Free The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons by Barbara Mariconda Page B

to it.”
    I took a deep breath.
    â€œQuaide,” she said. “There is reason to believe we shouldn’t trust him. Lucy saw him involved in a dubious transaction involving some riff-raff onshore. Money changed hands.” She looked from Walter to Addie, both listening with rapt attention. “This alone might not suggest anything other than the dealings of a rough-and-tumble seaman. But there’s more. Lucy, tell them what you saw in the chart room.”
    I swallowed, felt all eyes on me. “He didn’t see me—I was in the passageway and the door to the chart room opened of its own accord—silently. Of course, I looked inside. Quaide was in there, trying to open the safe.”
    â€œI’ve seen the safe,” Walter said. “Was going to ask about it.”
    â€œIt was Father’s safe, and it’s locked. Besides money or valuables, it could hold clues to Aunt Pru’s whereabouts. I don’t know the combination. But I feel I can figure it out. I have to!”
    Marni nodded. “Yes. It’s important, I believe, to discover what secrets or treasures the safe might hold. Quaide, I’m sure, is more interested in monetary gain.”
    â€œI didn’t trust him from the start,” Walter said. “It’s just that he looked like he could carry his weight. And he is a good sailor.”
    Addie leaned forward, wagging her finger. “Has a bit o’ crudeness to ’im, he does.”
    â€œA bit? ” Walter said, and I stifled a laugh.
    Addie gathered herself up and looked at Walter defensively. “I was bein’ polite.”
    â€œCrude, he is,” Marni continued, “but crude is not the real problem. Trustworthiness is the issue. All I’m saying is, be watchful. For such a large fellow he has the ability to be stealthy. Keep him in your sights. Mind his movements. And if you see anything that concerns you—even a little—share it. Between the four of us . . . are we agreed?”
    We offered our unanimous assent, stood, and prepared to leave. Addie reached out for me. “We’ll need t’ attend to daily lessons,” she said. “Book learnin’ is important fer ye, along with Annie and Master Georgie.”
    I snapped, “I’m not a child!” Marni raised an eyebrow, and I instantly regretted my tone. Addie looked stricken. Walter tried, unsuccessfully, not to gloat.
    â€œBut yes, Addie,” I amended, softening my voice. “I’d love to read with you. And Annie and Georgie.”
    â€œâ€™Twould do ye all good!” Addie said, a trace of resentment in her voice. “’Twouldn’t hurt ye, Walter, neither!”
    â€œNo it wouldn’t,” I agreed. “Let’s include him!”
    â€œAll right then,” Marni said, rising from her chair, gathering the tray of coffee. “Let’s get on with it!” As she led the way out of the stateroom, followed by Addie, Walter took my arm and pulled me back.
    He whispered, “You said the door opened of its own accord.” His dark eyes shone. “The magic—I was thinking that maybe we’d left it back in Maine. Do you think . . . ?”
    â€œYes,” I said. “And that’s not all. When I spied Quaide onshore with Father’s spyglass . . . it moved, as though guided by an iron hand, until it focused on what I needed to see. . . .”
    â€œI could have guessed,” he said. “Because when I was on watch, I saw something out there on the sea . . .”
    We inched closer together. “Yes—a ship? On the horizon . . .”
    â€œAlmost flying above the waves,” he said, finishing my sentence, “following at a distance.” I could feel his breath on my face. “It was as though it was . . . I don’t know . . . stalking us. . . .”
    â€œAnd the glittering cloud,” I continued, the