The Sea Owes Me a Fortune

Chapter 009

Vicky stopped and looked back, doubt still in her eyes.

If he wouldn't give her a baby, what other way out could there be?

Drawing on what he remembered from his first life, Jasper spoke earnestly.

“You're still young. You don't have to spend the rest of your life trapped here.”

“I've heard there's work in Orea City. I'll pay your fare. You could get a factory job and earn at least sixty or seventy dollars a month.”

He grew more animated as he spoke. “There's a whole world beyond this island, Vicky. You have no idea what's out there. If you're willing to leave, there's no telling what you could do with your life.”

Jasper had thought about leaving too. But he had no money to get started, and that wasn't his only reason for staying.

In his first life, he'd lost all contact with his family. Now that he had another chance, he wanted to be close to them and his friends. Investments could wait a few years, until he'd saved enough to make them worthwhile.

Vicky had nothing like that holding her here.

“You didn't want a divorce because you'd have nowhere to go, right?” he continued. “If you left the Hunnams and went home, your family would only sell you off again. But in Orea City, you'd earn your own money. Your life could…”

He trailed off. She was looking at him as if he'd lost his mind.

“You don't believe me?”

“Orea City…” Vicky gave a bitter little smile. “Even if I had the money, how would I get there? Would the Hunnams let me leave? Would the mayor?”

“And what would I do once I got there? The farthest I've ever been is town. You want me to go to Orea City all by myself? A woman like me, on my own? It would be suicide.”

By the time she finished, she was crying again.

Only then did Jasper remember.

It was still 1984. To get off the island, you needed the mayor's permission to use the big boat. In a small rowing boat, you could spend days and nights at sea and still never reach the mainland.

And the mayor's family ruled the village like mob bosses.

He'd hoped Vicky could leave the island for good. Once she was free of the Hunnams, he could finally put an end to his involvement with her too.

As for the Hunnams, they'd never get her back. Let them live with the consequences for a change.

But he'd underestimated Vicky. She was sharper than most of the village girls and knew how to weigh the risks.

“I'm going home.”

She wiped her eyes and turned away.

Jasper watched her go for a long time before finally looking away. A rueful laugh escaped him.

There was no point going back to bed. He wouldn't sleep now. Instead, he looked around and activated his ability.

The beach and the sea blazed with light.

He blinked, waiting for his eyes to adjust. Then he spotted a faint turquoise glow coming from a gap in the rocks farther along the shore.

He'd worked out the pattern by now. There were five colors: white, green, turquoise, blue, and orange. Orange meant the most valuable catch, like the grouper he'd found.

That pale turquoise glow had to be something good.

Jasper hurried over and reached into the crevice, pulling out a plump octopus.

He weighed it in his hand. Over a pound, easily, and it twisted and writhed in his grip, full of life.

He grinned. An octopus this size would fetch at least a dollar. A shame he hadn't brought a bucket.

After a moment's hesitation, he headed home at a run, still clutching his catch.

He'd barely stepped inside when Anne emerged from her room, yawning.

They stared at each other, equally startled.

“Jasper? You've been out gathering shellfish in the middle of the night, and you didn't wake me?”

Her indignation quickly turned to excitement. “Wait here. I'll get changed and come with you!”

Knowing how stubborn she could be, Jasper shook his head and gave in.

By the time he'd put the octopus somewhere safe, Anne was back with two buckets, eager to get going.

“Get a sack too,” he told her.

“What for? It'll be light soon. We'll be lucky if we fill these two buckets.”

Remembering all those lights along the shore, Jasper didn't hesitate.

“Just get it, or you're staying home.”

“As if I need you to take me!”

Despite her grumbling, she went back for the sack. Then they headed out together.

The moon was nearly full, shining brightly overhead. Jasper was busy thinking about the haul his new ability would help him find when Anne spoke.

“So, what did Vicky want with you in the middle of the night?”

“What?”

He stumbled, his expression changing. “What are you talking about? You can't go around saying things like that. If people heard you…”

“I heard her.” Anne gave him a sly smile. “I'd know that soft voice anywhere. You might have fooled Mom, but you didn't fool me.”

His heart began to race. He was scrambling for an explanation when she went on.

“Was she trying to talk you into running away with Sydney?”

The more Anne considered it, the more certain she sounded. “She said once that her own life was already ruined, so she wanted Sydney to marry someone she loved. But with Sydney's dad being such a miserable bastard, what else can you do?”

“Running away together makes the most sense.”

She leaned toward Jasper and winked. “If you two really do run off, can you take me along?”

Relief washed over him. He rapped her on the head with his knuckles.

“You little menace. Where do you get these ideas? Running away, honestly. Stop spending so much time with the village gossips.”

Anne clapped a hand to her head and yelped. “Can't I even ask? Then what did Vicky come to see you about?”

“If it wasn't about Sydney, what else could she want from you?”

If only she knew.

Feeling distinctly guilty, Jasper changed the subject.

“I told you, you heard wrong. Nobody came. Hurry up. Once it's light, the beach will be full of people.”

He quickened his pace.

“Jasper, wait for me!”

They made their way to the shore, talking and teasing each other as they went.

A few early risers were already scattered across the beach. Anne was about to hurry forward with her buckets when Jasper stopped her.

“Hang on.”

He'd just remembered another stretch of beach, a little over half a mile away. It was out of the way and had a reputation for poor pickings, so hardly anyone bothered with it.

But he had his ability. He'd already checked this beach, and nothing had shone especially brightly. Why not try somewhere else?

“Let's have a look at Splitrock Cove.”

The cove took its name from an enormous rock, split in two, at its entrance. Fishing boats usually gave it a wide berth. Submerged rocks could tear up a hull, and the surrounding water was deep, with strong currents. Almost nobody went there.

With his ability, he could find the valuable catch and dive straight for it. Easy money.

Anne was alarmed. “Are you out of your mind? You can't go gathering shellfish at Splitrock Cove! What would we go there for?”

A woman heading onto the beach overheard them and frowned.

“Don't be a fool, Jasper. Get swept away out there, and no one will be able to save you.”

But he'd made up his mind.

He'd spent a lifetime fishing, a lifetime on the water. He could swim better than most, and his ability would show him exactly where the best catches were hiding.

There had to be something valuable in a place as untouched as Splitrock Cove.

When Anne realized she couldn't change his mind, she stamped her foot.

“Fine. I'll come with you. But when Mom starts shouting at us in the morning, don't blame me.”

Jasper smiled, untroubled. “Don't worry. We'll come back with more than you know what to do with.”

As the two of them walked away, the woman shook her head.

“Young people. One silly idea after another. If something happens out there, it'll be too late to be sorry.”

Jasper heard her but paid no attention.

“Come on, Anne. Let me show you how it's done!”