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"I’ Tellon history," she said "You must have heard of the Santa Geneva--and Mad Miller and his consort, Kitty Cutlass, and the end All Key West kids knew the stories about pirates in the area They reat tales at campfires "A piece of pirate lore," he said

"Yes, and if you’re following pirate lore, you should be following that story It was past the Golden Age of Piracy It was after David Porter came here to clear out the pirates There were still Spaniards living here, naturally Dona Isabella was a wealthy woman, with hoo, a very wealthy Spanish merchant She was kidnapped off a Spanish ship, the Santa Geneva They say she was never ransomed because Mad Miller, the pirate, fell in love with her--and because of that, she wound up dead Some say that Mad Miller murdered her in a frenzy, because she loathed him Some say that Kitty Cutlass, furious over her lover’s adoration for another woman, was the one to kill her At any rate, she supposedly wound up dead in the coht that she survived until the pirates reached Haunt Island, where they ht have drawn in for ship repairs So crew members of the Santa Geneva, and members of their own creere in revolt over what had happened Thus the naend"

"I still don’t see--" Sean began

"Dona Isabella lived in Key West Her ship, a Spanish ship, left from Key West The pirates raided her in American waters Off of Key West Mad Miller caan as a prostitute in a shack on Duval Mr O’Hara, this is an a to do with the documentary you want to fil the legend--and the truth of what happened to the ravating But there was so desperate in her voice that kept hi his teood story What, exactly, is it that you want? I’ve told you, we’re not any foro over to the Bahaain, staring at hi breath of air She seeth and resolve

"I know that, and…" She paused, wincing "Look, I’s on this First, I need you to hire ood I swear You can check all my references," she said

"I would definitely do so, no ood money that she has excellent references," Bartholomew said

Sean locked his jaw, deterhost in any way

"No one is hired unless David and I agree," he said to Vanessa

"That is certainly understandable," she said Again, she paused "I know all about David Beckett, as well I know that he was once accused of murder, and I kno desperate he was to find the truth And the truth was discovered I can’t believe that he wouldn’t understand how I feel, or be syh his body The Effigy Murders had been bad, very bad He still felt they were all recovering fros that had happened He still had scars beneath his hairline

David would be sympathetic, he knew

"Go on," he said quietly

"Then--I think you need toa schedule, and I can write a scene, narrative, interview questions, anything you need, at the drop of a hat I know you do a lot of your own scheduling and writing That’s why I say assistant I went to film school When needed, I can handle any kind of a camera I’m fit so I can tote and carry The filend that remains a mystery, historical and contemporary You can look for the Santa Geneva, you can really follow the path of those who ca out of the pirates, and the supposeda disservice to everyone"

He leaned back "If this is such a great documentary, why don’t you do it yourself?" he de her lower lip "Well, for one, I don’t have the kind of money you need for a documentary And…"

"And?"

She leaned forward "Look, I’ll work cheap I’ll work harder than anyone you ever i his head "I’d like to help you, I’d really like to help you But it see, and I’ for If these ator You need--"

"Have you ever tried to look for a private investigator who specializes in water, legends and boats?" she asked irritably

He hesitated for a ency possible was involved in that case If there are no clues, there are no clues"

"No one wanted to follow through on the legend--or the history," she said, exasperated

He felt his fingers tense around his coffee cup and he stared at her "You’re trying to tell me that pirates returned to htening in her lips and the way that she stared at him caused him to feel as if he should be ashamed--as if he had spoken out of turn

But he hadn’t And he couldn’t explain to her that he knehat ghosts were capable of doing, and what they weren’t As a matter of fact, he knew a few of the at all," she said

"Then?"

"I--don’t know, exactly," she said, looking away "Here’s the thing We’ve had this movie stowed since it happened But…people know about it I’et an offer froladly sell I don’t want to sell--not unless I can get some justice for those ere involved I don’t want tounsolved I’ve gotten Jay to agree that I can try one more time to discover the truth"

"I--"

"Please Please just tellit?" she asked

He stared at her, not knohat to say

No A flat-out no would be a great answer He and David hadn’t set anything in stone as yet, but…no This one had to be a no They both had their individual exe They could write theree," Sean said

"Will you ask David Beckett?" she queried stubbornly

He s if I talk to him and he says no?"

She s a lot without iveyou want to do come out as brilliantly as possible I’ll be slave labor, I swear"