Catherine's Cross by Millie West

is it that you plan to do with this information about the cross and sunken treasure?”
    â€œI want to know if Gigi located the Defiance . What if Frank wanted everything for himself, and he killed her for what she found?”
    â€œAt this time, there is no evidence to prove that Frank had a hand in your sister’s death. Listen to me, Jenks—Frank Hiller is a highly trained military expert. Please be careful about sharing your thoughts on this.”
    â€œYes, I’ll be careful.”
    After they finished a lunch of crab cakes and collard greens, the pair walked through Waterfront Park. A child was running in and out of the massive play fountain, and they stopped to look at sailboats racing in the harbor.
    â€œI’m going to start interviewing real estate agents to sell Gigi’s home. I know that selling a house is difficult now, so we’ll see what happens.”
    â€œI hope it takes a long time to sell. I like having you around,” Seth said as he put his arm around her.
    She was feeling the same way, but she had a teaching job to go to in August, and Seth would be starting law school. There was no doubt she was enjoying his company. His easygoing nature calmed her, and his touch sent deep feelings of warmth throughout her body. She had never felt these sensations before—it was like her insides might melt.
    On the drive back to Beaufort on the Savannah Highway, Seth told her he’d like to show her one of his favorite places. “Let’s go see the ruins of Sheldon Church.”
    She nodded, and they branched off the highway, turning onto a rural road to Yemassee marked Sheldon Church Road. The temperature even dropped a few degrees as they entered a thickly vegetated area surrounding the ruins of a church. They parked the Jeep and entered the churchyard. It was enclosed by an ancient wrought-iron fence bent with age. Multitudes of live oak trees shaded the grounds and encircled the remains of the ancient structure. Topped with resurrection ferns, four columns marked the entranceway to the sanctuary, whose brick wall remnants still enclosed the former house of worship.
    â€œIt’s eerily beautiful, don’t you think?” Jenks asked.
    â€œYes, I visit from time to time.”
    Jenks stepped to the front of the ruin and read a plaque that was mounted on the front wall. “Church of Prince William’s Parish . . . known as Sheldon. Built between 1745 and 1755 . . . burned by the British Army 1779. Rebuilt 1826 . . . burned by the Federal Army 1865.” They walked through the interior of the church and went into the rear churchyard. The Southern Cross of Honor medals graced the grave of one Confederate soldier, and a new Confederate battle flag was placed beside the marker. “Died in battle—1864,” Jenks read out loud.
    â€œI’m glad to see that fallen soldiers are still honored,” Seth said.
    â€œWhy do you like to come here?” Jenks inquired.
    â€œThis churchyard has known violence, but I have a sense of peace when I visit these grounds.”
    As they walked around the churchyard, a green manual well pump caught Jenks’s eye. “Let’s see if the pump still operates.”
    She led Seth to the well, and in a brick oval pool at the base of the pump was clear water. Jenks bent down and put her fingers in the water, and then Seth began to pump the handle. Within a few strokes, water began to flow from the pump, and Jenks bent over the stream and drank. “Delicious,” she said.
    After she finished drinking, she operated the pump handle for him, and he drank from the clear water.
    â€œTastes pure,” he said when he finished drinking. “Jenks—I have to be at work in about an hour. I’m going to drive you home now.”
    They drove back to Port Royal, and Jenks walked with Seth to his police car. She noticed that his suit was hanging up in the back of his vehicle. “Would you like to come