Free Missing Witness by Craig Parshall Page A

morning. The court wants to find out the status of Joppa’s legal representation. They know about Beckford’s auto accident and that he was out of commission for awhile. So I guess I’m down to the wire—and I have to make a decision now.”
    Fiona leaned forward intently. “Are you going to take the case?”
    â€œWell, Beckford was very optimistic. He said he’s got this local historical expert. A guy by the name of August Longfellow. Professor type who has a vast amount of knowledge about the Outer Banks region. Piracy. And even about Isaac Joppa’s fate. Beckford told me that Longfellow felt pretty good about proving Joppa’s innocence.”
    â€œ August Longfellow . That’s an interesting name.”
    â€œApparently this guy’s a real character. According to Beckford, he has some information that there may have been some women involved in Joppa’s life. And that may be tied into proof of his innocence.”
    â€œWomen? Connected in what way?”
    â€œIt sounded like there was one woman in particular that Isaac Joppa may have been involved with romantically. A woman in England. I stopped by Beckford’s and they gave me what there was in his file. I was reading some of the background stuff. The historical information. We know that Isaac Joppa left Bath, North Carolina, and shipped out to England. Then he joined the Royal Navy. Apparently, he then deserted—and the next thing we know, he showed up on one of Edward Teach’s pirate ships. One witness saw him assisting Teach and plundering a ship as part of his pirate crew. Then, Teach settled back in the Bath, North Carolina, area. That’s only about an hour and a half down the coast from here. And then there was the Battle of Ocracoke Inlet. Teach—Blackbeard—is killed, along with a lot of his crew. Several pirates jump ship and try to swim to shore, but they’re all killed. And supposedly, Isaac Joppa’s one of them. A few of the pirates who survived were taken to trial in Virginia, and were all hung. A local English magistrate had signed a warrant for Joppa’s arrest after a grand jury issued an indictment against him for piracy. But after it was learned that he had been killed, the indictment was withdrawn.”
    Fiona was riveted to Will’s summary. Then her eyes widened.
    â€œYou said women . More than one woman. So first, there was this woman that he may have been in love with, in England. Right?”
    Will nodded, and then smiled at the waitress who had just arrived with his salad and Fiona’s clam chowder.
    â€œThen who’s the other woman?” Fiona asked.
    â€œI’ll have to find that out from this Professor Longfellow. I would have preferred to interview him before I made my decision. But I don’t think I’m going to have the time. I’ve got to tell Jonathan Joppa by first thing tomorrow morning at the court hearing.”
    â€œDarling, you haven’t told me what your decision is.”
    Will paused and jiggled the ice a little in his glass of ice water. Then he looked up and studied Fiona and gave her a smile.
    â€œI think I’m going to represent Reverend Joppa.”
    Fiona laughed and then struck a pose—two hands up in the air, like a cheerleader celebrating the big touchdown.
    â€œYes!” she cried out.
    Several couples in the dimly lit restaurant turned and smiled.
    â€œNow you can tell me something,” Will said, shaking his head and chuckling. “Why were you so adamant about my taking this case?”
    â€œA couple of different reasons. First of all, I just have this feeling about this case. I know this sounds stupid. I don’t know how to describe it. But the more I hear about it…I just think you’re the right man to uncover the truth. There’s a story here. Isaac Joppa lived a life that sounds like it ended tragically. Perhaps there is a woman who loved him. He runs away.