True Treasure: Real - Life History Mystery (8 page)

“Pffft, you don’t have a clue about some of the situations I’ve been in ‘cause they’re classified! Couple years in Iraq, lose half a leg, and you think you’ve seen everything!”

Keiko walked in handing Julian his Coke, “Are you two having the ‘I’m tougher than you’ conversation again?” Keiko perched on the edge of the couch, leaned against Julian, and stroked his hair out of his eyes. Julian was one hundred percent Cherokee Indian like his brother, who were both adopted by Ray as he worked on the reservation as a missionary after his first twenty years with the CIA were up. Rock climbing, and using survival skills kept the boys busy and out of trouble, plus satisfied Ray’s thrill seeking nature.

“This ‘honeymoon’ you’re taking to Costa Rica really sounds more like a working vacation and not too much ‘honey’ and ‘mooning’ if you catch my drift.”

“So what’s your point?”

“Okay, this map Keiko found, and the facts she brushed up on, you do realize there are pirates and treasure hunters that have spent a lifetime searching for it?”

“Well, sure, but they’re looking in the wrong place.”

Ray shook his head, “Look, I ran some intel on the situation.” He reached into his ever present jacket, pulled out a file folder, and tossed it on the coffee table.

Julian just shook his head.

“I know you two think you can handle this on your own, but the fact is there are some dangerous gangs working in Costa Rica. Three hundred and fifty tons of gold is billions on today’s market. If these guys catch wind that you have a clue where this stuff is, instead of being what you look like—”

“What’s that?” Keiko and Julian said at the same time.

Ray made googly eyes and rolled his head, “Your cover is you’re honeymooners, which you should be able to pull off, because that’s what you are. But I seriously have my doubts when you get into your geek mode.”

“Thanks for the confidence,” Julian said as he reached for the folder.

Once you get there and rent a boat with your equipment, the captains will talk. Someone will tip off the gangs. You’re going to be watched by at least one set of pirates, maybe three or four.

“How about if I round up some of my guys for a little vay-cay and we’ll watch for the guys watching you?”

“No way,” Julian said. “If it gets too dangerous, we’ll back off. If we need your help, we’ll ask.”

“Costa Rica isn’t exactly around the corner.”

“It’s only one flight away.” Julian flipped through the photos and notes his dad had assembled, “If we get to the island and we find it, we’ll call in several authorities at once, or come back with proof and corral better reinforcements like you and your friends, okay? We’re not going to take chances. Keiko and I are just beginning our life together and we don’t want any surprises.”

Ray took a sip off his drink and sighed, “You know as well as I do beginnings rarely have surprises. It’s always in the middle when you least expect it. The least you can do is read up on the notes and know who to watch out for. You sure I can’t tag along?”

Julian and Keiko just gave him a look.

“We’re staying at a couple’s only island resort. We’ll make it obvious we’re newlyweds so the last thing we want is my dad tagging along.”

Ray’s phone buzzed in his pocket, “Hold that thought, I have to get this,” Ray stood, and walked out into the kitchen. They heard him answer, “Hey beautiful,” before the door to the study closed.

“Do you think he’ll listen?”

“No way. Ten to one he’s already booked his flight, and arranged for his cohorts to meet him there. At least saying ‘no’ should keep him out of our sight. A couple’s only resort was a brilliant idea on your part. He’ll have to stay somewhere else.”

***

“Hey beautiful,” Ray said as he answered his phone.

“I just freed my schedule, but only for a week. It’s all I can manage from the hospital and my on
-call duties at the White House at this point,” Della answered.

“Thanks, I appreciate it. I just worry about these fool kids. They’re in love and think they’re invincible.”

“So you’re saying we’ve been around the block a few times,” Della laughed. “Aren’t you romantic.”

“Look, I know we’ve only been dating a few weeks, and with your work schedule at the White House we haven’t had much quality time to get to know each other, so this is the perfect way to relax. Have you ever done surveillance? It’s boring. We’ll have nothing to do but talk and get to know each other better.”

Della sighed. “I must really like you because I cannot
believe
I’m taking a week out of my life to help you keep an eye on your grown kid. You are the pinnacle of a helicopter dad.”

“Which reminds me, I should arrange for one, just in case.”

“You’re joking, right? No, don’t answer,” Della said, “so what should I pack, my bikini?”

“No! Too distracting. You’re too sexy to do surveillance in one. Do you have an old granny number with a big floppy hat and sunglasses? On second thought, bring the bikini, in case we
need
a distraction.”

“So you’re going to use me as bait?”

“Think of it as feeding eye candy to the boys. It works every time, and that’s the beauty of a beautiful woman. Oh, and bring your gun, two if you got ‘em. You can never have too many weapons. I’ll brief you on the flight down. We’re flying in with the boys. One of ‘em has the perfect little Cessna for this job. Any special dietary requirements?”

“I prefer coffee, sparkling water, apples. I’ve got a figure to maintain.”

“I’ve watched it for you, and you do very nice maintenance work.”

Della laughed. “What time are you picking me up?”

“Six a.m. sharp. Get a good night’s rest.”

“You too, Ray.”

“I’ll sleep when I die.”

Della laughed and hung up.

Ray went back to join Julian and Keiko in the living room.

“Was that Della?” Julian asked.

Ray sat back down, “Yep, she’s my girl. Everything I could ask for in a woman. Beautiful, smart, and she laughs at my jokes. A perfect trifecta for a relationship. She’ll keep me busy while you two are away. I think she wanted me to help paint her living room this weekend.”

“Uh-huh,” Julian said giving Keiko a look.

“So what’s for dinner?” Ray asked looking from Keiko to Julian.

“I’m starved.”

Keiko laughed and went to the kitchen shaking her head. “I’ll see what I can scrounge up.”

***

1818 Captain Bennett Graham and the Treasure

The ship was keeling sideways, waves crash
ed and rolled over it as well as breaking on the rocks. Three smaller skiffs surrounded it. Bennett held out his hand for his spyglass. He could see the Spanish soldiers fighting for their lives against the boarding pirates.

“Fire at the nearest skiff. Let us see if we can foil their escape.”

The officer on command gave the orders to fire the cannons. Several volleys landed, one hitting the skiff sending it splintering into the waves.

“At arms men, she is now on lock down,” he yelled to the steerage, “Bring us in on the leeward side!“ This would ensure if the current caught them the sails could use the wind to pull them away from the breakers. “Drop four! Lieutenant Kerry, take your muster of men, pistols at the ready, fire at will.”

“Lieutenants Sedgwig, Taussant, and Gregory muster your men in the boats. Guns at the ready, fire at will, board, and secure. Signal when done. For God, King, and country!”

The men all yelled in answer, “For God, King, and
country!” They then went about their orders rushing to battle hand to hand.

Bennett gave another order, once the men had left the ship, heading for the galleon now resting on the very breakers that had brought her to her doom. “Aim for the aft
. Shoot the scull out of the water.”

The sailor on lookout called the one behind the wheel to bring the Devonshire near the back end of the foundering vessel where the second pirate skiff was located. Bennett could see through his spyglass two pirates aboard yell up to their compatriots on the deck. One tipped a chest over the side raining gold and silver coins into the skiff. Two more pirates threw themselves over the rail of the galleon into the skiff, frantically rowing away as Bennett’s superior Armada class vessel fast approached.

Bennett yelled out as they neared, “Ready—aim—fire!” The calls were relayed as if they were an echo, by the firing officers until the command reached the sailors manning the cannons below the decks.

The pirates stopped rowing and grabbed handfuls of gold coins. stuffing them in their pockets as they frantically jumped over the side of the skiff into the shark infested waters panicking as they could see the Devonshire’s cannons in their bays lowered and aimed at their only means of escape.

Randall came up to Bennett’s side. “I estimate sixty boarded, and a galleon her size would have two hundred men.”

Bennett nodded. “So why do you surmise they were so easily taken?”

“I believe from what I saw on deck through the glass sir, is the crew may have mutinied taking the King of Spain’s gold for themselves. Sailors would never have brought a ship in these calm seas into the breakers the way they did. I surmise they must have killed the captain and those loyal to him, the expert navigators being among the number.”

Bennett nodded stiffly, “I concur.”

Bennett looked out from the captain’s deck across the water to the badly listing galleon. The tide was moving in which would give the incoming surf more force to break the ship apart even faster. This was a headache he didn’t need. He spoke, “Two sets of pirates to hang, and a sinking ship heavy with gold which won’t last long on those breakers.”

“Captain? What are your orders?”

He thought briefly of leaving it to sink with the treasure still in its holds, and just get on with the survey. Bennett sighed. “We will take the treasure somewhere unknown, store it, and relay the information to the King. He must be the one to decide what to do with it. Until we hear back, we will finish our mission.”

The echoes of his men firing on the pirates and them shooting back resounded over the rhythmic sound of the waves on the breakers.

Two of Bennett’s skiffs laid down constant fire as the other two groups of men boarded, then the others followed suit. The sixty trained men onboard quickly dispatched the rest of the battle weary pirates. Prisoners soon lined the deck, and the call was given, followed by the signal. Captain Bennett rode over to the captured ship. After making a full inspection of the decks and rooms, he watched as his sergeant at arms whipped the recalcitrants. His interpreter relayed his questions in Spanish and Portuguese until he was sure he had the full story of what had occurred.

He heard some of the pirates murmuring, “Sangrie Graham” which he knew meant Bloody Graham. Yes, blood had been spilled, and more was to follow as every one of the pirates would be forced to walk the plank to his death. A feast for the sharks. Being a captain came with great responsibility. He did not have room to bring back sixty
-five criminals who had mutinied and or killed for gold. They were scoundrels without honor, and their crime called for death.

He signaled for the interpreter to relay his words to the pirates who did not speak English. He yelled out to the prisoners now lining the deck, many with the look of near death upon them. “Pray for forgiveness of your sins as you go to meet your maker.” The interpreter repeated the phrase in the pirates’ native tongues sounding again like an echo.

The captain answered those brave enough to call out, “Bloody Graham is a fitting name as you have brought upon yourselves your own bloodshed. You’ve been sentenced to die for the crimes of piracy and mutiny. For either crime the punishment is death. You will walk the plank. May God have mercy on your greedy souls.”

He turned to Lieutenant Gregory, “Bring the men over in groups of ten. We will commence on the deeper side. Weight them each down with a cannonball. Drowning is more merciful than facing sharks to be eaten alive. Do it from the aft side of the ship, out of the lady‘s view. This is not a sight she should bear.”

“Yes,” the Lieutenant answered.

***

Mary

Mary heard the cannons fire. It could mean only one thing she thought. Pirates were about. Mary opened the door of her room and headed toward the stairs. A sailor coming down the steps spoke, “Miss, back in your room or we will have to secure you in. Orders!” He shouted as he headed below deck. Several armed sailors squeezed by on their way up and out as she made her way back to her room. She thought briefly again of going up top to see what was about, but knew if she did, she would be corralled and possibly locked in her cabin again. It was best just to wait it out and have her door remained unlocked. After a period of silence, the cannons fired again followed by far off reports of guns. Then the sound of the skiffs bumping against the side of the Devonshire as they were lowered into the ocean. She looked out her window, but the action was on the other side of the ship, so she had a view of the open sea, not the islands or the shore.

The captain would keep her safe. She knew, because he had told her so, she was never far off his mind.