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“I’m not alone,” she said, nodding to the woman dusting for prints. “If my friend doesn’t get here by then, I’ll get a ride to his place with the CSI. If that’s okay. He’s just a mile up the road.”
The CSI agreed, saying it wouldn’t be a problem.
“Then, yes,” Bree said to Remi. “I’ll go with you.”
Two hours later, they arrived at the hangar where the jet awaited.
Sam and Remi changed out of their damp clothes that were covered in glass dust from the SUV’s broken window. While Sam was up front in the cockpit discussing their travel plans with the crew, Remi sat with Bree at the table in the main cabin.
Bree was talking on the phone. “Why don’t you try to get some rest. I’ll call as soon as I get home . . . Talk to you then.”
When Bree disconnected, Remi asked, “Everything okay?”
“I just wanted to check in with Larayne to see if her friend had picked her up. He did. She’d had quite a bit to drink by the time we got out of there.”
“I noticed. Speaking of, would you like something to drink before dinner?”
“Yes,” Bree said. “If it’s not too much trouble.”
“What would you like? Coffee, tea, or something stronger?”
“You know . . .” Bree took a deep breath. “I think something stronger. As long as it’s not vodka. Maybe a little sherry.”
Their flight attendant, Sandra, appeared with a tray bearing cheese and crackers. Remi thanked her. “Two glasses of sherry will do nicely,” she said. “Actually, pour a scotch, too. Sam will undoubtedly join us.”
Sandra returned shortly with the sherry and scotch, then faded into the background. Remi lifted her glass. “So glad to have you back.”
“Thank you.” Bree gave a tired smile, then sipped, catching her breath as the alcohol hit her mouth. “That’s . . . more than I’m used to.”
Remi smiled as Sam joined them at the table, taking a seat next to her. “So,” he asked, “how is Larayne doing?”
“Fine, I guess. She was pretty upset, apologizing for what happened, saying it was her fault, that she brought Charles Avery into all this.”
Sam picked up a couple of crackers from the tray. “We don’t know yet if he’s behind this.”
“Larayne seems to think he is. She said she remembered one of them talking to someone named Charlie on the phone about looking for these markers.”
“Markers?” Sam said.
“Something to do with the map book. I have to assume it was related to this key or something.”
“Did she say where?” he asked.
“Something about some pit or oak on some island? Larayne was pretty blitzed,” she said as Sandra walked back from the cockpit.
Sandra smiled at Sam. “Excuse me for interrupting, Mr. Fargo. We’ve received clearance for takeoff.”
“Hold up a sec,” Sam said, then looked at Bree. “Is it possible your cousin was talking about the Money Pit at Oak Island?”
“It could have been. It was hard to understand her.”
“What do you think, Remi?” Sam asked.
“Nova Scotia?” She wanted to get to the bottom of this mystery, but she was worried about Bree’s well-being. “Only if Bree is up to the trip.”
“I’ll be fine. I promise.”
He turned to Sandra. “Inform the pilots we’ll need a change in flight plans. Halifax International. We’ll arrange to get Bree home from there.”