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from the kitchen summoning the teenager away from my next question.
    I quickly returned to our table carrying the supposed lunch for the next day. “Brian, Junior just told me his mother has some earrings that look like my necklace.”
    “Oh yeah? That’s nice. Shall we go? I’m kind of tired and don’t feel so well.”
    Somewhat perturbed that he wasn’t interested, I understood his ill feeling and tucked a mental note in my head to make sure to talk to him about Junior’s information later. Brian did look a little pale.
    Twinkling stars covered the black night sky. I felt a little better as we walked back up the hill to the house and it seemed that Brian did too. He smiled at me. “Did you enjoy your stew?”
    “So…you think it was funny?” I tried to smack him on the shoulder but he was too quick and dodged my hand.
    Nick caught up with us on the sandy path. “Hey, Mrs. C, I’ve got one more question.”
    I turned around. “Sure, what else do you want to know?”
    “What about the big treasure?”
    We continued walking up the hill. “I found that about a year later, beneath a huge boulder in our woods. It was in a rotted chest that was filled with gold and jewels.”
    Nick whistled. “Wow! Who would have thought you could find old treasure nowadays.” He stepped in front of me, walking backwards. “How did you know it was Bellamy’s treasure?”
    “Based on the parchment found in the cellar and the initials of S.B. and M.H. on it, I just assumed it was his.”
    Nick wistfully looked up to the stars. “Bellamy must have been one hell of an interesting character.”
    “That he was! You know, when the Whydah was discovered off Cape Cod’s coast in 1986, it made pirate Samuel Bellamy a national treasure.”
    Nick went into a pirate mode and jumped ahead of us. He yelled, “Shiver me timbers and avast, ye mates. ‘Tis a fine night for a stroll!”
    At the top of the hill, we laughed some more and then said our goodnights. Nick got into his jeep and disappeared down the dark road. Brian and I walked up the stairs to the house.
    “I know what I’m going to do with this stew,” I said, “throw it out!”
    Before Brian could say anything sarcastic, he stopped in his tracks and held up his arm. “Hold it! Something’s wrong here.”
    “What?”
    “The door’s open. I know I locked it. I always do.” He placed his head close to the screen and listened. “You stay here. I’ll go in and see what’s going on.”
    I stood still holding the pungent remains of those sweet baby goats while Brian quietly reached in and flipped the light switch. I watched him scan the room. He turned and held his finger to his lips in a ‘keep quiet’ gesture. More lights went on as he checked the bedrooms. Within a few minutes he re-appeared.
    “It’s okay. No one’s here now, but I think someone was…your suitcase is a mess.”
    I hurried to my bedroom to find my clothes strewn over the floor. I felt sick in my stomach. I couldn’t stand the idea of a stranger rifling through my things. The memory of the night I’d been tied and gagged in my own home shot into my head. I sat on the edge of the bed and took some deep breaths, trying to clear my thoughts and bring myself back into common sense mode.
    Brian scanned the other rooms. “The rest of the house seems untouched.”
    “I can’t believe someone got in here,” I said in a nervous whisper. “Do you think they were after this?” I touched my necklace.
    “I don’t know, Mom. Maybe.”
    “Should we call the police?”
    “Not sure. I’ll talk to someone in the office tomorrow.”
    I slowly got up and started to straighten my things. “Please make sure you lock the door tonight and maybe keep a light on in the living room.”
    “We’ll be okay.” Brian gave me a hug goodnight.
    “Would you shove a chair under the doorknob?”
    He moved over to the kitchen area and grabbed a chair. “Don’t worry.”
    I felt a little relieved as I watched my son