Joe reached for his ball cap. “Where?”
“We’re going to talk to Isaac. Then, maybe out to the cave again.”
“What good will that do?” Joe asked as Harry turned the truck out onto the street.
“Satisfy my curiosity,” Harry said. “Did Isaac have anything with him when he came out of the tunnel?”
“Wearing a backpack… couldn’t tell.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Isaac Marshall was just getting out of a red jeep when Harry pulled up beside his driveway. His bushy hair was almost the same colour as the jeep. “Good morning, gentlemen,” he said, walking towards them. “Can I help you?”
“I hope so,” Harry replied. “Can you spare a few minutes?”
“Sure. Come on around back and sit down.”
There were a number of wooden chairs placed around a couple of small tables, each piece unique in style. Harry tipped his head to one side as he looked at them.
“Eye-catching, aren’t they,” Isaac said.
“Very unique, and they weren’t just slapped together. Looks to me like a lot of thought and skill went into each one.”
Isaac smiled and nodded. “Thank you. Each piece of driftwood is different and requires different treatment. But what’s on your mind?”
“What do you know about the tunnel connected to a cave out near the lighthouse?”
Isaac shrugged. “Not much. What do you want to know?”
“Have you used it recently?” Harry asked.
“Sure. I go there frequently. Why?”
“What do you know about a piece of rope tied to a stake down in the cave?”
Isaac shrugged again. “It’s been there as long as I can remember. That’s all I know. Why?”
“We wondered if it might belong to a poacher,” Harry said.
“I suppose it could, but I haven’t heard of anything like that.”
“How often do you go out there?” Harry asked.
“About once a month at low tide or after a strong wind blows into the cave to collect driftwood.”
“Driftwood on the beach,” Joe said.
Isaac nodded. “Too many people are collecting driftwood for various craft purposes these days. It’s not easy to get much on the beach, so I go to the cave. Sometimes I get a few pieces, sometimes none.”
Harry breathed deeply. “I’m just looking for information, Isaac. You would know if anyone else was using the cave, right?”
“Probably,” Isaac said. “But I’ve never seen any sign of activity in there.”
“Thanks anyway.” Harry stood up and Joe did the same. They had gone a couple of steps when Isaac spoke again.
“By the way, do you know the full story of the Restless Spirit?”
Harry stopped in his tracks. “What do you mean, the full story?”
“I know you’ve been looking into it and I know the current version of the legend, but there’s more to it.”
“There’s more? Care to tell me?”
“I only know what you know, but I do know there is more. Ask Aunt Glory. I’m pretty sure she knows.”
