Chapter 15 Benny
Fifteen
Benny
Present Day
Benny stared at Grace’s name on the monument—Cate Callahan—and then looked at Axel Rudd’s again. Neither died at sea, but the world didn’t know that.
“This is so weird,” Benny said solemnly as fog rolled in off the water again, the clouds starting to gather before another storm.
“Majorly weird,” Zara seconded. “Why did they even make a monument? If they knew Axel went searching for a treasure that is a fountain of youth, didn’t they think he might be alive?”
“Not necessarily,” Benny said. “We only found out about Gil and the others when we read Evelyn’s last diary entry in Hooked. It’s not like someone could have told them the truth.”
“Don’t be fooled. The Rudds know everything,” Gil said bitterly. “They are a dangerous and conniving family. Axel stole my coin. You say your friend Ryan knew about the treasure. Maybe he knew about the island’s secrets too.”
Gil could be right. “If only we could find out for sure.” Benny brushed aside some cobwebs surrounding the plaque. “Maybe the answers we’re looking for are hidden here in new diary entries from Evelyn.” Benny glanced at the hilltop to make sure no one was coming. “We should move fast.”
“Right. Let’s find that clue.” Zara pulled a flashlight from her pocket and began walking around the monument, searching the ground. “Can I just say, I love the guts it took for Evelyn to hide something on Rudd property,” Zara said, examining the monument from all angles. “Right under their noses.”
Gil circled the boulder, feeling it for some sort of clue.
“One time Axel challenged us all to jump off the rocks into the water. It was a far drop. He said whoever did it could have three free items at the mercantile that week. Sparrow said her mama needed sugar so she did it. She was the only one. Axel was so mad.”
Benny liked that story. Fearless. It was the perfect word for Evelyn, going up against a pirate and the most powerful family in Greenport.
Having the chance to play Evelyn’s game and win her fortune, Benny felt the same way.
She was not only determined to win this new game, she would find a way to free Evelyn’s friends and the pirate.
Benny looked at the base of the statue for anywhere that had seams Evelyn could have used to slip something inside the base.
There were none. “I don’t think she would have dug into the ground, right? Because anyone could dig something up.”
“No, she’d have to put it in something more permanent.” Zara kneeled by a bench and peered underneath it as there was a rumble of thunder. Rain started to fall lightly.
Gil did the same with the nearest bench. Benny checked the third. There didn’t seem to be a compartment on them. She looked at the riddle again for clues.
“You don’t think she would have broken the monument itself, right?” Zara asked. “Like she did with the figurehead we found at the lighthouse?”
“I don’t think so. That was wood,” Benny reminded her. “And it was no longer on the ship, so maybe she didn’t feel so bad about breaking the foot and gluing it back?”
Zara plopped down on the shells and pushed her wet bangs off her forehead. “Read the rest of the riddle again.”
“‘This rock is where I genuflect,’” Benny read. “‘This monument is where it calls to me—an island others cannot see.’”
“Perhaps there is a hole in the rock behind the plaque, like the one at the house with the dragonfly,” Gil suggested.
Benny’s eyes locked on the small plaque on the rock. It was attached to the rock with four anchored screws. “Why didn’t I think to bring a tool kit?”
“Good thing I did.” Zara held up a tool that had different attachments and a small light at the bottom.
“Isn’t this neat? Eight tools with a work light and screwdriver attachments.
My parents put it in my Christmas stocking because you, know, every kid wants a screwdriver.
After what happened with the plaque at Evelyn’s house, I brought it along. ”
“Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Dabney!” Benny said, relieved, as Zara found the right attachment to unscrew the plaque anchors one by one. She pulled the raincoat tighter as a breeze blew in off the water, making the drizzle come sideways, right at her face.
“There!” Zara held out the four screws for Benny to hold. “Help me pry this thing off. It’s been on here a long time and isn’t budging.”
Benny put the anchors in the pocket of her coat, and she and Gil helped Zara pull at the edges, trying to get a hold with slick fingers on the wet surface. Finally, Benny felt a little give, and they pried the plaque off. There was a small opening behind it.
“Sparrow found another secret hiding spot,” Gil marveled.
Benny’s fingers tingled as she looked at the debris, dirt, and critters inside the small hole.
To the naked eye, the space looked empty.
Benny grabbed a stick from the ground to poke inside the deep hole and felt the stick hit something hard.
Her breath hitched. “I think I found something!” She reached her hand in now, and her fingers grasped a small wooden box.
She yanked it out, her heart racing. “Bingo.” She wasn’t sure if she was excited or just relieved.
They were one step closer, and they’d beat the Rudds, and Grace, to whatever clue Evelyn had for them.
“That looks just like the other trinket box!” Gil exclaimed, taking it and rubbing the dirt off the top. “May I?” he asked, before opening it.
“Be my guest,” Benny said as she watched him pry off the top.
Inside was a familiar velvet pouch, and inside that was an envelope with a series of blank pages again.
This time Benny wasn’t alarmed to see them.
She was thankful Evelyn thought enough to conceal her words from the Rudds in case anyone ever stumbled on her hiding spot.
Pulling a barbeque lighter out of her bag (at least she’d thought of that), she held it under the pages as Zara and Gil shielded them from the drizzle.
In seconds, words started to appear. “Don’t let the pages get wet. ”
“I’ll take pictures of each page, back and front, again,” Zara said. “There are more pages this time.”
“Perfect. When you’re done, let’s get out of here. We can read the pages when we get back,” Benny told them. “I don’t want anyone to see what we’re doing here.”
“Copy that,” Zara teased, snapping away.
Words appeared on each page, Evelyn’s handwriting coming into view.
Benny hoped for a letter from Evelyn like there had been several times in the last game but didn’t see one again.
When they were done, Benny stuck the pages inside her raincoat and Zara put the plaque back in place. Gil was their lookout.
“May I drive the cart this time?” Gil asked when they were finished.
“No!” Both girls said with a laugh. Gil looked a little hurt.
“We’ll teach you when we have time,” Benny said.
She felt lighter. Happier. They had the second clue in hand.
There would inevitably be a third clue and riddle.
More journal pages to read. Something about Grace/Charlotte.
More answers to the numerous questions they had.
But at least now she could tell Kimble they were one step closer.
They needed to tell Aggy and the others on the island what was happening too.
They had to be wondering where they were and if Gil was alright.
Benny’s stomach ached at the thought. Who knew how long a day felt to them?
“You can ride shotgun, and I’ll drive us back to—” Benny hit the top step and banged into Zara, who’d stopped short in front of her.
A second golf cart had parked next to theirs, and two women were sitting inside it. Benny recognized both immediately.
“Hello, Everly,” Vivian Rudd said crisply.
“Viv, I told you. She prefers Benny,” said Catherine, her red hair giving her away even with the headkerchief she had covering her hair.
“Of course, dear, you know I tend to forget the details,” Vivian said, still staring at Benny. “I can’t even keep up with what name you’re going by these days, Catherine.”
“I’m still fancying ‘Catherine,’ but by now I assume Benny knows it’s not my real name,” Catherine said, her dark eyes glowing with pleasure. “She’s a smart girl.”
“So you two do know each other.” Benny whispered as Zara and Gil stepped closer to surround her.
“Of course, dear,” said Vivian, who looked over at Catherine with a look that Benny could only describe as respect. “We’ve been working together for a very, very long time.”
If they knew who she really was, they also knew—
“Benny knows who I am too, don’t you, Benny?” Catherine purred and placed her hands in her lap, the green gem on her finger sparkling even under a cloudy sky. “You can say it. What’s my real name?”
Benny’s heart was pounding now. She felt Zara’s hand brush her own. She kept her voice steady. “It’s Grace.”
“Clever, clever child! Yes!” She cocked her head. “What a relief not to have to pretend around you and your little friends.” She folded her arms across her lap. “You might even be smarter than Evelyn. We will have to see.”
A third golf cart came to a stop by the others. Two men got out and moved toward them. The men were wearing polos with the country club insignia, and both had earpieces for communication. Zara grabbed Benny’s arm and Gil stood closer to the two of them.
“Don’t be frightened.” Grace smiled. “You just found something we want, dear. And none of you are leaving here till you give it to us.”