LAST ASSAULT ON OAK ISLAND 26

Chapter 26

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Tuesday morning's paper was two hours late getting to the newsstands. Lauren was more eager than she cared to admit as Maruso dropped off the extra thick special edition. She met him at the pier where he docked briefly before taking a group of tourists out to Sable Island.

The paper was not late because of last minute articles about Blackbeard as Lauren thought. On the front page was an aerial view of the Yearbright operation dynamiting the flood tunnel Sunday.

"'Flood Tunnel Successfully Blocked,'" Lauren read aloud to herself while still on the pier after Maruso had left. "'After numerous attempts by various treasure companies, the flood tunnel keeping the Money Pit in water was successfully blocked Sunday afternoon. It took thirty hours for the dust to settle enough for Lucy Yearbright, head of the Allied Gavens-Yearbright Group, to see into the freshly plugged waterway.'"

One point for Lucy, Lauren thought with a small smile. No more pumps; just drills from Lucy's operation. Clemens' pumps kept the water from South Shore Cove under control, so the Money Pit area was now drying out. She read Lucy's account of the dig as she walked back to the lighthouse. As with Clemens' interview earlier, she learned nothing new.

Just below the end of the article on page two was another headline, this one sporting Saul's name.

'New Evidence Discovered by Clemens', she read silently. She hurriedly skimmed the article, but was disappointed as Saul again refused to give particulars about his findings. She was halfway to the lighthouse when a white pickup truck stopped beside her.

"Need a ride to town?" Miles asked through the open passenger window.

It took Lauren a moment to disengage herself from her present thoughts and consider his question. Without thinking she said, "I thought you weren't allowed through the gates." Realizing her blunder, she added: "I mean, with Monro and Neeley—"

"We've made arrangements with Otis," he said offhandedly. "Monro's been letting everyone through since Sunday, for a price." He glanced back to the dock still in view. "Maruso won't get back in time for you to catch the mail today. Do you have any tours this morning?"

"How do you know where Lewis went?"

"Well, I don't exactly," he admitted, "but it's got to be out of the bay. The tourists have been fighting each other to charter the larger boats that can go to Sable. Maruso can do those runs. Hop in."