LAST ASSAULT ON OAK ISLAND 13

Chapter 13

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It took half an hour to figure out and cycle the beacon Rudy had maintained for 40 years. During the trial and error, Lauren related what Carlos had told her. Lucy's story had been correct. Rudy was resting as well as possible after a mild heart attack. A battery of tests was scheduled for the next few days, but he would be home soon. No surgery was scheduled, but the doctor had defined a medication routine.

The diary Lauren thought stolen was also found, per Carlos' instructions, in the oven. As it was, Carlos was staying at the hospital until the next morning and catching a ride with some of Lucy's crew as they went in to work the next day.

Maruso called Carlos when the light was working and offered to pick up him, but Carlos declined, claiming it as far too late.

He also made a request of the captain, until he could get there.

"For appearances," Carlos told Lauren when Maruso handed her the phone.

She lifted an eyebrow, seeing Maruso's grin turn something other than opportunistic, but not quite guilty. "Appearances."

"I don't want you there alone," Carlos added. "Clemens may try to make good on his threat. If he noticed the light delay he might get suspicious and pay a visit."

She frowned at Maruso, who was nodding at Carlos' instructions.

"He's got a point," Maruso said with a shrug. He glanced around the room. "Kind of cozy."

She closed her eyes, turning from him, and nodded in reply to the curator still on the phone. "All right, Carlos. Tell Rudy he's got our hopes and wishes. Goodnight."

After a night of strange, unfinished dreams involving dark water and pinpoints of light that kept blinking out, Lauren awoke the next morning with a sense of apprehension. She lay still in the bed, trying to recall why she should feel such urgency. The room was still semi-dark, the window shade blocking the bright morning sun.

The grinding of drills outside drifted in.

Seeing the shade reminded her of Maruso and that he was on the couch in Rudy's small sitting room, and of Rudy's heart attack. The previous night's events flooded back to her in a swell.

The twin drills from the two operations working the island chugged along for several moments, invading her small room. After several long moments of listening to the drills, voices floated up to her from the first floor. It took a few more moments to recognize those of Maruso and Miles.

Her eyes widened. Miles?

By the time she reached the kitchen, Clemens' truck was driving away from the front porch and Maruso had shut the door.

"Good morning. Very conservative." His eyes flicked over her cotton nightgown. "Very grandmammy."

She gave him a sour look, pushing her still-mussed hair from her face. "I didn't know how to pack this time. Being Canada, I figured it would be colder."

He shook his head, brushing past her to go into the kitchen. "Canada in the summer, Gates."

She turned to follow him. "But still Canada, Captain." She met him in the kitchen. "What did Miles want?"