Treasure Sleuth Read Free Page B

always plotting and scheming something."
    "A few moments ago you mentioned he was back - what did you mean by that."
    Abby went quiet and tried again to hold back the tears. "What I meant was… I meant that I've, I…"
    "It's okay Abby, I think I understand. Eugene told me about your grandma and how he brought her back to the lighthouse. He told me they were the happiest they'd ever been when holidaying in England which is why they bought the lighthouse as a holiday home."
    "That's right, they were."
    "So I get it. He wanted to be with her again and I guess now they can both go together at the same time." Mark rubbed tears from his eyes.
    "Same time? But he already scattered her ashes off the coast?"
    "No," Mark replied softly. "He didn't. He's kept them until he could join her. It wasn't just the sea he wanted to be sent off in, it was a particular place."
    Abby was confused. She had come here to scatter her grandfather's ashes, his one last wish. It's what everyone had understood he did when he brought her grandma's urn back to England. "But there's no urn here in the cottage or in the lighthouse, I would have seen it."
    "There's a special place in the lighthouse. It's your grandfather's study where he worked on important projects, and until just a moment ago I didn't know how I could show you. But now I realize what he's done. I have something he left for you."
    "Something for me?"
    "Yes, you specifically."
    "What? What did he leave me?"
    "A book."
    Sounding almost disappointed, Abby said "Oh really, I was hoping maybe it was something more."
    "It is something more. It contains a key inside. When he gave it to me he only said 'for my abbey' and that I would understand when the time was right. I always assumed it was a specific key. A key to an old abbey that I'd one day need to explore. But now I realize it wasn't a specific key, it was a specific person. Not an abbey, but you - Abby."
    Feeling more interested, Abby asked, "A key to what?"
    "Without meaning to sound overly dramatic, it's a key to another world. A world your grandfather only wanted you to see. His world. He would have known only you would care enough to make the journey from America to England to carry out his final wish. Only thing is, what you think is his final wish isn't. His real final wish is for you to open a door and take a step into the unknown."
    "Mark, are you for real? This sounds crazy!"
    "Yes Abby, I am. And yes it does sound crazy. But it also sounds…"
    "Like my Grandpa!"
    "Indeed."
    "But what study? There isn't a study in the cottage or the lighthouse. I've been here before and know every inch of this place. And I would know if there was any extra furniture I have to organize for the house clearance people tomorrow."
    "Cancel them."
    "What?"
    "Trust me, just cancel them, this is too important."
    "But I'm leaving on Friday after the sale. Everything is booked."
    Mark was taken aback. This was all so sudden. With the thought of Eugene's passing barely sinking in, now the lighthouse is being cleared out. "Damn, you don't hang around do you? Please just trust me, I'll show you everything. Then if you still want the furniture out I will take care of it myself. I promise. But you're going to want to see this."
    Abby thought for a moment. "Okay, so I'll see you tomorrow then?"
    "Yes. Tell you what, there's a kettle in the lantern room at the top of the lighthouse, why don't we sit up there and have a chat. It's where me and Gene would chat when he had something important to share with me. He would call me up and ask if I fancied a coffee with a view, and then I knew it was going to be something good. I know he'd get a kick out of this if he knew we were both sitting up there."
    "Sounds good to me. It will be interesting to meet you Mark. See you tomorrow."
    "And you, see you tomorrow."
    Mark rested his elbow on the armrest and brought his clenched fist up to his mouth. Imagining the last time he saw Eugene and their chat, could Gene have known