Chapter 1 #2
Ronin took a truffle off the tray. “And we’ve enlisted the help of Lucinda Toweck, who is a very distant relative of the real-life vampire pirate, DuBois.”
“Which is so exciting,” Adeline added.
Tempi took a sip of her hot chai before continuing. “Like I said, tonight we need to finalize the routes, participating businesses, clue stations, safety, start and end times, and prizes for the costume contest.”
“We’ve all seen your costume, Tempi,” Princess Muffin Top said. “And might I say again—meow.”
Adeline and Emory snickered as Mason shoved another chocolate chip cookie into his mouth.
Emory flipped through the packet. “This has a table of contents, Tempi.”
Tempi nodded. “It does.”
“It’s very thorough,” Adeline said.
“Thank you.”
Ronin lifted a hand. “I don’t mean to be contrary, but—”
Tempi crossed her arms over her chest. “And yet, you are.”
Ronin sighed. “I just think a treasure hunt should feel like an adventure. Do we really need to go over all of this?”
Princess Muffin Top peered at the binder in front of her. “There are tabs. Nobody should need this many tabs unless they’re preparing for trial.”
Ronin slid his napkin across the table so everyone could see. “This is what I brought for tonight.”
There was a hand-drawn sketch of the lighthouse with an X marking the spot, a stick figure with a mermaid tail, another stick figure being hit by a wave, and the words Crimson Heart Treasure Hunt written across the top.
“You drew this on a napkin,” Tempi said dryly.
“The best ideas start on napkins,” he countered.
Tempi sighed and rubbed her temples. “The best ideas start with research and organization. This needs to be taken seriously, Ronin.”
Ronin grabbed another truffle. “Tempi, that color-coded binder weighs more than my houseboat.”
“Let’s discuss the underwater part,” Adeline said diplomatically, flicking a blue tab that was sticking out of her binder. “Just to make sure we have that handled. That sounds important.”
Ronin sat forward. “So as I said, Lucinda Toweck is a distant descendant of Captain DuBois, a vampire pirate who captained a ship called The Crimson Tide. DuBois spent his entire life hunting the Crimson Heart, the largest red ruby crystal ever recorded. There’s no proof he ever found it, but according to legend, DuBois discovered the Crimson Heart right before his death.
Around the same time, he sailed into Moonlight Bay.
Those who saw him said he was deathly ill.
In fact, the local doctor gave him a matter of days to live.
That has been substantiated in a ledger the doctor kept.
Then, one morning, both DuBois and The Crimson Tide were gone from the harbor.
Sailors claimed they’d seen him sail out alone sometime during the night.
No crew. No passengers. Just DuBois and his ship heading out to sea.
Neither Captain DuBois nor The Crimson Tide was ever seen again.
And if the stories are true, the Crimson Heart was aboard the ship when it disappeared. ”
“This is so exciting!” Adeline exclaimed. “Even if the stone is just a legend, it’s still exciting.”
Ronin nodded. “It really is. Lucinda is creating the clues, authenticating the backstory, and giving a speech before the event, so you’ll probably hear this all again.
The clues will send the teams to different locations, but everyone will eventually end up at Crystal Cove.
Each team will find a small treasure chest with a replica of the Crimson Heart and a scroll telling the story of DuBois and his legendary treasure. ”
“From a security standpoint, Crystal Cove is manageable,” Mason said. “We have open sight lines from the cliffs.”
Princess Muffin Top flicked her tail. “I don’t know who this DuBois person is, but any event involving pirates, treasure, and prizes is something I’m all about.”
Ronin laughed. “That’s fair, Princess Muffin Top. Anyway, Lucinda, Tempi, and I thought Crystal Cove was a perfect spot to end the hunt because of the waterfall, caves, and the cove itself. The last of the hunt will be under water.”
Tempi scowled. “And when I reminded Ronin he was eliminating non-aquatic supernaturals, he said I could just whip up some kind of breathing spell for everyone else.”
“You’re a talented air elemental witch.” Ronin furrowed his brow. “I have faith in you, Tempi. It’ll be easy for you.”
Tempi felt all eyes turn toward her, and she cursed when she realized the ends of her hair were starting to lift, which meant her magic was feeding off her emotions. She needed to take a deep breath.
Adeline slowly slid a Bad-Day Brownie toward her. “Brownie?”
“Easy?” Tempi said between gritted teeth. “You think a mass breathing spell for hundreds of supernaturals will be easy?”
“I meant it as a compliment. You’re totally talented, Tempi.” Ronin paused. “Besides, haven’t you already figured out how to do it?”
Tempi shoved half the brownie into her mouth. “Yes, but that’s beside the point.”
Princess Muffin Top looked at the sweets on the table and sighed. “I feel like it’s very much the point, Tempi. Just like there being nothing here for me to eat is another point.”
Adeline jumped up from the table and hurried behind the counter. She returned a few seconds later with a bag of treats. “You aren’t eating these at the table. Not everyone wants to smell tuna with their chocolate.”
Princess Muffin Top jumped down from her chair. “You may present me with my trophies.”
Adeline rolled her eyes. “You’re so ridiculous sometimes.”
They spent the next fifteen minutes finalizing the routes, participating businesses, safety procedures, and costume prizes. By the time Tempi closed her binder, the coffee was gone, and only a handful of sweets remained.
“I should head out,” Mason said. “There’s been an increase in tourists with the celebration Saturday, and I want the police to have a presence.”
Emory began gathering empty cups. “Speaking of tourists, how are bookings looking? You two full for the weekend?”
“Almost,” Tempi said.
“Same,” Ronin said.
Tempi glared at him.
“What?” he mused.
“Nothing.”
Ronin smiled. “You said nothing like you wanted my office building to collapse into a pile of rubble.”
“I’d never wish property damage on anyone.” She smirked. “The insurance paperwork is a nightmare.”
Ronin laughed. “That’s true.” He tossed his empty biodegradable cup into the recycle bin. “If my houseboats fill up, I’ll send the rest your way.”
Tempi stiffened. “I don’t need your castoffs.”
His smile faded slightly. “I didn’t say you did, Tempi. I’m just saying if my properties are full and yours aren’t, it seems silly to send people to the Moonlight Motel on the outskirts of town.” He shuddered. “Have you been inside there lately?”
Emory laughed. “I’ve heard it’s looking pretty scary.”
“And if you fill up, and I still have spaces open,” Ronin continued, “I’d love for you to send them my way.”
Tempi forced a smile. That was the last thing she wanted to do for her enemy. “Sure thing. I can do that.”
Mason stood and kissed Adeline goodbye before heading outside.
“I better go too,” Ronin said. “Thanks for the cold foam, Emory. Adeline, the truffles were great.” He scratched Princess Muffin Top behind one ear. “See ya, Princess Muffin Top.” Ronin turned to Tempi. “Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow at ten? Under the Grandmother Tree?”
She nodded. “Yes. One last day.”
“One last day,” he repeated with a grin. “Partner.”
“Co-chairs.”
The bell chimed as he left, and Tempi stared at the closed door, watching him walk down Tide Street.
“I’m thinking pirate-themed drinks for Saturday,” Emory said. “Maybe something with rum flavoring. Or cinnamon.” She snapped her fingers. “Oh, I got it! Pirate’s Booty Cold Brew.”
Adeline laughed. “I’m doing Crimson Heart Cupcakes.”
“Pirate’s Booty Cold Brew?” Tempi pulled herself away from staring out the window at Ronin and focused on her friends. “You’re seriously calling it that?”
“Absolutely,” Emory said.
Princess Muffin Top leaped onto a chair. “Finally, a drink I can get behind.” She slapped a paw on the table and laughed. “Get it? Get behind?”
Tempi groaned. “I think we all got it, Princess Muffin Top.”