Page 4 (2/2)

Pirate Cut, he notedThey hadn’t known in Bartholomew’s day that the reefs needed to be protected They had brought their ships to the deep-water plunge just off the reef end about the area was true--ships of many nations had foundered here in storms, been cut up on the reefs and left to the destruction of time and the elements But there was treasure scattered here, treasure and history, even if it had been picked over in the many years since

It would also e The colors were brilliant; the light was excellent And it was near the area where Bartholounned down a ship and murdered those aboard Falsely accused, in the days after David Porter’s Pirate Squadron had been established, he had been hanged quickly, and it had been only after his unjust death that his innocence had been proven

It was a good story for a docu the events of the recent past, when a ed and that the Becketts were to pay

The whole story needed to be told, and it would

And perhaps, if he et Bartholoht "see the light" and move on to the better world he believed he would find

It was true that Bartholouy and that, if he were flesh and blood, he’d be great to hang out with But with Katie engaged to David Beckett now and basically living at the Beckett house, it seemed that Bartholomeas really all his

And no way out of it--it ard Disconcerting And he was starting to look as if he walked around talking to hiht dryly

"Bartholo to me You’re well aware that I look crazy as all hell when people seeyou, you’re an artist And a true conch," Bartholoreat red hair, good and bronzed--hey, fellow, a ed hand in the air "Trust me--you’re masculine, virile, beloved and--an artist You’re allowed to be crazy And, good God, ht Then the tourists will have me arrested," Sean said

They’d reached O’Hara’s, toward the southern end of Duval Sean cast Bartholoed and followed Sean in

Sean walked straight up to the bar Ja his taps that day

"Hey, what’s up?" Sean asked, setting his hands on the bar and looking at Jalass

It was early in the day--by Key West bar standards Just after eleven Jamie, when he was in town, usually opened the place around eleven-thirty, and whoever of his old friends, locals, or even tourists andered in for lunch early were served by Jamie himself He cooked, bussed and made his drinks, poured his own Guinnesses--seven lass--and he did so because he liked being a pub owner and he was the kind of employer who liked people, his employees and his establishment He could handle the place in the early hour--unless there was a festival in town Which, quite often, there was Starting at the end of this week, he’d have double shifts going on--Pirates in Paradise was coh, O’Hara’s was quiet Just Jamie, behind the bar

Jah he had been born in Key West He, like Sean’s dad, had spent a great deal of ti their mother’s faone to college in Dublin Jaue when he chose, but he could also slip into a laid-back Keys Southern drawl Sean had always thought he should have been an actor Ja He had a rich head full of gray hair, a weather-worn but distinguished face, bright blue eyes and a fine-triray that seemed to make him appear to be so, of Ireland He ell over six feet, with broad shoulders and a seaman’s muscles

Jamie indicated the last booth in the bar area of the pub, which was now cast in shadow

He realized that sorin at his uncle "You’re harboring a spy? A double agent? So the Keys connection?"

Sean knew that bad things--very bad things--could happen, even in Key West, Florida, "island paradise" though itin the shadows seeed and spoke softly "Who knohy she’s sitting in the dark? She’s a nice kid Cauess, ’cause the world see She heard about you and David and the docuether"

Sean frowned "We’ve had ads in the papers for crews for the boats and the fil up for interviews at his place"

"What do you want fro I was related to the O’Hara looking to film about Key West and her mysteries I said yes, and she asked if there was any way she could speak to you alone"

"She’s applying for a job? Then she should go about it just like all the others and ask for an interview," Sean said, annoyed He couldn’t really see the wo Maybe she was trying to secure a position by co on his uncle’s sympathies