A Perfect Storm by Phoebe Rivers and Erin McGuire Page B

have looked to her.
    I turned my head slowly to look around the room. For a second, I thought I saw Duggan, over in a corner. But then I realized it was just an old coat hanging from a coatrack. My gaze traveled to the next corner, and the next.
    And then I saw him.
    My hands flew to my lap, my fists clenched in shock.
    Lily could tell that I had seen something. She turned slowly to look in the direction of my gaze, but she couldn’t see him. She turned back to me.
    â€œIs he here, Sar?” she said in a barely audible voice.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThen talk to him!” she hissed.
    I pushed the board to the side and stood up, so that I was facing him.
    He was dressed in his old blue coat and his batteredthree-cornered hat. It was the right-aged Duggan, the old one who had told me about the message. He squinted at me beneath his fierce black brows, and it occurred to me that what seemed like gruffness might just have been that he was nearsighted. Maybe that was why he had passed by me in front of Scoops without saying anything. I remembered how kind he’d looked, listening to my mom talk about me. He was a good man, I decided. A friendly spirit. I believed he would help me.
    â€œHello, Mr. Duggan,” I said, as calmly as I could so I wouldn’t scare him away. “Thanks so much for coming back.”
    â€œThe sea, ’tis the accomplice of human restlessness,” he said, more to himself than to me.
    â€œSir?” I said.
    He looked at me sharply, as though noticing me for the first time. “Dash my buttons, you resemble ’er, lass, I daresay!”
    â€œNatalie, you mean?” I asked eagerly. “Yes, I’ve been told that. Natalie was my mother. I believe you knew her, sir?”
    â€œAye, and a cleverer lass with a pen and paper thanever I clapped eyes upon,” he said. “Never learned to read and write very well myself. But the lass was smart as paint! And hark ye: The lass could draw pictures, the likeness of which I had ne’er before seen, I’ll lay to that.”
    He knew my mom, I realized, my heart swelling. He really knew her.
    â€œPlease, Mr. Duggan,” I said, trying hard not to appear as desperately eager as I felt. I didn’t want to alarm him. “You mentioned something about a message from Natalie. Did she—do you know where I might be able to find it?”
    Suddenly there was a clap of thunder, which made me jump. Lily gave a tiny squeak, so she must have been as startled as I. Rain streamed down the window.
    Duggan turned toward the window and furrowed his brow. “Heavy weather afoot,” he said. “Must be sure all is shipshape and seaworthy.”
    I remembered how Lady Azura had said he tended to appear just before storms. But was he beginning to fade? No! Not yet! I screamed on the inside.
    â€œPlease, don’t go,” I begged. “They predicted a few passing showers today, but it’s not like it’s going to turninto another big storm or anything. You don’t need to check on your ships just yet. Please, can you tell me where to find the message from Natalie? She spoke of meeting me, but I don’t remember any of it. I need to find the message she left for me. Can you help me?”
    â€œAye,” he said, nodding, but his voice was fainter, and I could see directly through his shimmery image to the coatrack behind him. “ ’Tis in the cupboard. Look ye under the boards.”
    â€œWhich cupboard?” I asked. “In this room? Or somewhere—”
    I stopped talking midsentence. It was no use. He was gone.

Chapter 14
    I turned to look at Lily. Her eyes were huge.
    â€œDid you see him?” I asked.
    She shook her head so hard her chandelier earrings swayed. She hadn’t been able to see him. But from the look on her face, I knew she believed that he had been here.
    â€œWhat did he say? Did he know your mom when she was younger? And I heard you say