Page 92 of The Romance Adventure

Royal looks dubious. “And Dad?”

“They were seeking a specific treasure. He handled the history and research, the hunt on the ground, and our mother did the diving. They were close, so close when a storm came up.”

“And they were never seen again,” Royal says gravely.

“Missing, but not dead,” CJ replies.

Elbows on his knees, Royal holds his face in his hands. “CJ, we’ve gone over this a thousand times.”

“Then explain this.” I expect him to unfold a map. Instead, he produces a golden key.

“That could be a trinket from a souvenir shop. Fool’s gold. Pirate’s booty.”

“No, it’s the key Mom and Dad were looking for.”

“A key.”

“Coco Key?” I ask with a laugh.

“I reckon so. Chip got ahold of this island because he knew the lost crown of tears was here. He’s left us to find it.”

“Did you hear me? We don’t need trouble around here.” Mr. Higbee, the man who hollered at Royal and me, stumps inside as if he’d been listening all along.

“We don’t either, Mr. Higbee,” CJ says.

“Then you’d do well to deter that boat from coming ashore. I’ve kept watch nigh on seventy-five years and we’ve avoided trouble.” He points toward the water with his cane.

A dark sail dots the horizon.

“It looks like trouble found us,” CJ mutters.

“What does that mean?” I ask.

“See that barkentine out there? Those are the bad guys,” the youngest McGregor brother says.

“What are they doing here?”

“Looking for us.” Royal’s brother speaks matter of fact like this is a normal, expected development.

“Why would that be?” Bean asks.

“Because we’re the key to the lost crown.” CJ waves the golden key. It glints in the sun.

“But you said we are the key,” Royal says.

With surprising speed, Mr. Higbee whips his head in Royal’s direction as if he just realized something.

Whatever it is sails close to me, but first, I have a question of my own. “The night after the reading of the will, Ryan asked a question about whether your grandfather intended for you to pick up his search for the crown where he left off or if he’d discovered it and was leaving clues for you to find like a scavenger hunt.”

CJ answers, “Knowing our grandfather, a little of both. He’d found some items, hid them well. Others are still out there somewhere.” He glances at Royal. “More than anything, I reckon he wanted us to do this together.”

Biting my lip, I piece this together then jump to my feet. “I think I found a clue along with figuring out where Chip wanted you to start looking.”

Leaving Mr. Higbee watching the ship, we rush toward the Driftwood.

Bean hurries after us, ship’s logbook in hand. When we reach the spot that I thought would make the perfect place for a mural, I explain that I was taking measurements, lost in thought while envisioning what it would look like when I noticed the mermaid and made the connection to the book of matches embossed with the name of the saloon, the Mermaid’s Chest. “She was pointing at one particular treasure chest in the open clamshells.”

CJ climbs into the empty fountain and examines the treasure chests.