Island of Secrets by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Chapter

Nine

WHERE DID TOM get all this money?” Sarah wailed, showing the box to Nancy and Hannah. The bills were all used, tens and twenties and fifties, all jumbled together. “He had to be doing something really bad.”

“Why don’t you come sit down, Sarah,” Hannah said, leading her into the living room. Nancy followed, noticing the pretty quilted pillows, hand-knit afghans, and embroidered doilies that brightened up the somewhat worn furniture.

Sarah tossed the box of money on the couch. A few bills flew into the air and fluttered to the floor. She stood staring at them. “He was such a good boy before his mother died. He was only ten, too young to be without his mama.”

“She was your sister, wasn’t she?” Hannah put an arm around her shoulder.

“Yes. We all suffered when she went, but Tom most of all. If only he’d moved in with us then I could have raised him along with my own four and he would have turned out different.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” Nancy said. “Why didn’t he come to live with you?”

“His father wouldn’t let him. Jack was a selfish man—never thought of what was best for the boy. Kept him out of school half the time to work his fishing boat. All Jack saw when he looked at Tom was an extra hand to do the work. And he drove the boy hard.”

“But how could he take him out of school?” Nancy asked. “That’s against the law.”

Sarah sighed and sank down into a rocking chair. “You don’t know Islanders. Fishing was our life, until the fish disappeared. All those foreign trawlers and factory ships just destroyed the fishing grounds. Most men turned to other work, but some—Jack included—wouldn’t give up the sea, even when it didn’t pay to go out.”

“D.J. said Tom loved boats,” Nancy commented.

“He did. He was a lonesome boy. Except for D.J., he didn’t bother with friends. Boats were his life. After the sea took Jack, Tom was always looking for a spot on someone’s crew. He’d do the meanest job, just to be on the water.”

“What happened to his father?” Hannah asked.

“Jack was out alone, setting a seining net. Got his leg tangled in a line and was dragged over and down. The boat drifted until it was wrecked on Black Rock Point, so Tom lost both it and his father. I’m not sure which he minded more.”

Nancy was stunned by Sarah’s last statement. Not quite sure what to say, she decided to take action. “I’d better phone the police.”

Hannah nodded at Nancy. She, too, seemed shocked. “Come out to the kitchen with me, Sarah. We’ll make a nice pot of tea.”

Nancy called the station. In about ten minutes Hathaway arrived to collect the money and take Sarah’s statement. He told Nancy they still hadn’t found Hank, the construction worker who had hit her moped, but he was sure he’d be picked up soon.

After he left, Nancy helped Hannah fix a supper of omelets for the three of them. Afterward, Sarah let Hannah help her up to bed.

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