Storm Chaser // JJ Maybank

61

"Just, uh..." JJ starts.

"Just right in the next room," Groff tells us.

JJ nods his head. "Okay."

"This place smells like dead bodies," John B whispers.

Groff chuckles. "I'll, uh... I'll let Wes know you're here." Groff opens the double doors into the next room. "Wes, they've come."

"Oh good. Good. Bring them in," Genrette instructs. "Come in. Please, please, warm yourselves by the fire. Good to see you."

This room is covered in cobwebs and the paint is flaking off in here to.

"I... I apologize for dragging you all out here, but I... I don't think I could speak about this in public," Genrette tells us. "I know I mentioned Blackbeard, but I assure you all, my interest is not for treasure." He points to a painting on the wall. "My ancestor, Francis Genrette, was the British officer who caught and killed the notorious pirate."

"Wait. Your... your direct ancestor?" Pope asks.

Genrette nods his head. "Mm-hmm. Yes, unfortunately. After he'd beheaded Blackbeard, he killed the pirate's wife, Elizabeth. And since then, for 300 years, generations of Genrettes have been haunted by Elizabeth's ghost and have died violent deaths, including my daughter." He looks to picture of a young woman. "Larissa, Chandler's wife. My daughter saw Elizabeth a week before she died. Now... I've had a visitation. So I know I don't have much time."

"Right. Uh... so we're really sorry that that happened to you, but what do you want from us?" John B asks.

"Of course, you're right. Let's get down to business. Chandler," Genrette says.

"We believe that we've found a way to break the curse on this family," Groff explains. "Right before she was murdered, Elizabeth begged Francis to retrieve from her husband's ship a keepsake that he'd given her. Her most prized possession. An amulet." Groff points to the amulet worn by Elizabeth in her portrait. "He denied the request and then murdered her."

"But if we find that amulet, fulfilling Elizabeth's last request, I believe it will break the curse that has haunted my family for over 300 years," Genrette offers.

"Okay. Um... I'm sorry. Where did you say that the necklace thingy is?" Kie asks.

"Oh." Groff laughs. "Blackbeard's last ship, the Adventure."

"Perfect," Kie remarks.

"According to all records, the amulet was still on it when it was scuttled right off Goat Island," Groff explains.

"Right, yeah, but the Coast Guard excavated that site years ago," Pope states.

"The excavation team didn't know what we know," Genrette insists. "They didn't have this." He shows Pope a an old battered book. "There's a secret lockbox hidden behind the headboard in the captain's chamber. Do you dive?"

"We dive," JJ assures him. "All... all of us do. It's just, we only do it if the price is right."

"Excellent," Genrette states. "We are prepared to offer you a premium for your services. Fifty thousand, plus expenses. Five thousand up front. And we would very much like your immediate answer."

"Well, I think we kind of..." JJ starts.

John B covers JJ's mouth with his hand.

"Uh, we'll just need to think it through," Pope says.

"We'll be right back," John B states.

"Only take a second," I assure.

We step into the other room.