Page 29 of The Romance Adventure

“But that’s our grandfather’s legacy, the resort is practically a historic site. He built the place himself out of driftwood and salvaged ships,” Ryan says as if catching hold of memories of us running havoc over the place when we were kids.

“It would be better used for kindling.”

“I’d be more concerned about your relationships,” CJ mutters.

Strawberry Shortcake’s eyes are wide. “Do you really think there was a murder?”

CJ tilts his head from side to side.

“A theft?”

“For sure.” CJ nods.

“A crime?” she asks, eyeing the door.

“Likely,” CJ says.

“The only crime is your lies,” I fire back, unwilling to give him a chance to blather about our parents still being alive and pirate treasure tall tales.

“Miss Pratt, is there an answer key or any other clues?” Ryan asks.

“It goes on to say, Go forth and find her. Godspeed, and may the wind and tide be ever in your favor. The end.” She flips the paper over and shrugs. “That’s it.”

“This is maddening.” My glare deepens because the last thing I want to do is play one of Chip’s games. It was never enough to have a regular Sunday morning trip to church followed by brunch. We had to hear stories about pirates and plunders, lost treasure, and quests.

“Do we care if the money goes to Glandman?” Ryan asks.

We all emphatically shout, “Yes.”

Strawberry Shortcake startles. “What will Glandman do with the money?”

“He’ll fund an evil dictator,” Magnus says.

“He’ll feed it to the alligators.”

“Or he’ll invest it in the Driftwood and make it everything Chip didn’t want it to be,” I add.

“Is that a bad thing? What if we explain the situation to him?” Ryan asks.

“Have you ever met Gerome?” It’s a rhetorical question. Of course, he has, multiple times and the slimy lizard man is the worst of the worst when it comes to business and in his personal life.

Dredging up things I’d rather forget, I say, “Glandman married Chip’s sister, our aunt, then used all her money to try to destroy her family and build up his own holdings on the backs of cheap labor and shady deals that went something like, Oops, that was your property? Pity. It’s mine now. Greedy land grabs.”

I’ll climb the rungs of the ladder to get to the top, but Glandman shoves people off the sides.

CJ makes a yoink sound like he’s taking something that isn’t his.

“The guy is duplicitous, slimy, and ugly—literally. I don’t know what Aunt Lorena could’ve possibly seen in him.”

“An opportunity,” CJ says.

“To ruin her father’s business?” I ask, aghast.

“Our great-grandfather was a Sousa.”

“Oh, here we go.” I toss my hands in the air. Give CJ a chance to talk about the so-called family history and he’ll run with it.

“I’m just saying, sometimes it helps to keep your enemies close.”