A Timely Vision

“Duh! Where are we? If there wasn’t a ghost out there looking for its head or some pirate treasure, we wouldn’t be in Duck.” She turned my head toward the bar. “This is much more interesting than some old ghost. Help the man find his key.”

“You know, you see ghosts all the time. You might give the rest of us some consideration.”

“You see treasure all the time,” she countered. “You might give us the same consideration.”

“Did someone mention treasure?” Tim asked with renewed interest in his voice.

“We don’t know what’s in there, do we?” Shayla nudged me toward the bar. “And we won’t if Dae doesn’t find the key.”

Kevin had been systematically poking and pushing at the section of mirrored wall behind where the cash register had been. “I don’t see anything.”

“It’s there.” I sighed, walked across the room and stepped behind the bar. “I can still see it very clearly. These old places used to have hidden panels and rooms. The owner probably built them to hide things from pirates. During Prohibition, they used them to hide profits from liquor sales—as well as the liquor. You just have to know what to look for.”

I stood before the mirror and closed my eyes so I could picture the space I’d seen in the vision from Kevin.

“Do you need to hold my hand again?” he offered.

“Hey! She already did that,” Shayla protested. “Let’s remember which side of this double date you came in with.”

“Nope.” I opened my eyes and stared at the ornate molding that separated the mirrored area from the wood paneling beneath it. “It’s right here.”

I pushed at the molding, but nothing budged. It was there, cleverly disguised. It didn’t help that Kevin had painted over it. I couldn’t make out where the sides of the drawer were hidden.

“It’s here.” I puzzled over it and stuck my fingers under the bottom of the molding. I heard a popping sound and my fingernail snapped off. “Ouch!” I cried as the drawer opened. “There was a little lever at the bottom. And here it is!” I turned around and held out the old key.

“Great!” Shayla snatched it from me. “Ick! This thing is revolting.” She handed it to Kevin, then wiped her hand on the edges of the towel that was protecting the bar.

“Anything else in there?” Kevin wondered. He wiped off the key on his jeans.

“There are a few receipts, I think.” I opened the drawer all the way. “And a list of different kinds of alcohol. Maybe a shopping list. And an old gun.”

“A gun?” Tim and Kevin were instantly at my side.

I lifted the gun out of the drawer and looked it over. “It’s an antique derringer. Pearl handle. Probably one shot. Ladies and gamblers liked them.”

Tim whistled. “You know your guns.”

“In my business, it pays to know a lot about everything.” I handed the derringer to Kevin since he was its owner now. “I’m sure it could tell some stories.”

“Any money in there?” Shayla tried to see in the drawer too.

“This is a beauty!” Kevin appreciated the piece. “No telling who it belonged to.”

“Or what it was used for,” Tim added.

“Who cares?” Shayla was done with the find. “Let’s go upstairs and open the door.”

Kevin pocketed the derringer after examining it to make sure it wasn’t loaded. “That was completely amazing, Dae! I know everyone says you find things, but you really have to see it to believe it.”

“Blah. Blah. Blah.” Shayla tugged at his arm. “Wait till I read your palm, Kevin. Now that will be something amazing. What Dae does is okay, but nothing compared to what I can do.”

I ignored the double meaning behind her words. Shayla could be so needy sometimes. I’m not a psychologist, but I’m sure her insecurity had something to do with her childhood. Her mother had abandoned her and her fisherman father when she was very young. If I hadn’t known that about her, I would’ve stopped being friends with her a long time ago.

“Now ladies,” Tim said, “you don’t have to fight over Kevin. I’m here and willing to do whatever is necessary to keep you happy.”

Now that surprised me. In all the time I’d known Tim, I’d never heard him say anything like it. He always focused on me. Perhaps there was more to him than what I already knew. I still didn’t want to marry him, but it gave me some food for thought.

“All right.” Kevin smiled at Shayla. “Let’s go upstairs. Do you want to take the elevator?”

She giggled. “An elevator? That sounds great! Maybe Tim and Dae would like to take the stairs and meet us up there.”

I knew how to take a hint. Besides, I’d seen the old wrought-iron elevator cage in the lobby. I got the creeps when I looked at it. “We’d rather take the stairs,” I told them. “Third floor, right?”

Tim puffed out his chest. Clearly he thought I wanted to be alone with him. “Don’t be scared, Dae. I’ll take care of you, like I always have.”