.” With two semi-automatics tucked in his belt, Shelton looked quite the gangster.

“Ready?” Ben hoisted his end of the chest.

“Ready.” Hi lifted the other.

Shelton and I shouldered the remaining tools, buckets, and other equipment. With our flares still burning, we had strength to spare.

The boys started off down the beach.

I paused, concentrated hard, and fired one last message into the ether.

Thank you, brothers.

Moments later, canine voices yipped in the night.

BEN CUT THE motor.

Sewee bobbed in the current. We’d just rounded Isle of Palms and come alongside Sullivan’s Island. Ahead lay Charleston Harbor, Morris Island, and home.

Dawn was less than an hour away. The moon was setting, but still reflected off the ocean, lighting the night. With my flare extinguished, I was dog tired.

“Why are we stopped?” I suppressed a yawn.

“You can’t be serious.” Ben powered the lamp.

Shelton’s brows rose. “What are you, some kind of robot?”

“What?” I hadn’t a clue.

“Anne Bonny’s infamous, long-lost pirate treasure.” Hi touched his forehead, then his hand shot toward the chest. “Right there . Get it?”

“Time to open this puppy.” Shelton rubbed his palms. “After what we’ve been through, I wanna see some gold bars. Diamond rings!”

I started to protest, then stopped. Why not open it now? There was no real reason to wait, and the boys were clearly out of patience.

“First things first.” I pointed to the two handguns. “Over the side.”

“What?” Ben frowned. “Why?”

“Because we have to get rid of them.”

“The insane curators should be waking up about now,” Ben argued. “And we still don’t know who tailed us in the Studebaker. We need to protect ourselves.”

I crossed my arms. “What do you know about guns?”

“Plenty,” Ben said. “My father has a whole rack.”

“You willing to hide two semi-automatic pistols at your house?” I turned to Hi and Shelton. “How about you two? They aren’t coming home with me.”

“The guns could stay in the bunker,” Shelton said. “We could hide them in the back room near the old mineshaft.”

“We do not need guns.” I caught and held Shelton’s eye. “Are you really ready to shoot someone?”

He looked away.

“I’m with Tory,” Hi said. “I get nervous just talking about firearms. We’ve done fine so far without packing heat.”

“It’s not who we are,” I said. “We don’t need guns to protect ourselves.”

Ben sighed, then picked up both weapons and tossed them overboard.

“Now can we open it?” Hi wheedled.

I flashed a wicked grin. “Try to stop me!”

“Shoot!” Shelton shook a fist in frustration. “I didn’t bring my lock-pick set.”

Ben reached for the excavation tools. “Give me room.”

We spread out as best we could. Ben wedged a chisel against the padlock and began hammering. For five minutes the lock held. Then …

Clunk .

The hasp gave.

“I promise to still hang with you guys when I’m super loaded,” Hi said. “The swank life won’t change me. Much.”

“Open it open it open it!” Shelton squealed.

Ben moved aside. “We found it because of Tory. She has the honor.”

“Tory! Tory! Tory!” Hi and Shelton chanted in unison.

After executing a mock bow, I flipped open the latch and pushed back on the lid.

Ancient hinges creaked.

I peered into the trunk’s dark interior, the boys crowding close around me.

No one spoke.

No one moved.

We gaped, dumbstruck, eyes transfixed by the sight before us.

The chest was empty.

THE FULL MOON glowed like a spotlight, illuminating the lonely parking lot below.

Making the job that much easier.

Just one car was present, pulled close to a ramp adjoining an empty dock.

Above, eyes watched.

It was the deepest part of night, that dark period halfway between midnight and dawn.

A rough gravel road descended to the waterfront. On its shoulder, a second car idled, concealed from view.

A match flared inside the vehicle, ignited a tiny red circle. Smoke streamed outward, spread, then escaped in tendrils through a cracked window.

Suddenly, a soft buzzing carried over the water.

Finally .

Another pull. The circle flamed brighter. A diaphanous cloud swirled within the confined space.

Seconds ticked by. The buzzing deepened, grew louder.

A boat appeared in the blackness and slowly puttered to the pier. Aboard, two figures worked to tie up the vessel. They moved slowly, as though underwater or deeply fatigued.

The pair disembarked in silence and trudged up the ramp. Keys jingled. Headlights flashed on the car beside the ramp. A whop-whop disengaged the locks.

On the access-road shoulder, a car door opened.

The fiery circle tumbled through the air and landed in a shower of angry sparks.

Go time .

Boots crunched downward toward their target.

I SHOULD’VE JUST banged my head against a wall.

I’d have gotten the same results, only quicker, and with less pain.

“I’m done with this nonsense.” Shelton spread his hands in a wipe-away gesture. “D-O-N-E. Done! Put a fork in me.”

His dramatics startled Coop, who padded over to investigate.

Wednesday afternoon. Another bunker meeting, after another all-night adventure. And, once again, nothing to show for our efforts.

The only good luck I had working was Kit’s heavy sleeping.

“Calm down!” I said. “We shouldn’t rush into any—”

“This thing has gotten way out of hand,” Shelton blurted. “We almost got killed. Our powers went berserk. And there’s no treasure anyway! It’s time to throw in the towel.”

“You did it again, Tory,” Hi said quietly. “Telepathy. Forcing us to flare. And for Shelton and me, it was the second burn that night. Did you learn anything?”

“No.” My fist hit the table. “I don’t know how I do it. I tried to connect with you and Shelton when we first saw the wolves with Chance, but it wouldn’t work. Then later, at the dig site, the contact came easily.”

“Any theories?” Hi asked.

I shook my head. “I can’t explain how I reached you guys when the Fletchers showed up. I just did.”

“Terror?” Ben guessed. “Danger?”

“I was plenty nervous when the wolves circled us, believe me.”