Page 24 of A Treacherous Treasure

“In the desk Arthur’s grandfather used to use. I was told the room was his grandfather’s favorite and that he conducted all his business there. I found it among some other papers. And I also found this.”

She took the ordinary-looking snuffbox from her purse and handed it to him.

He opened it and dumped the doubloon and the tiny piece of paper into his hand.

“Oh my!” Caroline exclaimed, the same time her brother Benjamin said, “Is that a gold doubloon?”

Thomas held it up, turning it over. “It does appear to be.”

He gave the coin to Rebecca. She handed it to Benjamin, and Caroline joined him beside his chair and they put their heads together to examine it.

Thomas unfolded the tiny piece of paper and read, “Romans 8.”

“What could it mean, do you think?”

“Bible book and chapter, I imagine. Was there a Bible in the room?”

“I didn’t look, but I would think there’d be at least one. There are bookshelves lining all the walls.”

“I would think if you look inside the Bible at Romans 8, you might just find something inside the pages.”

“Why didn’t I think of that?” Rebecca breathed. It seemed so obvious. Now she just wanted to hurry back and look for the Bible in that room.

“I’m thinking perhaps Arthur’s grandfather hid those clues, and perhaps the whereabouts of the clues was what he didn’t want to write down, and also what he wanted to tell this M. Pipken.”

“Who do you think M. Pipken was?”

“Have you never heard the name?” Thomas asked.

“No, never.”

“I think he may have been Mr. Heywood’s solicitor,” Mrs. Westbrook said. “I believe I recall the name, from when the grandmother was still alive.”

“That would make sense, if he trusted his solicitor,” Thomas said.

“We should go find that Bible,” Benjamin said. “It could have the map showing where the treasure is buried.”

They all started talking at once. “We can’t go there, Mrs. Heywood hates us.” “Mrs. Heywood won’t allow us to plunder her house.” “Thomas especially is unwelcome there.”

“My mother-in-law had just left the house when I came here, but she could return at any time, and she might be furious—I’m sorry to say—if she were to find any of you looking around the grandfather’s library. I don’t even go in there when she might see me.”

“Of course, my dear,” Mrs. Westbrook said. “We understand.”

“I’m sure I caused you quite a bit of trouble when she found me there yesterday.” Thomas looked apologetic.

“And when you came here to dine,” Mrs. Westbrook said, with a look of concern and compassion.

“It was worth it to make your acquaintance,” Rebecca said with a gentle smile.

How kind they all were. Even Benjamin looked contrite. How long had it been since anyone had said a kind word to her in her own home?

“One happy thing that could come out of this,” Caroline said, “is that Mrs. Heywood will go elsewhere to live.”

“Caroline.” Mrs. Westbrook gave a slight shake of her head at her daughter.

“She hasn’t said she will leave,” Rebecca said, “and I cannot bear to force her out of her home. She’s lived there for thirty years.”

“It is your home now,” Caroline said, “and if she cannot be respectful, then she should go.”