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Carlita placed her palm against the wall, feeling the cool, damp bricks. “If these walls could talk, I’m sure they would have tons of interesting tales to tell.”
“Without a doubt.” Pete began walking along the wall, careful to steer clear of the disturbed earth several feet away. “I suppose it’s possible a pirate boat got marooned and was eventually dragged back out into the river.”
The couple reached the wall, the one facing the water. “How far away is the river?” Carlita asked.
“Literally only a few feet. If the wall was gone, you could take a stone and toss it in the water.”
“So, it’s only a stone’s throw away,” Carlita said.
“Correct.”
“I hope we can get an expert down here to check it out.”
“We will. I have someone in mind,” Pete said.
“Other than the person Elvira mentioned?”
“Of course. I have no doubt she would love for me to let her handle this. However, this is my property, which means I control who does what.”
“But you’re letting her try to get her expert over here.” Carlita chuckled. “To keep her busy and out of your hair.”
“Precisely. I’ll have an expert here days before she does,” Pete predicted.
Creak. The ceiling made a loud creaking sound.
Carlita stumbled back, clutching her chest. “That was loud.”
“The support beams in here are solid. The ceiling isn’t going anywhere. I’ve seen enough for now. Let’s head back up.” Pete motioned for Carlita to go ahead of him, both of them mindful to stay as close to the wall as possible.
Reaching the opening, Carlita shifted to the side, intending to hop up on the ledge and swing her legs over.
She twisted her foot. A loose pebble became wedged in her shoe. “Crud. I picked up a rock.” Carlita plucked the pesky pebble out and started to toss it on the ground.
“Wait.” Pete stopped her. “Let me see it.”
She handed it to him.
He pinched it between his fingers and held it up to the light. “My dear, it looks like you found our first clue about what may have been behind the tunnel wall.”
Chapter 3
Carlita’s eyes squinted. “Our first clue is a pebble?”
“This isn’t a pebble.” Pete pinched it between his fingers and rubbed it against his shirt.
A faint glimmer caught the light. “It appears to be a gem.” He stepped in front of Elvira’s spotlight. “A ruby, no less.”
Carlita’s heart skipped a beat. “A ruby in the dirt. I wonder if there are more.” She turned her cell phone’s light on and began searching the area near the wall.
Pete tucked the nugget in his pocket and joined her. Within minutes and only scratching the surface, the couple found two more gems. “I think we may be onto something.”
“It’s a good thing Elvira isn’t here. She would be hauling equipment down here faster than you can say treasure.”
“Mum’s the word, at least until we can figure out what the markings in the dirt mean.”
“Maybe there really was a boat here at one time,” Carlita said.
“If I had to guess, it was a jolly boat.”