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Hidden Tide

Page 222

by Susie McIver

Ben leaves the worktable and approaches the empty berth.

“Show me the underwater plans for the Argent Star.”

Keating searches the vessel records.

“We only have the modifications filed when it became a salvage vessel.”

“Simon wouldn’t report anything useful.”

“No,” Thomas says. “But I may have James’s original plans.”

“Where?” I ask.

“At my boathouse.”

The boathouse where Marcus and Elliot spent their summers.

Where Grandpa showed Thomas the five gifts.

Where someone tried to kill Thomas before he could tell us the truth.

Marquez doesn’t hesitate.

“I’ll send agents.”

“Wait,” I say.

Every person in the room turns toward me.

“If Grandpa suspected the Bell brothers saw the gifts, he wouldn’t leave the ship plans where they could find them.”

Thomas frowns.

“They were kept inside the chart cabinet.”

“Were they still there when the authorities searched your boathouse?”

“No. But many of my records were taken.”

“Or burned,” Nathan adds.

Thomas’s expression changes.

“The model.”

“What model?” Ben asks.

“James built a scale model of the Mariner’s Crown after repairing it. He gave it to Daniel.”

Mom looks toward him.

“The wooden ship that sat in Daniel’s office?”

“Yes.”

“It’s at the beach house,” Hazel says. “Grandpa brought it there after Dad died.”

Storm points toward her. “It’s in the upstairs hall.”