Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“We trapped Ullman,” Nigel said, setting the box down on the table in the trailer.
They’d duct taped it shut to make sure it couldn’t accidentally open, then headed back to the dining room to sleep the rest of the night. Nigel had set an alarm to wake up early, so he could report to Dr. Lawson and Ms. Montague first thing in the morning.
His eyes felt gritty, and the smell of fresh-brewed coffee called him like a siren’s song. Montague and Lawson were each finishing off a plate of pancakes and bacon, much different from the instant oatmeal OtP had made do with.
He tried not to let it annoy him—even if both women hadn’t been getting up there in years, they were going through an emotional struggle just by returning to the island.
He should be generous and not be jealous over something as inconsequential as a fresh breakfast. But he was tired, and still emotionally drained from watching through the SLS while Ullman loomed over Oscar.
He’d given the box a good shake on the way over here. It probably wouldn’t jostle a spirit, but he privately hoped it would be at least a little uncomfortable.
“Well done, Taylor,” Lawson said, and clapped him on the arm. “I can’t wait to see the footage. Maybe I should have stayed…”
“Let the young people do their jobs, Ruthie.” Montague cut the last of her pancakes into small squares. “You’ve done very well, Dr. Taylor. What of Gloria and Robin?”
It sounded as though she thought they ought to have solved everything in one night. But again, he was on edge from lack of sleep, so he tamped down his irritation. “With Ullman gone, hopefully we can find Robin now. Assuming she’s even here at all. We’ll try out on the veranda tonight.”
“Gloria might be calmer now as well.” Dr. Lawson’s voice shook slightly on the name, and she cleared her throat. “Perhaps Fox can convince her to move on without much resistance now that her father is gone.”
“So long as no one gets distracted by her lie about treasure,” Montague added, eyes locking on Nigel.
It was starting to feel like Montague was as obsessed as Gloria, only in reverse. Maybe there really was treasure, and she wanted to send a team to dig it up, once they didn’t have to worry about ghosts?
But no, that was ridiculous. If that were the case, she’d have no motive to lie—the island was hers, which meant she owned whatever was on it, right?
Although now that he thought of it, buried treasure would likely count as an archaeological find.
There were probably some kind of rules restricting what she could do with it.
Again, though, pirates generally didn’t go around burying their gold, so the chances of anything valuable being hidden on the island were virtually zero. He was just too tired to think straight.
Ethan popped into the trailer; he seemed to have been showering in the other one, since he brought the scent of shampoo and soap in with him and had a small bag over one shoulder. Spotting him, Montague pointed at the box. “Ethan, be a dear and put this somewhere safe and out of the way.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Get some sleep, Taylor.” Lawson patted his arm. “The bags under your eyes have bags.”
“Thanks,” he said. “I will. Enjoy the rest of your breakfast.”