Page 48 of The Curse Breaker

For Everly Benedict,

This game, dear girl, is a perplexer.

I cannot guard you against her.

But don’t you worry, I shall school you.

I promise I won’t let her fool you.

You are blessed! Have faith, please,

with fellow pupils, on your knees.

For if anyone can save those lost at sea,

it will be you and him, because of me.

“‘Blessed, faith, pupils…knees,’” Benny ticked off the words in the new riddle, trying to decipher the clue. “Could she have hidden the next clue in a church?”

“Definitely a possibility,” Zara said, working her jaw. “Does she mean like a pupil at Sunday school?” She glanced at Gil. “Did you go to that?”

“We went to church every Sunday,” Gil said. “But I didn’t have a Sunday ‘school,’ so to speak.” They all thought for a moment.

“What about the schoolhouse?” Benny wondered. “Did you pray at school?”

Gil shook his head. “I’m afraid not.”

Zara bit her lip. “If we have to start checking all the churches that were around when Evelyn and Gil lived here, it could take days.”

“The churches all still stand?” Gil said hopefully. “Those I’d like to see. What about our schoolhouse?”

“It’s now protected historical property,” Zara told him. “We can take you on a tour.” She snapped her fingers. “Maybe it is the schoolhouse!”

“But if it was, why would she talk about kneeling and praying if Gil says they didn’t do that there?” Benny glanced at Gil. “Were there any other schools in Greenport?”

Gil shook his head again. “I’m afraid not.”

Benny felt her insides squeeze again. What did Evelyn mean?

Wally walked into the kitchen with a bag of groceries. “If you’re looking for schools, many descendants of Evelyn Terry attended the Harrison School. I believe Evelyn’s children might have been the first class to graduate from there.” He placed the bag down, then went outside to get more.

Wally really did know a lot of family history.

“That place is the swankiest of the swanky private schools out here,” Zara said, leaning back against one of the armchairs in the room. “The main school is in a mansion, and it sits on the ocean on like forty acres of property in Southhold. Kids come from all over the East End of Long Island to go.” She raised an eyebrow. “I think the Rudds are benefactors, and their kids have always gone there too.”

“Figures,” Benny grumbled. Rudds and Terrys going to school together? After what happened with Evelyn? Strange. “Do they have a chapel?”

Zara held out her phone with the school’s website loaded. “Yep! A nondenominational chapel that is part of the original school campus.” The three of them looked at one another in awe.

“Did we just solve Sparrow’s riddle?” Gil asked.

“I think so,” Zara clapped excitedly. “Stuff has been hidden in churches throughout history because churches are usually preserved and stand the test of time. Grams always says that. Pretty smart of Evelyn actually.”

“Except now we have to break into a school.” Benny bit on the end of her pencil.

“It’s summer. I’m sure they have tours,” Zara said hopefully.

“Yes, but we need to go this afternoon, and I have no clue if my mom will be back to take me,” Benny said. “Look what happened at the country club. I can’t imagine them letting a kid tour a private school without an adult.”