Page 6

“Exactly.”

“Unfortunately,” Ellery said, “Vernon didn’t leave a map marked with a giantXrolled up in his diving bag, so I’m not sure there’ll be any way to prove where those coins came from, let alone pinpoint the position of the ship.”

Nora ignored what she no doubt considered a pusillanimousresponse. “To think that bag was in the cupboard since August.”

“I know.” The realization that possibly a million dollars’ worth of gold coins had been casually stuffed in there with out-of-date sales signs and Libby’s discarded Little Cat tote bag was truly horrifying.

“Now we’ll be flooded with treasure hunters searching for the ship.” Like most of the islanders, Nora had a love/hate relationship with mainlanders.

“It’s not like we don’t already have plenty of treasure hunters diving these waters,” Ellery pointed out. “Nor are these coins a recent discovery. If Vernon Shandy did find Captain Blood’s ship, it happened nearly sixty years ago. Time and tide.”

Time and tidewas island-speak fornothing stays the same. And what could be more true of oceans—hotbeds of geological activity—or eighteenth century shipwrecks?

Nora retorted, “Iknow that, andyouknow that, but you’ll be disheartened to discover we’re going to be in the minority. There’s something about the idea of pirate’s treasure that seems to wash the commonsense out of people’s heads.” She glumly sipped her latte.

Maybe she had a point, given the idiotic things people did for an opportunity to be on TV. Himself included.

As if the universe was listening in on his thoughts, Ellery’s cell phone rang. He glanced at the number and was surprised to see the contact number for his agent, Ronny.

Once, his heart would have pinballed around his chest hitting every light, lever, bumper, and vital organ in his desperate hope for some good news, but now he felt only surprise and a little curiosity. Ronny had rejected the last screenplay Ellery had submitted (in fairness, Ronny would not have considered her request for a rewrite an out-and-out rejection), and Ellery’s audition days were behind him.

“I’m just going to step into my office to take this,” he told Nora.

Nora nodded absently, her attention on the shop’s tall windows and the swift approach of Kingston Peabody, their newest “team member” (as the companies that sold employee motivational gifts would have it).

Ellery clicked to answer his cell, saying, “This is a surprise,” as he stepped into his office. He closed the door.

“Prepare yourself for a bigger surprise,” Ronny said briskly. “TheHappy Halloween! You’re Deadfranchise is getting a reboot.”

“Wait. Don’tInow own theHappy Halloween! You’re Deadfranchise?”

“I was curious about that too,” Ronny admitted. “So I did some checking. It seems Brandon signed the deal for the reboot shortly before his death. He got amajordeal, which is how he could afford to pay cash for the house on Skull Island.”

“Uh, it’s Skull House on Buck Island.”

“Whatever, kiddo. But I wouldn’t go anywhere near that place if I were you.”

“It’s on the other side of— Anyway.”

“Anyway, it’s a done deal. Brandon got the cash, and the reboot is happening. It’s a three-movie deal with Black Palace Entertainment.”

“Black Palace. Is that Vincent Raimi’s studio?”

“Yep. He’s got Dick Waller onboard to direct. Dex Zimmerman is drafting the screenplay. And Timon Grantham is SFX.”

Ellery said slowly, doubtfully, “That’s some serious talent.”

“I know. Here’s the relevant bit. They want you for the part of Noah Street Junior’s father.”

It took a second or two for that to sink in. “Noah Street’sfather?”

“Noah StreetJunior’sfather.” Ronny added quickly, “And I know, you lookfantastic. You’re in your prime.Butno way can you pass for sixteen now.”

“I couldn’t pass for sixteenthen,” Ellery protested.

“I don’t agree. You were averybelievable sixteen-year-old. They’ve signed Fallon Provost to play Noah, and he’s twenty-six. You were a baby compared to him.”

Fallon Provost? For heaven’s sake. These were A-list players. Why in the world would anyone pump so much money into what had been, at best, an obscure B-film franchise?