Page 30 of The Curse Breaker

Zara led the way down a side street to Hooked. The restaurant had yellow caution tape surrounding the walkway. “Looks deserted, which is perfect.” Zara came to a stop and leaned her bike against a stop sign. “Maybe the captain is hanging out inside just waiting for us with a scowl on his face.”

As Benny swung her leg over the bike and prepared to lock it, she heard whispers.

Welcome, Everly Benedict! Welcome home!

She looked toward the water, the fog not as thick as earlier. She could just make out the lighthouse in the distance. The sandbar she’d seen earlier with Earl was not visible. Neither was the island. Could the other entrance be gone already? It couldn’t be if the island was calling her.

“You’re late,” Kimble grumbled, slipping around the side of the restaurant on the docks. He was wearing the same clothes Benny had seen him in earlier. Jeans and a T-shirt that had seen better days. His jacket was slung over his shoulder, a smudge of what looked like dirt on his cheek. “I hope it’s because you found Evelyn’s treasure.”

“Not yet,” Benny told him, and he groaned. “We’ve cracked her first clue though and know where the second one is, but—”

“Why are you here then?” he asked, rubbing his chin as if it hurt. “You’re wasting time coming here to tell me this.”

Benny scowled back at him. “You said to meet you at four, and we’ve got questions for you based on Evelyn’s new journals.”

“Kid, talk to me after you find the treasure,” Kimble interrupted. “Didn’t I make myself clear? That island is going to up and disappear in a fortnight. There is no time for questions.”

“Too bad,” Benny bristled. “We need to know facts to find the treasure, like who ‘her’ is. Who’s Grace?”

Kimble kept his expression neutral. “How do you know that name?”

The door to Hooked creaked open, and everyone looked up in surprise to see Ryan. His button-down shirt was rumpled, his shorts dirty, his Crocs caked with mud, his hair askew.

“Benny—” He started stuttering. “I…didn’t…I…”

“Where is Axel?” Zara barked.

“Downstairs trying to get back to the island, but he can’t seem to get through the cave alone, and he’s flipping out.” Ryan’s eyes were wide with terror. “He wigged out when we got outside and he saw the cars, and then a plane flew overhead. He won’t stop screaming.” He rubbed his face with his hands. “I don’t know how to help him.” His eyes flitted to Gil. “Wait. Are you…?”

“Nope. You don’t get to know who he is,” Zara said, jumping in front of Gil as her phone started ringing. “It’s my dad,” she told Benny. “I should take this.”

“Go,” Benny told her. She squared her shoulders and looked at Kimble and Gil. “I’d like a moment alone to talk to Ryan, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course,” said Gil. “I’ll be over there with the captain if you need my assistance.”

Kimble glared at them. “You’ve got five minutes.” He and Gil walked over to the water, but Benny knew they were still in earshot.

“I’m sure you’re pretty mad at me,” Ryan said miserably.

“Of course I’m mad!” Benny said. She didn’t trust easily, and she’d let him in. She wasn’t sure who she was madder at—Ryan or herself for being played the fool. “I thought you were my friend and you wanted to help Evelyn. Instead, you used me to get the treasure for yourself.”

“I didn’t do it for myself,” Ryan said, looking anywhere but at her face. “I swear.”

“You said you wanted to sell the treasure. Sell,” Benny’s voice was venomous, and she knew it. “As in profit off a treasure that cursed Evelyn’s friends and trapped them. One that kept them from growing up. Having a life. Growing old!”

“I didn’t know people were trapped,” Ryan insisted. “I didn’t read the last diary entry, remember? Only you and Zara did. When I woke up on the island, I didn’t know what was going on.” He hugged himself. “I didn’t want any part of this! But they made a deal. When she realized how close you were to finding the island and the treasure, she made me do this.”

“She?” Benny caught the word and inhaled sharply. “Who are you talking about?”

Ryan didn’t hear her. “I thought Evelyn was delusional to think her friends were alive and waiting to be rescued. If I had known the truth, I would have tried to talk her out of this.”

“Ryan, who is she?” Benny pressed.

“Vivian Rudd,” Ryan admitted, sounding small.

“You’re working for Vivian Rudd?” Benny said incredulously.

“I’m not working for her,” Ryan’s expression turned grim. “She’s my grandmother.”