Whirlpool (Cutter Cay Book 6) Read online

  Logan and Nick had taken them on a tour of the island and building the day they'd arrived. The Counting House was used to compare notes at the end of a salvage operation, drink beer, tell tall tales and process the artifacts before they were sold worldwide. The fifty permanent island residents, their homes scattered on the slopes, gathered there for birthday parties, hurricanes, and funerals. The sturdy building had been constructed by Daniel Cutter to store his priceless treasure.

  It housed some fascinating artifacts that she'd like another look at.

  The more Peri learned about Daniel Cutter the less she liked him. The brother's had no illusions about his drinking or womanizing. Only Zane had a slightly romanticized memory of his father. He had a right to hold onto his good memories. Peri was glad she'd never met him.

  Beyond the dock was a small marina with a few fishing boats of the locals. The Patagonia salvage continued unabated in their absence. Their ships were all still anchored over the wrecks three thousand miles away. The value of the artifacts salvaged so far was unprecedented. They'd be anchored there for years, if not decades. The Cutters and Rydell had all bought property along the coast of Patagonia to give them a home base nearby. Unlike Finn, they didn't relish living year round on their ships.

  Of course, Finn had considered the inherent dangers of having toddlers/small children onboard. All the guys had pitched in too, to retrofit their ships with Finn's clever solution. Secure safety lines running along the outside walls on every deck, so that a child could be harnessed, with free range, and not get anywhere near the rails. It was genius, and eased Peri's mind considerably.

  Instead of shipping the artifacts being held at her house on the bluff, back to them on Cutter Cay, the brothers had voted that the artifacts be displayed permanently at Bria's museum on Merrezo along with the five gold tablets. A win-win for all of them.

  Dr. Vadini, his daughter and grandson, the future Protectors, were industriously further studying the tablets and developing a dictionary of sorts for the Abipón language. Theo's house in the hills of Patagonia had given them a treasure trove of invaluable books and manuscripts to aid their studies.

  Zane gave a triumphant yell as he volleyed the ball over the net in a blizzard of white sand and a flash of tanned skin. "Score!" He punched the air. "Match, set and game. Hand over the dough, bro!"

  "I love you when you're all sweaty." Teal laughed, cheeks flushed from the energetic game. Her shaggy hair clung to her cheeks and neck as she flung her arms around her husband's neck. "I love when we win." They grinned at each other, as they returned hand in hand to their shady spot beside Finn and Peri.

  Nick and Bria went down to the water's edge to retrieve their son and stayed to have an animated conversation with Ry and Addy, which made Peri's heart swell with love and gratitude.

  "Don't tell Jonah." Zane flopped down on his back, one elbow covering his eyes. "He almost killed me out there."

  Teal shoved her hair out of her eyes, then took Sam, named after her paternal grandfather, from Finn. "I'm buying that universal diagnostic tool with my winnings." Sitting next to Zane, Teal punctuated each word with noisy kisses to her laughing baby's belly.

  Zane leaned in for a couple of kisses, too, then pulled both his wife and child against his side. "Isn't half the win mine?"

  "What's yours is mine, Ace."

  "Well in that case," he laughed, cupping the baby's downy head. "You only won a hundred bucks. I'll buy the expensive tools for your birthday, how's that?"

  "Deal."

  Zane looked over Teal's head at Peri and Finn. "Did you two decide where you want to build?"

  Peri had been stunned when the brother's had gifted her several acres of land on Cutter Cay. They'd told her Finn's ship was a great home, as was her house on the cliff of Patagonia, but she was a Cutter, too, and part of the island belongs to her. A perfect place to build a vacation home, or a permanent, land-based home, if they ever wanted to retire and laze on the beach all day. Peri could never imagine that day ever coming for either herself or Finn, but it was incredibly generous and sweet of them, and she and Finn had accepted their offer.

  More astonishing, they'd gifted Ry and Addy with land as well, and after some convincing, Ry had accepted their offer when they assured him it was the least Daniel Cutter owed him.

  "We like that spot on the windward side near the hill that looks like a camel." They'd hire an architect when they got back home, and on their Second Annual Cutter Cay Family Vacation, they could sleep in their own bed, in their own house. Peri's heart filled with happiness.

  "Good spot," Zane said, lazily stroking his wife's back, eyes closed.

  Jonah and Callie returned from a quick dip, and Jonah grabbed up a couple of nearby folded towels to dry off. Callie blotted the water from her face. "We need a rematch," she told Teal, eyes glinting with challenge. "Best out of three?"

  "You're on. Tomorrow. Same place, same time. Five bucks."

  Shaking his head, Zane laughed. "We've created monsters!"

  Peri and Finn shared a smile. "Since we have no horse in the race, let's go for a walk." Finn gave her shoulder a nudge.

  "A waddle you mean." She let him pull her to her feet, which she hadn't seen in months.

  "Head to the right," Teal told them. "There's a great tide pool about quarter of a mile down the beach."

  "Don't go far, you two," Nick yelled after them. "We're eating in half an hour."

  Finn did a back- handed wave to acknowledge him. Hand in hand they strolled down to the water's edge, then walked on the wet, packed sand, leaving their footprints in their wake. Beyond the edge of the beach and the tree line, lush, jungle-like vegetation and tall trees obscured Logan and Nick's houses from view. On the other side of a three-hundred-foot-high, extinct volcano in the center of the island, Zane and Jonah had built their houses with more, spectacular, views.

  Sun hot on her head and shoulders, the warm water foaming around her ankles, Peri paused to turn into Finn's arms. "Do you think all of us staying on the island at the same time will make us homicidal?"

  With a smile, Finn smoothed her hair over her shoulders, his hands lingering on her sun¬-warmed skin. "Already ready to kill someone?"

  "No. Not at all. Actually, this is. . .I don't know. Nice is too tame a word. Magical. This past year has been an eye-opener. We genuinely like each other. Even Ry is looking more relaxed and less stressed these days."

  "We don't live in each other's pockets onboard," he pointed out. "Over the past year, we've all gotten into a rhythm, and not encroached on anyone’s privacy. We respect each other's space. Boundaries. This looks as though it'll be a once a year thing for just a couple of weeks at a time. Different playing field, different environment. We don't always have to come with the entire family if it’s too much."

  "Are you kidding? I love the whole family. I love you. I'm in love with—" her voice broke. Oh, crap, pregnancy wreaked havoc with her hormones. "Our twins. It’s as though I’ve found a magical answer for things I didn't know I'd been searching for my entire life."

  "I feel exactly the same way. I love you." Finn's smile was tender as he brushed a damp spot on her cheek. “Now.” He kissed her forehead. “Forever.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Always. You are, and will always be my soul mate, my anamchara, Persephone Case-Cutter-Gallagher." His eyes gleamed silver as he cupped her cheek.

  "You are my love." The Irish in his voice was always more pronounced when he felt strong emotion. "There can be no doubt about any of this magic. It, we, were written in the stars."

  The End

  Whirlpool Bonus Material

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  TREASURE QUEST

  News Articles By Lisa McKay/St. Maarten Island

&nbs
p; CUTTER SALVAGE DOES IT AGAIN.

  Known for their uncanny ability to discover some of the world’s most valuable, and historical relevant, ship wrecks, the three brother’s helming CUTTER SALVAGE have yet another coup.

  After a four year search, the company hit the mother lode this week with the discovery of a three hundred year old wreck on Wednesday.

  The Dutch ship the Vrijheid was found off the coast of the Caribbean island of St. Marten by youngest Cutter brother, Zane. The wreck is said to contain pirated gold and silver coin, emeralds and other treasures from the Spanish “treasure fleet”.

  The Dutch Vrijheid, a 110 foot galleon, was recorded as carrying 20 passengers and 65 infantrymen to protect the wealthy passengers from attack or enemies from boarding. Ironic, since Captain Witte van Wassenaer, was himself a pirate.

  Cutter said on how he found the wreck, “It was only after exhaustive search through Spanish fleet records that I found a mention of the Dutch Vryheid. The Dutch East India Company plied the waters on the other side of the world, and a mention of this lone ship on the route of the Spanish “treasure ships” was intriguing. With research, intuition, and a great deal of luck, I charted the unlikely course of the Vryheid from Rotterdam, Holland to South America.”

  The Vryheid was scheduled by the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, or VOC, to put into port in Cape Town. The Dutch knew the Spanish had a ‘treasure fleet’ that ran regular missions from Spain to the South American colonies.

  So on March 12th 1629, instead of accompanying the rest of the Dutch ships to the horn of Africa, van Wassenaer traveled with stealth and speed to reach South America months ahead of the Spanish fleet. Once in Cartagena, he and his men scooped up gold, silver and emeralds which had been transported by mule overland from the mines in Muzo and Chivor. The treasure was so vast that their estimated loading time was extended by over two months. Dangerously close to the arrival of the Spanish fleet, not to mention a dangerous change in the weather.

  Van Wassenaer set sail for the return trip to Holland with days to spare. Sitting low from the heavy cargo, he set course north to the island of St, Maarten. The weather, according to the records from the time, was near perfect, and he raised anchor on the last day of July. One of the passengers become ill, and the Captain decided to leave him on St. Marten island to recover or die. That decision sealed the fate of all on board. It was the start of hurricane season, and a squall hit, sinking the ship and drowning all on board.

  Bad fortune for Captain van Wassenaer and his passengers, but extraordinary good fortune for Cutter Salvage. The Vrijheid treasure is estimated in the multi-millions of dollars.

  TREASURE REVEALED

  By Lisa McKay/St. Maarten Island

  Zane Cutter’s latest treasure hunt has paid off in a big way. So far the estimated value to Cutter Salvage and her investors is in the multi-millions of dollars. Retrieved silver and gold from Peru and Ecuador, a king’s ransom in emeralds from Columbia, and ropes of pearls from Venezuela. These are the finds from the Dutch galleon the Vrijheid. Discovered two weeks ago, the estimated final worth of Cutter Salvage’s new wreck is staggering.

  STORY OF A SHIP WRECK

  By Lisa McKay/St. Maarten Island

  The discovery of a three-hundred-year-old wreck by Zane Cutter has fueled romanticized speculation as to the events leading up to the sinking of the treasure-rich Vrijheid.

  From a handful of eye witnesses’ written reports at the time, this reporter has been able to piece together the last desperate hours of the pirate ship.

  Having stolen the Spanish treasure from right under their noses, the Dutch galleon makes plans to stealthily retreat with her spoils back to Holland. But a desperately ill passenger, and the upcoming hurricane season, force the Vrijheid to change course at the last minute. The galleon hastily put into port at St. Maarten, barely taking time to replenish water supplies for the long return trip back to Rotterdam, Holland.

  For several weeks, the weather had held, but late that afternoon the wind picked up out of the northwest and intensified through the night. By daybreak the seas were mountainous. Seasick or praying, everyone was sent below decks. Gold, silver and other pilfered treasure kept the ship’s hull dangerously low, and crates and other containers were securely lashed to prevent them being swept overboard.

  The wind shifted again, and with the seas dangerously choppy, and an even more vicious storm inbound, the Vrijheid was driven back toward St. Maarten and the safety of the harbor. But it was too late. The tail end of the storm reduced their sails and rigging to shreds, masts and tillers were battered or broken. The ship was driven towards the reef. The weighty galleon was lifted high on a wave and smashed violently on the coral reef. She sank instantly, pulled to the bottom by her heavy canon and treasure. Tons of gold and silver pulled her to the bottom of the sea

  The next day a small merchant ship, making its way through the debris, rescued three Vrijheid survivors in 50 foot deep water. When the storm passed, divers tried to get to the treasure, but they couldn’t hold their breath for long enough.

  Several people knew the exact location of the wreck and more people attempted to recover part of the now fabled treasure. But days later a second, more powerful, hurricane hit, and the wreck shifted and broke apart. It was never found again. Until three weeks ago when she was discovered by Zane Cutter.

  Cutter Family

  Cutter Brothers - Zane, Nick, Logan

  Backstory for all the brothers: Father is deceased, They have startling blue eyes, Dangerous looking, Ridiculously handsome.

  Tall, well over 6’4 or 6’4”, Look like modern day pirates. Own a dozen or more salvage boats , None are familiar with the word “no”. All have charm and natural charisma that is hard to resist. Bet on anything and everything even when they were kids. They had a hard- drinking, womanizing father, and Aaapted to life without their mother. Mother killed in car accident, hit by a drunk driver. All look as dark, swarthy, and uncivilized as their Spanish ancestors. Competition is a standard operating procedure in the Cutter clan, all good natured but still fierce and a point of pride between them. Father taught all 3 boys to shoot during long boring afternoons at sea. Always good to know how to defend one’s treasure from pirates.

  $10K bet every year, brother with the largest haul in 12 months would take over the CEO title and perks for the next year AND cash in on the $10K wager.

  None of the boys really drink other than one or so in a night for Zane. Boys saw Dad passed out enough times to know they didn’t want to go down that slippery slope.

  They had a great life on the island. There were always women around. Long leggy blondes, short curvy brunettes, sleek Redheads. They liked most of Dad’s lady friends— he’d bring them home for a month or two if he was between trips, and when the boys were old enough, they’d go with him.

  Mrs. Cutter (Mom)

  Fights were horrendous with Mr. Cutter. She died a few months after Zane’s 5th birthday. Died in car accident, hit by a drunk driver. Sam said she was the kindest sweetest woman he knew and Teal thought he was a little in love with her. Everyone loved her, an amazing woman.

  She had taken the boys away to Oregon. She knew about Mr. Cutter’s affairs, but what could she do. She was stuck with three boys to raise while Mr. Cutter went off on the next grand adventure. He usually took a woman with him. He cheated on them as well the moment he reached port. When Mom finally had enough, she took the boys to her mother’s in Portland. She filed for a divorce. Father got custody, by default. Boys were in Portland less than a month. Dad was a very wealthy man and wasn’t going to tolerate anyone, even the mother, taking the boys away from him. He hauled the boys back to Cutter Cay, brought in expensive lawyers, and fought her for custody with everything he had. Chances were, he wouldn’t have won, but it didn’t matter, Mom was hit by a drunk driver a few months later. He didn’t let the boys go to the funeral.

  Mr. Daniel Cutter (Dad)

  Best friends with Sam, A womanizing t
omcat, Discovered the Santa Teresa when Teal was 6 and Sam was with him, Built practically everything on the island from the ground up with Sam. Actually bragged about how many women he had during his marriage to Mrs. Cutter. He had never been faithful. Taught all 3 boys to shoot during long boring afternoons at sea. Always good to know how to defend one’s treasure from pirates. Liked his alcohol, drank too damn much. Would pass out a lot and It was no secret that he was a womanizer, and his behavior hurt his wife intensely. Sam was his mechanic, chief cook, and bottle washer. They were together longer than most marriages— almost forty years before his heart attack.

  The older two boys, Logan and Nick, saw the other side of their father that wasn’t so pretty. Women were a way of keeping score. A passing fancy easily obtained, and just as easily disposed of . Discovered the virgin wreck Conde de Santa Clara the year before he bought the island. He met and married Mrs. Cutter in Miami, married her, took her to Cutter Cay after he built a house there, small but it grew with the family.

  There were always women around. Long leggy blondes, short curvy brunettes, sleek Redheads. They liked most of Dad’s lady friends— he brought them home for a month or two if he was between trips, and when the boys were old enough, they’d go with him.

  Zane was hardest hit by father’s death. They were so damn alike, outgoing daredevils, always the life of the party, the center of attention, but they’re different too. Zane had a hard time seeing Dad’s faults, although God only knows they were in flashing Technicolor.

  Zane and Mr. Cutter were standing in the galley of the Decrepit. The Decrepit was his before he started raking in the loot. Zane didn’t want to remember the terror he’d felt, alone in the middle of the ocean with a dying man, hours from help. It hadn’t mattered. He’d realized after the fact that while he’d been crazed doing CPR, his father was already dead. But he’d felt guilty all the same.