for arguments that would break out between her and Hurley. Sometimes he wouldn't talk to her for days afterwards until he calmed down.
Not knowing if there were a traitor on deck, Treea decided it would be best that she went in search of clues to who had taken the book. And, if she could find Dale Montey if he were still alive.
She didn't give any of the hands an explanation as to why she was going ashore. Treea didn't need to. They knew she was trying to find a way to get her pop released from prison. Hurley was no longer around to do her leg work. Any one of the men would have gladly tried to help her. She only told them that they needed to stay on board and guard the ship while she was gone in search of answers and the missing prisoner.
The men grinned at her knowingly. They knew what Dale did for a living.
One of the men decided to shout a hint while she rowed the dinghy boat toward the shore. "Check the tavern where you found him last. I'm sure someone will be able to point you in the right direction."
She knew he was right. Where else would one look? It made sense to go back to the beginning. Maybe there she would learn something else useful. That was what a tavern was good for, gossip.
Outside the tavern, Treea straightened her dress and smoothed the lace about her bosom. A quick touch up of the scarf wrapped about her head allowed her large hoop earrings to hang loosely above her shoulders. Black pearls hung about her neck with a matching bracelet. Any other woman would have been overdressed. But being a pirate's daughter, this was the way Treea liked to appear. They were also gifts from her Pop.
As soon as she entered the inn, everyone, guests including knew who she was. No one could miss a pirate's daughter dressing like a pirate's daughter. Frankly, Treea didn't care if they did know. She was there on business.
A bar maid hurried over to her and looked about for a free table for this important guest. There was not one table available. The barmaid looked frantically about, "I can't seem to find you a table."
Treea waved her off. "I'm not here to eat. I'm looking for someone."
"I'm not sure if I can help you then," the barmaid replied.
"Dale, where is Dale. I know you know who I am talking about."
The barmaid's eyes went wide in astonishment. "Dale?" She looked about the room once again. "He does not seem to be here. Did you have an appointment with him?"
"No, but I want to make one. How do I do that?"
"The cost is up front, two gold pieces. I hear his price has gone up since he was last here." The barmaid grinned.
"That is robbery." Treea fished about the inside of a money pouch she had tied to her waist, even though that was less money than Hurley had paid previously. "Here, when can I expect to see him?"
Chapter 14
Treea couldn't wait another minute. She needed to find that book. It was her ticket to getting her Pop out of the dungeon. Sometimes you just needed to do some things by yourself.
Since most of the crew was fast asleep, Treea departed the ship, quietly taking the smallest boat that she could manage with the oars by herself. The waters were slightly choppy from the strong south wind. But, it was by the help of the wind that she was able to use the tide to bring her to shore unnoticed by any of the town's people. She was able to tie it securely to a small dock and left a gold coin for the fish merchant who kept the dock
Most of the people were still asleep or just waking. Wisps of smoke rose from chimneys of the homes of those who could afford coal.
Where was she to begin her search? Who would know Dale Montey? How shall she find him in such a large city? And, did he have the diary?
Why not start where she had first met him? The Black Line Tavern as the deckhand had suggested while she parted the ship.
She had been there two days prior with not one sign of him. The barmaid had agreed to set up a meeting with him, telling her to give her time to find him. Treea waited those
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