Chapter 15
Fifteen
Seth was bolting down the drive the moment he spotted Velma, reaching Flick just as that man swung from the saddle and lifted Velma down beside him.
One glance at Velma’s tear-stained face sent alarm bells clanging off in Seth’s mind as he took a step closer to her. “Where’s Norma Jean?”
Instead of answering, Velma buried her face in her hands and began sobbing.
“She’s been doing that ever since I found her sitting on a bench at the train station,” Flick said, giving Velma an awkward pat on the back, which only made her sob harder, until Annaliese stepped forward and drew the girl into her arms, not saying a word as Velma took to hiccupping as she kept her head firmly buried in Annaliese’s shoulder.
“You found her at the train station?” Seth repeated.
Flick nodded. “The fair’s heading south for the winter, and everyone takes a train to get there.
I’ve parted company with the fair because people have gotten chilly toward me ever since I didn’t help Paulie with what Marvel the Magician told everyone would have been a substantial windfall.
” He shook his head. “Everyone seemed to believe Paulie would have shared that windfall, even though I know if he had been successful with extracting funds from you, he would have taken the money and run.”
Seth’s stomach clenched. “Please tell me that you’re not going to disclose that Paulie got his hands on my sister.”
“I haven’t seen Paulie since he ran off after that grenade exploded,” Flick admitted.
“That’s why I helped myself to his horse, which he stole about a month ago, knowing he’s probably already stolen another one.
” He gave his horse a pat. “Me and Fleet, that’s what I named this darling, are going to head south as well so I can look for work, but we moseyed on over to the train station so I could say goodbye to a few folks I’m going to miss, specifically Miranda, the mermaid lady. ”
“And you saw Velma once you got to the train station?” Annaliese asked.
“Yep,” Flick said. “I wasn’t able to say goodbye to Miranda though, because I got the train schedule wrong—not being able to read real good and all.
But it turned out to be a fortunate thing because I spotted Velma on my way out of the train station and recognized her.
” He shook his head. “I thought it was odd she’d be by herself after what happened at the fair and decided to check on her.
“It didn’t take much prodding to find out what was wrong because, after I said hello, she blurted out the entire story—something that revolved around a diversion plan, then a mad dash to the train station, where her friend, Norma Jean, got them tickets out of town.
” Flick gave his ear a tug. “Velma evidently got cold feet and told Norma Jean she couldn’t go off on some adventure because that would earn her a year’s worth of cleaning out retiring rooms once they got caught.
“Norma Jean then got mad and told Velma she was going with or without her, at which point Velma told Norma Jean she couldn’t go traipsing off without a chaperone, which could ruin Norma Jean’s reputation.
” Flick’s eyes clouded with what seemed to be a trace of bewilderment.
“I was a little unclear how their reputations would have remained intact if two young girls ran away together without a chaperone, but when I asked that, Velma didn’t answer because she’d taken to weeping again. ”
“Their reputations would have certainly suffered if word got out they made it out of town without a chaperone,” Annaliese said.
“Then I guess it’s a good thing that Norma Jean hired herself one—that being Miranda, the mermaid lady I was going to say goodbye to,” Flick said.
Seth’s brows drew together. “How in the world did Norma Jean end up with the mermaid lady as her chaperone?”
“That took me by surprise as well,” Flick admitted.
“From what I gather, Norma Jean struck up a conversation with Miranda while she was in line waiting to purchase train tickets. Miranda’s a real friendly sort, which I think Norma Jean can be as well, so I’m sure they got to gabbing like long-lost friends a minute after saying hello to each other.
Once Velma got cold feet, Norma Jean brought Miranda back to prove to Velma she wouldn’t be on her own, saying that Miranda had been tickled to accept a chaperoning position because she’d gotten tired of people jeering at her when she was wearing her fin.
Miranda had apparently been thinking about leaving the fair for a long time, so this was an opportunity I’m sure she didn’t want to pass up.
After that, I think Norma Jean gave Velma some money to hire a hack to get herself home, then off she went with her newly hired chaperone. ”
“I’m not certain this Miranda is exactly qualified to assume chaperoning duties but having her with Norma Jean will save Norma Jean’s reputation, at least to a certain extent,” Annaliese said before she stepped back from Velma and lifted the girl’s chin, revealing eyes that were still shimmering with tears.
“You need to tell us where you and Norma Jean were heading.”
“Norma Jean made me swear that I wouldn’t tell anyone,” Velma said as she wiped a runny nose on her sleeve.
Annaliese’s expression went from sympathetic to I-mean-business before Velma could finish wiping her nose. “You’re going to tell me right now, no matter what Norma Jean made you swear to.”
“She’ll be awfully cross with me if I squeal.”
“Too bad. Where is she heading?”
Velma’s lips quivered. “Florida, but I don’t know what part.”
Annaliese blew out a breath right as Louisa, who’d been standing a few feet away from them, took that moment to step forward, drawing Velma’s attention.
“Mrs. McCormick,” Velma all but whispered, her eyes going wide. “You weren’t supposed to be around until classes let out for the day.”
Louisa smiled a far-too-knowing smile. “I decided to come early, although I’m sure you’re upset about that since you were probably counting on having some extra time to practice whatever story Norma Jean told you to tell me before the two of you parted ways.”
“How did you know that?” Velma asked.
“I’m a mother, dear. We know things, which means you should simply confess to everything to save all of us some time.”
Velma’s shoulders sagged more than a touch. “Norma Jean told me to tell everyone she’s off to join the circus.”
“Of course she did, but she’s really off to . . . ?”
“Find treasure,” Velma admitted before she suddenly snapped her mouth shut, lending the impression she hadn’t meant to let that slip out.
“I was afraid of that,” Louisa murmured.
Seth frowned. “Why would you have been afraid of that?”
Louisa stroked a finger down Pierre’s feathers, earning what seemed to be an affectionate nip from the parrot in return.
“Because, if you’ll recall, Norma Jean and I were invited in for tea after the fair debacle and were then privy to what the Pinkerton agent said about the three maps he felt were a credible lead to Ottilie Merriweather’s whereabouts. ”
“But Agent Pearson didn’t make those maps available while you and Norma Jean were having tea.”
“He did not, but I might have—and this doesn’t speak well of me—wandered through the library where those maps were spread out on a table before Norma Jean and I departed the castle.
” Louisa turned to Annaliese. “That was incredibly rude of me, and I do beg your pardon for overstepping. My only excuse is that I’ve always held a fondness for everything involving pirates and simply couldn’t help myself. ”
“There’s no need to apologize, Mrs. McCormick, as I would have been hard-pressed to resist that temptation as well,” Annaliese said.
Louisa smiled. “How very magnanimous of you, dear, but I should have resisted the temptation as I had Norma Jean with me.” She sighed.
“My daughter has an adventurous spirit and allowing her to get a quick glimpse of those maps was an enormous mistake on my part, and exactly why I’m to blame for her decision to delve into some treasure hunting on her own. ”
A hundred different scenarios filtered through Seth’s mind until he landed on one that seemed the most plausible. “Should I assume there’s a possibility that Norma Jean stole one of the copies I know Drusilla made of the maps?”
“Norma Jean didn’t need to steal a map, but . . .” Louisa frowned. “Could it be possible that you’re still unaware of some of Norma Jean’s more unusual gifts?”
“Mabel mentioned something about Norma Jean’s memory, but are you saying that’s actually true?” Seth asked.
“She has the ability to memorize anything she sees, whether it be a page in a book, a list of green-grocery items, a combination to a safe, or . . . a treasure map.”
Seth gave his jaw a few rubs before he lifted a brow Louisa’s way. “Was there a reason why you and Father kept this from me, as well as Hester and Betsy I assume, since they never said a word to me about Norma Jean having unusual gifts?”
“Of course there was, and that reason is this—it’s difficult enough for a girl to find her place in the world, let alone a girl who has such an unusual ability.
Your father and I didn’t want her to be saddled with the reputation of being thought peculiar.
That would have significantly affected her social life, which is why we decided to never speak about Norma Jean’s gift to anyone.
” She blew out a sigh. “Frankly, though, I always assumed, given that brilliant mind of yours, that you’d eventually figure out that Norma Jean has a brilliant, albeit unusual mind, as well. ”
“I’ve always known Norma Jean’s brilliant. But no, I never figured out she had ‘special’ gifts.”
“Well, now you know, but further talk of your sister’s gifts will need to wait because we have numerous matters to attend to before we head off on a mission to find Norma Jean, who has certainly outdone herself this time.”
“Neither you nor Annaliese will need to go after Norma Jean,” Seth said.
It was less than encouraging when his mother sent him a rolling of her eyes even as Annaliese crossed her arms over her chest.
“There’s every need because Norma Jean ran away on my watch,” Annaliese argued before she lifted her chin.
“As a co-headmistress, even a temporary one, it’s my job to return her to Chicago, and hopefully do so in a timely fashion.
It’ll hardly benefit the academy’s reputation if it becomes known we have the propensity for losing students and don’t bother to retrieve them. ”
“I believe I can help with that timely business,” Louisa said, sending a nod to Annaliese.
“I got a good look at the three maps on that desk, and I know which one I would have pursued—the one that leads to some uncharted islands down past the Keys. Since I mentioned it seemed the most credible of the three maps to Norma Jean, I’m sure that’s the one she decided to follow. ”
“Why would you think that map was the most credible?” Seth asked.
“Because I’ve read more than a few articles about pirate history around the Keys, and that’s where I would have buried a treasure if I’d been a pirate.”
“I suppose it’s a place to start,” Annaliese said before she squared her shoulders.
“And now, if all of you will excuse me, I need to find my mother and Seraphina and explain this new development. After that, I’ll fetch those copies of the maps Drusilla left behind in case something happened to her and then pack a bag. ”
Velma released a bit of a hiccup. “You won’t be able to fetch the map you need, Miss Merriweather, because Norma Jean wandered into Mrs. Whittenbecker’s office earlier today and borrowed it, although know that she has every intention of returning it once she returns from what she’s calling her quest.”
“I must say it does appear as if Norma Jean believes she’s dotted all her i’s and crossed all her t’s,” Louisa began before her eyes began to twinkle.
“But unfortunately for her, even though I’m sure she took the map so we wouldn’t be able to follow her, what she doesn’t know is that she inherited her gift of memorization from me. ”
Seth blinked. “You have a gift for memorization?”
“Indeed, and that gift can be evoked by me simply closing my eyes, which will then allow every detail on that treasure map I glimpsed to come into focus. I can then pen a quick sketch of it, and once I’ve done that, as well as packed a bag of course, we can get on our way to fetch Norma Jean home because yes, I’m coming with you, and no, that’s not up for debate. ”