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“From what I can tell, the child stayed on the island,” Kaitlin said. “I’ve been tracing the family tree to see if there are any descendants still here. It’s a bit tricky, but I’ve found potential connections to some of the old island families.”
Matt wandered over, his beer in hand, catching the tail end of the conversation. “What are you all talking about?”
“The Blackwells. The family who built the mansion,” Amy said. “Kaitlin’s been researching their history. She just mentioned there might still be some descendants on the island. Speaking of history, has Samira found out anything about those older remains? Have they been identified?”
Matt tilted his head thoughtfully. “Not yet. Samira’s pretty sure they’re really old, though. Late 1800s anyway. We’re waiting for some additional testing, but it’s possible they predate the mansion.”
At this, Kaitlin’s eyes lit up and she leaned forward. “That would fit perfectly with the Blackwells. If the remains are that old, they could be part of a family burial ground. Maybe even Captain Blackwell himself.”
“Well, not if he was lost at sea, unless they found his body. Or it could be something else entirely,” Matt said cautiously. “It’s hard to say without more evidence.”
Mac and Sully wandered over to the group then, handing out plates of burgers. Kaitlin set her drink down with a decisive clink. “You know, Sully, it’s the Sullivans that have the connection I found. Your ancestors have been on this island for generations—there’s a strong chance you’re related to the Blackwells through Verity Blackwell’s child.”
Sully held himself still with a plate of perfectly grilled burgers in hand. He set them down on the table as his familiar scowl returned. “What’s this?”
Kaitlin beamed at him. “Verity Blackwell’s child stayed on the island and married into the Sullivan family.”
Sully’s brow furrowed. “You’re saying I might be related to Captain Blackwell?”
Kelsey laughed, breaking the tension. “Wouldn’t that be something? Maybe you should do a DNA test, Sully. See if the bones match.”
Amy froze at Kelsey’s suggestion, and she could see Sully’s expression harden, his piercing gaze flicking to her. As long as Amy had known him, Sully had always been a very private person. Suddenly, she felt as if she’d inadvertently trapped him. As if she’d invited him to this barbecue with a contrived plan to pry into his family history and his very DNA. Sure, she wanted the mystery of the old remains solved their identity put to rest, but she wouldn’t have done something like that.
“I see,” Sully said, his voice low but deliberate. “I must have missed part of the conversation. Amy, is this about the ghost hunters you’re bringing in?”
The conversation stalled. The cheerful chatter gave way to a heavy silence. Amy’s heart sank as all eyes turned to her. She took a steadying breath, forcing herself to meet their gazes.
“Dead Reckoning has made me an offer,” she said carefully. “They want to film a series of episodes at the mansion. It’s… a lot of money. Enough to cover the remaining renovations and then some.”
Kelsey’s brows furrowed. “Are you seriously considering this?”
“I haven’t signed the contract yet,” Amy admitted. “But I am seriously considering it. The money would keep everything on track.”
“And what about the mansion’s reputation?” Mac asked, calm but firm. “You’re building a wellness retreat, not a haunted house.”
Amy looked down at her hands, guilt and uncertainty prickling at her skin. “I know. But maybe there’s a way to use the ghost hunters to our advantage. If they can prove or disprove the hauntings, it might lessen the stigma it already has with the murders.”
“Ams, if it’s all right with you, maybe Matt can do a check on these guys? And definitely have your attorney look over the contract before you sign,” Mac suggested, laying his hand on her shoulder. “Not trying to tell you what to do, but I feel protective over my little sister-in-law.”
Mac and Matt exchanged a glance, and Matt nodded in agreement.
Both men turned their attention to Sully. Matt was the first to speak. “I heard Garrett’s been looking for work. Something about him and a few others getting spooked at the mansion?”
Sully crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. “Yeah. They walked. But this?” He gestured vaguely toward Amy. “This is only going to make it harder to get them back.”
The tension around the table was palpable. Kaitlin, ever the optimist, broke the silence.
“I really see this is an opportunity,” she said brightly. “If we approach it the right way, we can use the ghost hunters to uncover the mansion’s history. Prove or disprove the island’s ghost stories. It doesn’t have to be a circus; it could be a way to honor the past. And the people who lost their lives here.”
Kaitlin stood and filled her glass with more wine. “I, for one, can’t explain my interactions with James Whitaker. It would kind of make me feel better knowing if what I saw was real or not. And don’t they all work at night anyway? Using those ‘scientific’ ghost detectors? They wouldn’t be there during the day when the workers were there.”
Amy glanced at Sully. She could tell he wasn’t convinced, but there was no more room for debate tonight. She forced a smile, trying to cut through the tension. “Well then, let’s eat before the food gets cold.”
After eating, they all continued to enjoy the evening despite the shifted mood. As it grew dark, the group slowly dispersed. Mac and Kelsey were the last to leave.
“You know, Amy, we’ll support you in whatever you think is best. This entire project was your vision. Truman saw that,” Kelsey said as she hugged her sister.
“Yeah, and I would kind of like to know if the legends are real… the widow’s walk ghost and such,” Mac added, patting her shoulder. “I grew up on those stories. What did we call her? The Woman in White?”
