2. Jasper

two

Jasper

I was awakened by the sound of heavy military combat boots on the dock. It would only be a moment before the thugs would find me in my gondola. I'd been running for days, and even though I had found respite in a nap, they had caught up with me.

Again.

I shot to my feet as I was prepared, not scared—okay, maybe my heart felt as if it was going to beat right out of my chest, but anxiety is normal these days. I grabbed my tattered, leather satchel, where I stored all my earthly possessions, and tied it around my waist. Diving over the side, I made like a sea otter, swimming deep under water—all former signs of me dissipated.

It was just too easy.

You might be wondering why I was running from thugs. To best bring you up to speed, let's say I had an unconventional job. You remember Robin Hood, right? A nobleman who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Well, it was something like that. I stole from the rich and gave to the poorest of the poor— me .

Before you wag your finger at me, I'm going to set something straight. I was one of those orphan kids who nobody loved, and then aged out of the system three years ago. With only myself to rely on, I couldn't afford fancy schooling, so I fixed up a busted gondola which had been discarded for trash. Now I spend my days carting around wealthy tourists. Those fancy Nancys don't always tip, so I filled in the gaps, flexing the petty thievery skills I had picked up in my youth. A day-old bagel here, a bottle of water there. Most people gladly looked the other way, and it meant I wouldn't starve to death. However, my story gets interesting after I picked the pocket of the wrong guy.

How was I to know he was a pirate? Or that he had a real treasure map stowed in his wallet. He did not have the proper peg leg, or hook hand to warn me. To me, he was another man lost in a sea of people. I got the find of a lifetime—an authentic treasure map— then made my escape.

Or so I thought.

Now his thugs were hot on my trail. Which is why I had a thoroughly thought out, and perfectly meticulously bulleted action plan—RUN!

Well, at the current moment, it was more of a swimming action, but it had the exact same thesis. I power stroked so hard ol' Henry Ford would have been proud, until I couldn't hold my breath for a microsecond longer. Gasping for air, I eased my head up, eyes peeled, and I found…nothing.

Sweet bliss.

I was on the south end of the docks where all the rich people berthed their huge boats. Perfect place for me to hide, because big boats cast big shadows. And, as any good thief would know, big boats also meant there'd likely be supplies I could use. Starting with a change of clothes. I slopped my feet up on the docks, and sloshed forward, feeling the squish of my clothes against my toned-body-builder physique—okay, maybe I had a few extra pounds, but they helped keep me warm on nights I had to sleep outside.

Casing the area with the stealth of a panther, I quickly realized the docks were quiet. Creepily, eerily, quiet, which wasn't exactly good, because it meant I had to be quieter as I sloshed since there was no crowd for me to blend into. The docks may have been empty due to the forecasted storm. High winds rolled through the alleys in between the boats, creating their own little wind tunnels. My teeth chattered so strongly, I felt the reverberations in my toes, but I kept moving because I'd be found if I didn't. My only goal now was to find the treasure before they found me. The unfortunate part was I needed to get to an island a short jaunt from here, and my gondola couldn't handle these seas. My eyes roved over the moored boats.

My lips curled into a devilish grin as I narrowed in on the boat I would steal. You might think I loved this boat because it was the biggest, or the most expensive. Touché. I stayed away from the biggest boats. They tended to have the best alarm systems. The yacht I had my eye on was the runt of this litter. I also loved it because it was on the far end of the dock where the light barely reached. There were plenty of shadows for me to hide in, and a window near the wheelhouse door that would give me access. Rubbing my hands together, my adrenaline building, I was about to make my move when a rustle from behind alerted me.

Ah, shoot!

I wasn't alone.

A woman was standing on the dock, crying.

Staying cool, I gave her my best Jack Sparrow gaze. Luckily for me, she looked away. I was safe—for now.

But not if she didn't shut up! She was crying louder than a hungry newborn, and I didn't need any noise rockets blasting out my whereabouts. "Psst." I harshly blew in her direction. "Do you mind crying more quietly?"

Nothing but soap opera sobs.

"Hey, lady," I screeched, while tossing a security check over my shoulder. "You have got to be quiet."

She sniffed. "It's a free dock, and I can cry if I want." Her eyes narrowed after sizing me up and she continued to assert, "It's really none of your business if I can't stop crying. Besides I'm more mad crying than sad crying at his point. My whole family is ridiculous because they hate me for something I didn't even do."

"Er. It can't be that bad," I offered, not understanding why I was getting sucked into her personal problems. "I'm sure you didn't do anything on purpose." My eyes scanned the docks, which were thankfully still empty. I'd been on the run constantly for a week, and there was no way those thugs would stop now. I couldn't stop moving, but I also couldn't hijack a boat with this crybaby standing there. "Well, then maybe go home because a storm's coming."

"My sister told me to stay away from her forever. So, I'm going to. I was going to take my boat out, but my captain said it's too dangerous." Finally lifting her chin toward me, her eyes washed over me, her forehead dimpled. "Hey, why are you all wet?"

I started to stutter out an excuse, but I had a lightning bolt slam into my brain, flashing two words: GOLDEN TICKET! With a treasure map burning a hole in my satchel, and thugs on my tail, this was exactly the break I was waiting for. I leaned on the dock rail with swagger, hiked an Elvis brow, and gave her my best sell. "Why, I'm a ship captain and I was just diving to look underneath my boat to inspect the keel." Holding out my hand in a noble gesture, I flashed her my dashing lady-killer smile. "The name is Jasper. Nice to meet you."

She received my hand, letting her eyes meet mine, and I took in the sight of her. Oddly, she's not dressed for sailing. She is adorned in a ball gown fit for a princess, disheveled dark hair, and mascara tears trailing down her cheek, it was clear her night hadn't gone the way she had planned. She sniffed back another tear as her shoulders quivered. She pushed through it and managed to squeak out, "You can call me, Evie."

"Evie." I gently squeezed her hand, letting her name ring in my ear because something about her seemed familiar. Her skin was so fair, you'd think it had never been touched by the sun, and not a freckle or spot anywhere in sight. Her eyes were dark, and though swollen from crying, they looked pained, like she was in agony so deep, it made me want to whisper. I managed to ask in a normal voice, "Do I know you from somewhere?"

The smile she was beginning to form on her lips instantly faded. "You have probably seen me on TV. I'm sure I'm unrecognizable with my makeup all messed up, but my real name is Evelynn Darling, the actress."

Since I'd spent the entirety of my adult life homeless, I didn't know much about TV. Even when I was in the orphanage, we didn't have the freedom to watch whatever we wanted. I mused at the suggestion, reckoning it could have been possible I'd seen some show in passing with her in it. Shrugging, still unconvinced, but willing to move past the question at hand, I added, "I don't watch TV, but perhaps." A knot in my stomach wrenched, reminding me I was wasting precious time. I wanted to come off as professional, so I didn't rush my offer when I changed the subject back. "I ah, might be able to help you take your boat out."

"Really? You know how to pilot a yacht?" Her eyes brightened as they continued to hold mine. "There's a storm, but I looked at the radar. If we left now, we could sail around it and wait it out at sea."

Not wanting to seem too eager and make her suspicious, I started to coin a helpful-but-hesitant reply, but a flicker of light at the end of the dock stole my attention. Shadows were moving fast, and my senses told me the thugs were running this way. I couldn't take my chances standing here, playing a game. I pinned on a gracious smile. "Well, I can certainly try." I motioned to the row of boats. "Why don't we board your boat, so I can take a look?"

"First, I need to check your references." Her eyes glittered back at me now. Instead of walking forward, her feet cemented to the planks, making my heart rate ramp up because I could see the shadows drawing nearer.

In a panic, I took a step closer to the water's edge, urging her along. "We don't have time for references. We need to move because the storm is coming in fast, and we don't want to get washed away."

"It seems a little odd you are out here with nothing to do. It doesn't interfere with your schedule to do this?" Not budging even an inch, her gaze wafts down toward the footsteps pounding on the docks. It's clear to me now that the pirates are weaving up and down each row, thoroughly searching each boat, which seemed to slow them down a little, but it wouldn't take long for them to be here. "Do you hear that noise?" She cocked a brow in that direction.

"No, I don't hear anything, and besides it's probably nothing." A scowl started to cross my face before I remembered I was playing a role. "Ah, yes, as far as my schedule goes. I've docked my boat against the incoming storm, but I've navigated worse waters than this. If your ship is secured, we shall be fine. Why don't you show me to your boat, and we can look."

Her gaze turned skeptical, and I feared she was going to pass on my offer. To make the situation credible, I threw out a number to her in offer. "My normal rate is two thousand."

"Oh, yes of course." Her lips took a curious angle, like she was going to inquire further. By now the footsteps pounded toward us like galloping horses, pausing at the boat just a few feet from us. When they find nothing there, they'll turn this way, and it's too close for comfort.

I didn't have time for an interview!

"Look!" I blurted out, if you want to hire me, we gotta leave before they close the docks because it's going to get gnarly. Normally, I'd give you a list of references, and we'd sign a contract, but we don't have time with this weather."

Her head startled back, and she was quiet for a moment—way too long. I held my breath, dying a little each second, as I wished I hadn't been so curt. She swiped away the last of her tears with her sleeve, and eagerly breezed out, "Well, why don't I give you a tour of my boat and we can chat a little about the job." Turning on her heel, leading me further down the dock to a large yacht, she hitched her hands to the ladder and climbed it.

I skittered up behind her, tossing glances over my shoulder every other step. Boy, did I want to push her to make her go faster, but I was smart enough to know that wasn't going to win me this job. Instead, I shoved my hands in my pockets, and did my best to swallow my anxiety. When my feet landed on the deck, my stomach dropped what felt like a foot, in sheer relief. Gulping down the fear that had bubbled into my throat, I didn't think it was a good idea to tell her I'd never actually piloted a boat this big. I mean, I was sure it was a minor detail she didn't need to know, and it would be like riding a bike.

She headed to starboard, calling back, "Follow me. I'll show you to the wheelhouse."

Thankful to have a place to hide out, I followed her inside, adopting my best captain's gait and elevated chin. "Yes, I'm going to need to make sure it's suitable." My eyes traced the two throttles and buttons, and high-tech computer screens, and my brain started to swell immediately. I was clearly going to have to Google some stuff. "Looks great." I shot her a toothy grin, not at all as reassuring as I had hoped. Then rushed to add, "As an added safety precaution, why don't you find a life jacket because these seas are rocky. I'd feel better if you wore one, at least until we are out of the rough waters of the bay." I tried to sound as professional and cautious as I could, while still praying in my head I was convincing her.

"I can find a life jacket." Her smile held a hesitation before she added, "If you're sure you're up to this trip, I'll head back and untie us, so we can get going."

Excitement flooded my veins as I realized that was a job offer. Not just any job offer, but one that would find me some treasure. I fought to keep my smile tame when I said, "I'll set about pulling in the anchor and we should be fine. You have nothing to worry about."

"After I untie us, I'll head down to change into some dry clothes, and I'll be back to see if you need anything after that." As she left, I was relieved of the pressure of running from the thugs, but now had a new pressure—one that had everything to do with not getting us killed.

Letting out a slow breath, I located the choke, pushing it down, and turned the key. Sweet mama, it worked! The engine roared to life, and she purred like a kitten. "I'm going to do this." I chanted to myself as I adjusted my settings. "I'm going to escape those thugs and get this treasure." Pulling the sealed plastic bag from my satchel, I retrieved the treasure map. Still dry and preserved, I rolled it out, trying to pin it flat as I found my coordinates and set the GPS. A joyful and mischievous laugh rolled out of my mouth. "This is too easy."

I slowly pulled away from the dock, holding my breath as I steered out to sea. Once I cleared the marina, I let out a sigh of relief and smirked as I ramped up my speed. Rubbing my hands in glee, I stared studying the map.

I had taken my gondola out a few days earlier, trying to find the island where the treasure markings were. Even though I had easily found my way, I suspected the map's scale had to be off. I had these waters memorized, and I didn't recall ever seeing a diamond shaped island anywhere near here. According to the map, the island was just to the west of the bay, but there was nothing but open sea there. I was hoping I only needed to travel out a little further. It was an odd map with everything perfectly plotted exactly as the sea laid it out, except for that stupid island.

There were also weird markings on the map, one which looked like half of a gold heart attached to a figure eight with writing below it:

True treasure can only be found by two souls fated for eternity.

Shaking my head in disgust because I was never good with riddles, I cringed through the clue before sliding my gaze back to the water. It was dark, but I could see white-capped waves, bouncing this yacht all over the bay. I checked the radar again, making sure we were set, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw Evie coming back. I quickly stashed the map back into the plastic bag, zipped it as fast as I could, and shoved it into my satchel. My eyes locked on hers when she approached, and I found my captain's persona and saluted.