Kathleen Y'Barbo (37 page)

“Excellent,” Kyle said. “Would you care to join us here, sir?”

“Thank you, but I believe I will stand, the better to keep me from having to jump and run should my copilot need me.”

“Fair enough.”

As the men conversed, Millie made an attempt to sort out the facts as she now knew them. Unfortunately, she failed miserably, leaving her
to wish for a notebook and pen like the one Kyle carried in his coat pocket.

Or her sketchbook. Though she generally drew likenesses of whatever
machine or chemical process captured her imagination, today would have been an excellent day to draw the complicated graph of her family tree.

Just how this Julian fellow fit in was yet to be determined. However, she had a feeling that soon she would know the answer to that. And, she hoped, to the question of what happened to Sophie—

“Millie?”

She glanced up at Kyle and realized both men were looking at her with what appeared to be humorous expressions. “Yes?”

Kyle made the introductions and then added a comment about their shared interest in solving puzzles. “Here is the other reason I wanted us to dine up here today. While conversing with the captain yesterday, I noticed something. Captain, would you show Miss Cope your cypher, please?”

“I would be glad to.”

When he produced a Jefferson wheel cypher from his pocket, Millie’s eyes widened. It was of the same construction as hers, the only difference being the type of coins used. While her cypher had been made of gold coins, these appeared to be silver pieces of eight.

And while hers had been worn as a charm on a necklace, the captain’s cypher was attached to a chain and used as a pocket watch fob.

“It’s lovely,” she said as she examined the piece carefully. “Where did you get it?”

“Been in the family for years,” he replied as Millie handed the cypher back to him and he returned the piece to his vest pocket. “I understand these were a dime a dozen among a certain group.” He nudged Kyle. “Guess I won’t be arrested by the Pinks if I admit I have a few shady characters in my family tree.”

“No,” Kyle said as he met Millie’s gaze. “That happens in the best of families.”

“It does at that.” The captain grinned. “I do love the story of how old Lafitte gave those out like party favors once one of his men learned to make them. Why, I have heard there are so many cyphers around that
there is no good way to tell which ones are authentic and which ones are reproductions.”

Millie’s heart sank at the news. And yet her cypher had a code directly linked to Jean Lafitte.

“I understand you can buy these in certain shops in the French Quarter,” Kyle said. “People can then tell all sorts of tall tales about pirates in their families without any fear of actual pirates coming back to taint their social standing.”

“Look here.” The captain’s face colored. “If I wanted to lie about my family, I would say they were decent and upstanding folk who were law-abiding citizens all their lives. That is something worth telling people.”

“You have me there, Captain,” Kyle said. “But that is not what you are claiming, is it?”

“It is not. What I know to be true and what I have heard has been tangled up in the time that has passed, but I do know there was a man who kept the Baratarians gainfully if not honestly employed. I take my riverboat skills from that man.”

“Lafitte?” Millie asked.

“Not that I will admit, and likely not him at all but rather one of his lieutenants. Apparently, Lafitte fell off the face of the earth sometime in the mid–1820s. No one knows what happened to him, but the old people say the swindler lived a long life.”

Millie noticed that Kyle’s interest piqued at the captain’s use of the term “swindler.”

“Do you believe that?” he asked.

“Yes, I do,” the captain said with a certainty that left no doubt.

“And what of the treasure he is purported to have buried all over the coast? What have you to say on that topic?”

“I believe a man who lives that long has plenty of time to find all of the piles of treasure he has hidden, don’t you think?”

“I suppose so.”

And yet as Millie heard him say the words, she longed to disagree with him. If Lafitte had recovered all the treasure, that would mean there was nothing left for her. And that just could not be considered. Not until all the options were accounted for. Millie made up her mind
he was wrong in his assessment. Jean Lafitte had left plenty enough treasure to go around. All she had to do was find it.

“So I am left to wonder how much is still out there,” he continued.
“Though I will say that my dear old grandpappy used to say that the owner of a cypher was given the right to whatever treasure went along with it. The keys to the kingdom, as it were.”

Millie’s ears perked up at that. “What do you mean?”

“Just that the real cyphers have a tiny key inside. They are linked to whatever lockbox is holding the treasure.”

“Now me,” he said with a laugh, “well, I have yet to figure out where my treasure is. But then I never did figure out how to open it to see if a key is inside.”

“Are you familiar with how cyphers work?” Kyle asked.

“I’ve done a little research,” the captain responded as he once again pulled the cypher from his pocket.

“As have I.” Kyle nodded to the silver charm. “You might want to start trying familiar names to see if any will unlock the puzzle.”

“Familiar names? I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

“It is just a guess, but what about trying the name of the man who built the puzzle? Don’t bother with regular alphabet letters. Use semaphore flags.”

“And if I do not know this man’s name?”

“Then that is probably where your research should go next.”

“That is a right good idea. Once we get to port I am going to have to pay my mama a visit. I bet she will know where to start.”

“Mamas usually do,” Kyle said as he rose to slap the captain on the back. “I know mine always has an answer for everything, even when no one has asked a question. Now, I do appreciate you allowing us the courtesy of a private meal here. We both are very appreciative.”

The man grinned. “The least I could do to further the cause of young love. You two enjoy yourselves up here long as you want, but I have a steamboat to run and I cannot do it out here enjoying the sunshine.

“Young love?” Millie said when the captain was a few paces away. “Why do you think he assumed this?”

“Probably because he could see your admiration for me on your lovely face, Millie,” Kyle said as he returned to his seat. “Or, it might be because I allowed him to think that during the course of a conversation requesting his permission for this private lunch.”

She laughed. “I suppose I can go along with that for now.”

And yet as she said the words, she knew that it was far too easy to go along with the ruse that she and Kyle were more than business partners in a treasure-hunting venture. More than two people seeking to solve the same puzzle. In that moment, the real puzzle was how she could continue to pretend to be his ladylove without allowing herself to believe that it might one day be true.

“You’re smiling,” he said. “A penny for your thoughts.”

“That is an offer I must turn down.”

“And I thought we had an agreement that you would follow where I led, playing empress to my emperor. Have you so soon forgotten this?”

“Empress to your emperor? I truly do not recall making such a promise.” Oh, but the subject did need an immediate change. “How did you know the captain had that cypher?”

“Situational awareness,” he said, as if that were the simplest answer in the world.

“I don’t follow.”

“It’s part of my training. You would be surprised at the things a person can learn just by observing his or her surroundings and seeking out the person in charge.”

“But how did you know he had a cypher?”

“I saw it on his watch fob and asked him about it. As you might have noticed, the man is not shy about the subject of Lafitte,” Kyle said with a chuckle. “But then I grew up with the subject matter, so the old pirate is a familiar fellow to me. To most New Orleanians, actually. A select few take great pride in the connection. The rest accept it as just something interesting in the family tree.”

“I see.” She paused to consider this. “So there would not be such a taint on a lady’s reputation if Lafitte is found hiding in her family tree?”

“Taint?” He chuckled. “Down in New Orleans, men have married for less.”

“You are teasing me.”

“A little, but to answer your questions, no, there is no shame in these modern times with a connection to Jean Lafitte. Maybe in Memphis, but
certainly not down there. However, there is one thing I should mention about the treasure you seek.”

“Yes?”

“If it can be proven it comes from ill-gotten gains, the funds are subject to seizure by the authorities.”

“And how can that be proven? Is it difficult to offer the correct provenance of the treasure? I mean, we could be talking about valuables that were purchased legally.”

Even as she said the words, her heart sank. What were the odds that a pirate’s treasure was obtained through honest means? For the first time since she began her quest, Millie wondered whether the search was an honorable one. Whether she was chasing after a fortune that did not belong to her.

“As to proving their case? It would not be any more difficult than it will be for the government to prove the case against you. Or anyone else,” he hastened to add. “Theoretically the one with truth on his side wins.”

“I like that theory.”

“But enough of this topic,” he said. “I want to know about those drawings you made. What else do you have in that sketchbook of yours?”

“Just that,” she said. “I only bought it yesterday.”

“I see.” He regarded her with an unreadable look. “What would you think about seeing if your plans are workable? The ones you drew in the sketchbook, I mean.”

“I don’t know. It was just a doodling and not anything I can say for certain will pass muster.”

Kyle shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. We already know the flying machine works. What we don’t know is whether your tweak of the fuel system will give us the abundance of lift we need to keep the fuel conservation at the level you say it can.”

“That I
theorize
it can,” she corrected.

“Fair enough, but theories can only be proven through testing. I would love to get those drawings into my workshop to see if we can
prove the theory behind them.” He smiled. “Of course, that will mean more test flights. Once the silk is mended, that is.”

“A burden I am willing to bear,” she said as she matched his grin.

“A willing and able assistant. I like that. Might you have any other ideas?”

“Other ideas?” She shook her head. “None at this time, although the day is still young.”

Kyle rose and helped her to her feet. “I will not be responsible for causing you to freckle, Miss Cope, so downstairs with you.” She followed the line of his sight over the hurricane deck at the passengers now milling about one level below. “Unless you would prefer to join the after-lunch crowd for a stroll.”

“I would rather take up sewing,” she said, for she had an afternoon filled with books and deep thoughts ahead. Or perhaps a nap to make up for her fitful sleep and dreams of a strange man who looked like a combination of her father and her former fiancé chasing her.

With a nod to go with his brilliant smile, Kyle ushered her to the stairs and then assisted her down to the level below. As they entered the passageway, the elder Milligan brother stepped into view.

“Good afternoon,” was all he spared them before moving on.

“Oh, dear,” she said when the door closed behind him without further comment. “It appears our little ruse is working. It almost makes kissing you worth it.”

“Hey now.” He stopped short and turned her to face him. “I need a clarification on that.”

Her heart slammed against her chest. “And what sort of clarification do you need?” she managed. “I think opinion was clearly stated.”

“I beg to differ.”

Goodness, was he leaning close? It must be the noonday sun that had her face feeling flushed, for she had certainly seen Kyle Russell this close before.

“All right,” she said as she swiped at a curl the wind had blown out of place. “Enlighten me on any corrections required to my statement.”

“I will be glad to. You stated your opinion about our kiss,” he said in a most scholarly manner, “and you connected that statement to an
economic action, namely to the idea that the kiss’s effect was worth the cost of giving it.”

“Yes.”

“There are two qualifications required: What cost and...” Now he was certainly leaning close, heedless to the traffic going up and down the hall.

So much for situational awareness. The only situation Kyle Russell seemed to be aware of was the one going on right in front of him.

“And?” she said in a voice that sounded very much like a squeak.

“And to which kiss do you refer?”

Wit bested wisdom, and there was nothing for it. Millie raised up on her tiptoes and repeated her stellar performance from last evening’s meal.

“That one,” she said as she turned on her heel and left the intrepid inventor apparently speechless. “See you at dinner, Emperor.”