The Eagle's Rook and Finding Hélène

By Marie Nadeau Lawson

After returning home from the Pirate Games, Roberto reads a letter from the doctor who delivered his son indicating his beloved Hélène may be alive!
They learn Madame Heureux kidnapped Hélène just after she gave birth. Soon Roberto and Chris are reunited with their missing loved one only to return and discover Captain Arthur Benedict kidnapped Hélène again!
Gathering the crew and family aboard the Eagle's Rook, they set sail on a cat and mouse chase in pursuit of Hélène, kidnapped by Captain Benedict.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marie Nadeau Lawson
• Release date: Jun 8, 2015
• ISBN: 9781511718356

Marie Nadeau Lawson

Marie Nadeau Lawson got her writing start at the age of eight when she and some friends decided to write a book about bunnies. Marie wrote the story while her friends drew the images. Upon completion the book was placed in the school's library.The years went by and Marie received her advanced degree in Counseling Psychology and forgot about writing save for the many reports she had to write for her job, until the day her youngest brother, Chris, suggested she start writing again. That night Love, Carly was born.Marie lives in sunny Southern California with her gray tabby cat.

Book preview

The Eagle’s Rook

and

Finding Hélène

By Marie Nadeau Lawson

The Eagle's Rook and Finding Hélène

By Marie Nadeau Lawson

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2015 Marie Nadeau Lawson

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Chapter I: The Letter

The Eagle’s Rook docked in Fort Lauderdale at precisely ten-fifteen. The crew cleaned and prepared the ship for disembarkation all day.

As everyone left the ship, Chris and Roberto said goodbye to the members of the crew in order of their rank. The stewards left first and the next rank up left after until it was time for the captains to disembark the Eagle’s Rook.

Doug and the boys left with Monsieur Lafitte’s treasure chest sell everything to divide the money, as was part of his job. Tony and his family walked up to Chris and Roberto.

Alyssa kissed her brother and nephew as Tony said, It was another successful pirate games for us, Captains. I can’t imagine what we’ll do for fun next year.

Roberto laughed and said, It could be almost anything, Tony. I shall see you and your family tomorrow for brunch.

Edward wheeled Sam down the ramp to meet the Croteau.

Renée and Paul broke out into joyous smiles when they saw Sam holding his pet rabbit, who was thrilled to be ensconced in his cage.

Edward said, Well, he’s all yehrs now. Take good care of him or yeh’ll answer to our young captain.

Paul smiled and said, We will. Say goodbye to Chris and Roberto for us, will you. Tell Chris I’m sure Sam will call him as soon as he gets home.

Sam, aided by his new parents climbed in their rental car to go to the airport and grabbed Mr. Noodles’ cage as close to him as possible.

Chris and Roberto left the Eagle’s Rook and climbed into Chris’ Pantera. As Chris drove home, he wondered where the following year would take them.

Chris pulled into the garage at home. He and his father grabbed their bags and they walked in the house.

Chris asked his father, Are you as tired as I am, dad?

Roberto smiled and said, I believe I am more tired, Chris. I am much older than you are, after all. Let us leave the bags until tomorrow and go to bed.

Chris and his father walked upstairs and went to their respective bedrooms. Once in his room, Chris collapsed on the bed fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

The following morning, Chris performed his morning ablutions and walked downstairs. He found his father in his office reading his mail for the past few weeks.

Roberto said, Good morning, my son. Did you sleep well?

Chris nodded and replied, Yeah. I fell asleep dreaming of our next adventure. Going on adventure is wonderful, but coming home and sleeping in my own bed is the best.

Roberto smiled and nodded as he found an envelope with handwriting he had never seen before. He tore open the envelope and found a letter from a Dr. Nasser Mikhail.

He read the letter, dated a week prior.

Dear Mr. Sainz,

I am writing on a matter of most grievous importance.

Fifteen years ago, I delivered a baby boy to a woman named Hélène Robillard. The boy as, you already know, is your son. This is not why I am writing, however.

What is important is that the morning after your son’s birth, a woman walked into Miss Robillard’s room and took her. She lost a great deal of blood during the birth of your son and was not at all well. The hospital where I practiced medicine had security cameras all over the maternity ward because there was a rash of kidnapped babies thirty-five years ago.

The woman who took your fiancée has been identified as a Madame Elisabeth Heureux Benoit. A Madame Renée Croteau identified her.

I have since learned this woman has committed a long list of felonies involving kidnapping, murder, burglary and grand larceny.

This woman is armed and dangerous, Mr. Sainz. She was last seen in Pensacola, Florida. I do not know if your fiancée is still alive, Mr. Sainz, but I would find this woman fast and demand some answers.

Best Wishes,

Nasser E. Mikhail, MD

Roberto looked up and exclaimed, "Oh, mi dios! She is still alive!"

Chris asked, What are you talking about, dad?

Roberto handed Chris the letter with trembling hands. Chris read it and looked at his father with something he dared not even fathom-hope.

This isn’t possible, is it?

Roberto replied, I do not know, my son, but we are going to find out. You call Tony and Doug and I will call Edward to get the crew back aboard the Eagle’s Rook.

Chris took his cell phone out of his pocket and called Tony first.

Tony answered, Hello, Hawkins residence.

Tony, it’s me, Chris. You had better get over here. We have a situation. He hung up with Tony then dialed Doug.

Danny answered, Hello? This is the Attean, Delacorte and Michaud residence.

Chris said, Danny, could I speak to Doug? We have a situation here.

Danny replied, Sure thing, mon ami!

Doug came to the telephone and said, Hello, Chris. What’s up?

Just come over, Doug. My dad and I would rather explain it to both you and Tony once.

Tony and Doug arrived at the Sainz house two minutes later. Roberto let them in then thrust the letter in Tony’s hands demanding he read it.

Looking up, Tony asked, Is this some kind of hoax? If it is, it isn’t funny

Roberto replied, No it is no hoax. I called Renée Croteau moments ago and she told me she did identify Elisabeth Heureux from the hospital security camera tapes about three weeks ago.

Doug asked, Is it even possible Hélène’s alive after all this time?

Chris said, I hope so. I think we need to go to N’awlins and talk to the doctor who delivered me. We’ll get some answers from him, if we can.

Doug said, He lives right on St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find him. Should Tony and I get the Eagle’s Rook ready to go?

Roberto and Chris looked at each other a split second then replied at the same time, Yes!

After what seemed many hours, Chris and Roberto made their way to the deck on the Eagle’s Rook where the crew and their guest waited.

Chris greeted everyone and said, Crew, we are headed to my hometown of N’Awlins to meet with the doctor who delivered me. It seems the former director of St. Jean le Baptiste Home for Boys; Madame Elisabeth Heureux kidnapped my mother moments after she gave birth to me. She had had my mom all this time doing who knows what with her. Jean Pierre and Danny shuddered and Madame Heureux’ name being mentioned.

That afternoon at one o’clock, the Eagle’s Rook set sail for New Orleans. The trip would take about two days.

Chris was on the bridge as the Eagle’s Rook rounded the peninsula that was the state of Florida. He was retying his dark blonde hair into a ponytail when Roberto asked him, Are you alright about searching for your mother, Chris?

Chris nodded as he replied, Yeah, dad. I want answers from that doctor about what happened to mom.

Roberto nodded and said, As do I, son, as do I.

Danny looked at his brother and said, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to your short hair, Jean Pierre.

Jean Pierre sighed and said, It’s just hair, Danny. It does grow back, you know. Jeez, if I had known I would have caused such a commotion, I would not have done it. Cecily cries every time she looks at me. It doesn’t inspire romance when my girlfriend cries every time she looks at me.

Chris smiled and said, I don’t know, Jean Pierre, I kind of like it. It makes you look more brooding now that the natural wave in your hair has come out.

Jean Pierre smiled and said, Thanks, Chris. At least someone likes it besides me.

Chris walked over to his father and asked, How long till we get to N’awlins, Dad?

Roberto looked at his son and replied, It will take however long it takes, my son. But, my guess is we shall arrive sometime tomorrow morning.

Chris walked onto the bridge deck, looked at the water, and sighed. His father seemed to be so hopeful that his mother was still alive.

Tony looked at Doug and asked, How are the engines holding up?

Doug replied, So far, so good! According to my calculations, we should arrive to New Orleans around six or seven o’clock tomorrow morning.

Tony nodded and murmured, Do you think she’s alive?

Doug replied, Who? Hélène?

Tony nodded.

Doug sighed and said, I have no idea, but, I doubt it. If she was alive all this time, why didn’t she look for the captain? They were so in love. So, why wouldn’t she look for him?

Tony suggested, She might not have been able to look for the captain. If this Elisabeth Heureux character is as dangerous as I have heard, Hélène might not have had the chance to look for him. One thing I do know. She knows she has a son. She was awake long enough to name him. So, why didn’t she look for him, if not his father?

Doug shrugged and answered, I don’t know, Tony. I just don’t know. I hope when we get to New Orleans, we’ll get at least some answers from that Dr. Mikhail

Roberto walked in and looked at his two best friends. He smiled and said, I hope if we find my beloved Hélène, she will explain why she did not tell me about my son when she was pregnant with him.

Tony looked at Doug and sighed then queried, Roberto is not going to stop until he gets Hélène back, is he?

Doug shook his head and answered, No, not a chance. If it turns out she isn’t alive, we will have to be there to put the pieces back together. If she is we will all celebrate together.

The following morning, the Eagle’s Rook docked in New Orleans. Tony, Roberto, Alyssa, Chris and Doug disembarked to head to the Garden District. It took them an hour to locate the home of Dr. Mikhail, which was on St. Charles Avenue, not far from Chris and Roberto’s home in the Garden District.

Roberto rang the doorbell.

A man looking to be about forty-five to fifty answered the door.

Roberto asked, Are you Dr. Mikhail?

The man answered, Yes. I am.

Roberto sighed in relief and said, I am Roberto Sainz. You sent me a letter regarding my fiancée, Hélène Robillard. I have just returned home with my son from a summer vacation

Dr. Mikhail nodded and said, Please, come in, all of you.

When everyone was seated in the living room of the Greek revival mansion, Dr. Mikhail said, "It’s been fifteen years since your fiancée was kidnapped, but I’ve thought about it every day since it happened. You see, I was called out of the delivery room on a more serious case, so the chief resident took over for