A Red Sky Rising Page 9

  Getting back to his feet, he whispered to Julia, “Stand back.”

  He had noticed that the thieves had a rhythm to their pounding. Trying his best to match up with the beat, he rammed his foot against the locked door, breaking the lock through the frame of the door.

  While every other room in the house looked beautiful and well kept, this room looked like the complete opposite. Once the door swung open, dust flew up from the wooden floor. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling, and moth-eaten curtains hung over the windows. There was definitely something hidden in the room. Riggs knew it.

  Every step kicked up years of dust. Even the air seemed stale. Inside the room, there were bookshelves that lined the walls, every spot crammed with books. An old mahogany desk sat in the back of the room with a cushioned chair behind it. If there was ever a place to hide something, the desk would definitely be that place.

  “Keep watch, love,” he instructed Julia, hurrying over to the desk.

  He slid his hand over the wooden surface, trying to feel for any bumps or grooves that would indicate a secret compartment. There was nothing on the front panels to suggest that. Shoving everything off of the top of the desk, he found nothing there either. He shrugged it off as nothing about which to worry. To successfully plot against one of the greatest pirates of all time, Coote must have been an intelligent man. If he had wanted to hide something, it would not have been that obvious.

  Pushing the chair back, Riggs crawled behind the desk and started looking for levers or buttons. To his dismay, the desk was not as elaborate as he would have liked. Nothing seemed that special about it. The panels were each made of one solid wood piece, meaning nothing could have been hidden behind them or stored anywhere. The drawers were empty, presumably cleaned out by Coote before he died. There was not even a hint of the desk being used for anything other than just being a desk.

  “Any luck?” asked Julia as silence filled the mansion.

  Riggs stood up and leaned over the desk, confused by the room. Why had it been locked if there was nothing important in there? Why was it the one room that had never been touched for years? Kicking the desk, he let himself fall back into the chair.

  *thunk*

  “What the bloody…”

  *thunk*

  After thrusting his spine against the back of the chair several times, Riggs felt something unusual in the padding. He ran his hand over the cushion on the back of the seat. In the bottom corner, he felt the tip of something. The pirate’s fingers followed that until he had outlined an entire square.

  “I’ve got ye now,” he said as he drove his sword through the material, ripping a gigantic hole in the chair. Once he felt the wood in his hands, he almost laughed in delight. With nothing to hold it in place, a small box fell out of the chair and into Riggs’ hands. Like a giddy child, he eagerly placed it on the desk and beckoned Julia to come and see it. She was just as amazed as he was.

  His hands were tingling with anticipation. Carefully opening the lid, he reached in and pulled out some papers. With Julia looking over his shoulder, they both saw the familiar seal on the parchments.

  It was another letter from Robert Hunter.

  “We’ve got to get back to the others. There’s only so much time before…”

  *crack* SLAM

  “… before that happens,” said Riggs, tucking the box underneath his arm and pulling out his gun.

  Shouts erupted from the entryway as Riggs and Julia ran down the hallway. By the time the two reached the stairs, the carnage had already begun. The thieves had immediately seen Eli and Petey, starting a brawl between the two bands of outlaws. The instant that Riggs started running down the stairs to protect his crewmates, Ripper appeared, tackling one of the larger thieves to the ground. In all of the chaos, someone’s gun shot into the air, turning both pirates and thieves even more violent.

  One of the thieves slashed a knife at the Captain, but Riggs countered with the butt of his gun. Surprisingly adept with his weapon, the man held Riggs at bay, forcing the pirate back onto the stairs. Kicking the man in the wrist, Riggs bought himself enough time to get a clear shot at the man, blowing a hole in the thief’s side.

  Another band of thieves rushed into the mansion holding torches and lanterns. These were far more prepared than those who had preceded them.

  Gunshots echoed throughout the building as the pirates tried to keep from getting shot. With the light of the torches bathing nearly every room, it was considerably harder for the crew to escape and hide. In desperation, the pirates overturned tables and chairs, trying to shield themselves from whatever onslaught might occur. Dashing into the dining room, Ripper and Riggs flipped a large table on its side, tumbling over it with the rest of the group. Balls of lead shot through the makeshift shield, just barely missing the crew.

  “You can’t hide from us, you stupid pirates. Come out where we can see you so we can fight like real men,” the thieves shouted, waving their torches in the air.

  As quietly and as quickly as he could, Riggs reloaded his gun. In the chaos, he had noticed a chandelier hanging above the thieves’ heads. All he needed was one shot for his plan.

  “Step out and surrender like men. We’ve come to collect a debt, and we’re not about to be cheated out of it by no-good lowlifes.”

  Right after the man finished speaking, Riggs took aim and shot a ball straight through the rope holding the chandelier in the air. Time seemed to slow down as the thieves looked up to the ceiling and screamed as the weight of the glass and metal crashed down on top of their heads. Torches and weapons fell to the ground as the men wailed in agony, trying to yank shards of broken glass from their skin.

  Cautiously, Riggs and his crew peeked over their barricade of tables. All of their attackers lay on the ground in a bloody mess. They were still alive, but in a great amount of pain.

  “Is that all o’ them?” asked Clint.

  Surveying the scene, Julia replied, “I believe so, Clint.”

  “Halt in the name of the king!” ordered two soldiers, stepping into the hall.

  “Bloody hell! I’m gettin’ tired of this,” exclaimed Riggs, grabbing a torch from the ground and tossing it at the soldiers.

  The two redcoats ducked just in time, the flame missing them by mere inches. It hit against the wall, rolling under a drape. In seconds, the entire cloth was on fire.

  Ignoring the flames that quickly engulfed the entryway, the soldiers took aim, ready to fire on whoever stood in their way. Riggs tried to reload his pistol, but a shot knocked it out of his hands. With the smoke starting to fill the rooms, he did not have the time to retrieve it.

  Picking the perfect moment, the pirates ran to the back of the house to escape with Ripper and Petey firing back at the soldiers. As the rooms grew hotter from the flames, the crew did not even bother with the door. They crashed straight through a window, landing roughly in the yard as bits of glass showered the bushes.

  A yellow glow started to fill the mansion as Riggs and his crew ran with all of their might toward the wall. As they climbed over the wall, they could hear the remaining windows shattering from the heat. Townsfolk were starting to gather at the entrance gate because of all of the commotion, giving the pirates an easy escape into the forest.

  From the safety of the trees, the pirates watched as flames rose into the air. Smoke blotted out the stars and moon. It billowed into the sky, casting a dark shadow over the area. Concerned citizens tried in vain to extinguish the blaze, but there was nothing they could do.

  Coote’s mansion was beyond the point of saving.

  Retreating deeper into the forest, Riggs laid Coote’s box down on the ground and opened it, revealing the letters. Now that the pirates had a chance to breathe, the rest of the crew noticed their captain’s discovery.

  “Is that what I think it is?” asked Clint.

  “Is there a map to the treasure?” asked Petey.

  “What’s in de box?”

  The questions grew louder, forcing R
iggs to hush his crewmates. They could not afford to be caught, not at a time like this.

  Opening the box, he pulled out a piece of paper marked with the seal of Hunter. He raised it in the air so that the light of the burning mansion could illuminate the words.

  “Most Honorable Coote,

  “I am of no doubt that you are aware of the actions of Captain William Kidd and his treachery against the Crown. I have heard reports that he killed several of his own crew… fellow Englishmen such as yourself. The bloke seems also to be sailing on a stolen vessel with a hull full of treasure.

  “He has petitioned my help regarding safe passage within the Colonies. To bide time for this message to make it to your humble office, I bade him to pass by my province and instead take refuge at New York.

  “Before you become upset with me, I must remind you of what I said earlier: a hull full of treasure. Should you keep this letter and anything that corresponds to the dear delusional captain between yourself and me, I will not mention the load in the court in which Kidd will inevitably find himself. I would imagine that such a haul would alleviate much of that debt that you have accrued over the years. What a magnificent way to better yourself in the public eye…

  “I leave the decision up to you. Just know that this traitor, no matter what he says, is a pirate. Imprison him the instant he sets foot on land. Seize his profits and send him to the courts. We will forever be known as the men who captured the most notorious pirate of all time.

  “Best wishes,

  Robert Hunter”

  Riggs folded the letter and placed it back in the box. The parchment only served to prove that Hunter and Coote were working together to take down Kidd. There had to be something else, something to answer his questions. The Captain shuffled through the papers and took another out of the box. Shutting the cries of the townspeople out of his head, he began to read to himself:

  “Hunter,

  “You are correct. I am well aware of Captain Kidd’s recent exploits. In fact, I daresay that I know more about them than even you. I am Earl and Governor, by the way.

  “While I do not agree with your foolhardy comparisons, I do believe that I would benefit from taking Kidd’s treasure for myself. I will take what I need to pay my debts, if you can even call them that. Rest assured, you will get a fair share, but since I am doing the most work in this operation, I will be taking a larger cut. There can be no objections.

  “On another note, why did you decide to send that dastardly pirate to me? Surely, your troops could have held him. Have I not heard of your fabulous prisons many times before? What is this weakness that I sense in you? Is this the same man that fought in the Army at my side?

  “Regardless, Kidd will be overcome. Should he decide to hide, I will still find him. There are only a couple places where anyone can try to disappear, but that pirate will be mine. Enclosed I am sending a map, so that you may know in the unlikely circumstance of my troops needing assistance.

  “Deepest regards,

  Governor Richard Coote,

  Earl of Bellomont”

  Dropping the letter to the ground, Riggs dug his fingers into the small pile of papers and tried to find a map. Unfortunately, even after two meticulous searches through the papers, the Captain could not find any map. Hunter must have kept it.

  For a moment, he forgot where he was and pounded his fist into the wood of the box. Luckily for Riggs, the noise could not overpower the sound of people still trying in vain to extinguish the fire at the mansion.

  “Where do ye reckon this map is, Captain?” asked Clint, reading the letter over Riggs’ shoulder.

  “Whoever Hunter is, he doesn’t seem to be an arrogant ass like Coote. I couldn’t see ‘im holdin’ meetin’s with his lies in plain sight. I’d wager to say that he took his letters with him instead of leavin’ them for thieves to find.”

  Cleaning up the mess of papers, Julia posed the question, “What makes you so sure?”

  “I’m not,” he said, getting to his feet, “but we’ll find out in time if I’m right.”

  Tucking the box underneath his arm, he said, “Let’s get back to the beach. We’ve got some plannin’ to do.”

  “What in the name of God is going on?” yelled the Commodore as he ran down the New York street after Admiral Carter.

  “What does it look like? It’s a fire… and a big one at that.”

  The Salvation had arrived in the port just hours ago. They had been on their way to recruit more troops from the battalions when Hamond had noticed the plumes of smoke rising in the air. Without hesitation, Carter had ordered his soldiers to head toward the source of the blaze, eager to find who or what was responsible. Now, as they were racing through the streets, Hamond was genuinely surprised. For an old man, Carter moved deceptively fast.

  As the naval officers drew closer to the source of the panic, they began encountering more people, some of which were running away as fast as they could. Trying to get their attention, the Commodore shouted, “Where is the fire?”

  “The mansion! The Coote mansion!” was the response.

  Dashing around a corner, Commodore Hamond could finally see the burning mansion. For what seemed like the longest time, he could only stare in horror. The building was blackened beyond belief by the fire spouting from the broken windows. The building was gradually turning into nothing but a skeleton of its former self, like a human body with its flesh turning to ash. Some of the flames shot thirty feet into the sky, and there was no way of stopping it.

  Pulling a bystander aside, the Commodore asked, “How did this start?”

  The frightened man fumbled with his words, eventually able to spout, “Can’t rightly say. One minute, I’m just getting ready to meet a nice lass, and the next, I’m watching this place go up in a pillar of fire.”

  Carter interjected, asking, “Did you see what caused it?”

  The man shook his head.

  “Are you absolutely sure?” the Admiral continued, glaring at the man.

  “Of course. Why would I lie?”

  “Perhaps you’re hiding something. How does a fortnight in a dank prison cell sound?”

  “I swear I don’t know anything,” said the man, obviously intimidated.

  Admiral Carter stared him in the eyes for several uncomfortable moments. Even the Commodore had no idea what was going to happen. The intensity on his superior’s face was outlined by the flickering flames, making the naval officer look devilish and manipulative.

  At long last, Carter said, “I believe you, citizen. Stay clear of the building until we deem it safe.”

  “Thank you, sir,” blurted the man, scurrying away from the two officers.

  SHGOOM

  Carter and Hamond jumped back as something inside the mansion collapsed, sending debris and smoke spewing into the streets. Before the crowd and soldiers could recover, the ceiling crumbled to the ground, forcing everyone to shield their eyes and plug their noses. Pretty soon, unceasing coughing accompanied the crackling of the burning building.

  “Soldiers, form a perimeter. Keep everyone far enough away so they don’t get hurt,” ordered Hamond.

  As the dust settled, the soldiers formed a wall to keep the bystanders away from the building. Before long, all of the citizens were far enough away to avoid any harm from further debris. The Commodore and the Admiral looked around to make sure that everyone was alright. Sure enough, they were. A few people tried to force their way through the line of soldiers, but they did not get far. Even if they were trying to help, Hamond and Carter could not allow them to endanger their lives or possibly the lives of others.

  “Let me get through, I order you.”

  Something about that voice stuck out to Commodore Hamond. Turning his attention away from the massive fire, he could see that a man was trying to push past the soldiers. It was almost like he believed that he had some sort of authority in the matter. From where the Commodore was standing, the man looked like he had just awoken from a good night’
s rest. Hamond could not see the man’s face, but something about him and his mannerisms struck the Commodore as familiar.

  “Stand down, citizen,” Hamond ordered, making his way over to where the disruptive man stood.

  Instantly, the man stopped in his tracks. It was almost like he recognized the officer standing in front of him.

  “Commodore Hamond, is that really you? I must admit, I confess myself rather surprised that our paths have crossed again,” said the man.

  “Do I know you?” asked Hamond.

  The man straightened his back and lifted the hat from his head, flourishing it as he bowed to the Commodore. The snide comments and the smarmy voice meant it could only be one person.

  “Jonathan Warner, at your service, sir.”

  Even as he stood there, Commodore Hamond could not imagine a worse individual to encounter at that moment. When Julia had first been taken captive by the Red Sky, Jonathan Warner had only served to make the situation worse. Of all of the people to meet in New York, why did Hamond have to come across him?

  A frown starting to show on his face, the Commodore asked, “Mr. Warner, what is your business here?”

  “To help, of course.”

  Crossing his arms, Hamond said, “The last time you tried to help me, you ended up in the brig. Give me a reason to accept your help.”

  “Bring me to Admiral Carter, and you’ll have one.”

  “I’ll do no such…”

  A hand on his shoulder silenced the Commodore. The Admiral appeared right behind him, still wiping ash from his sweaty face.

  Carter interjected, “You will do well to remember who is in charge here, Commodore Hamond. From this… pleasant interaction, I’ll take it that you two have met before.”

  “Under much less amiable circumstances,” Hamond mumbled.

  “I seem to recall you accusing me of something with which I had nothing to do and then throwing me in the brig for several days,” said Jonathan.