Taya Bayliss - Treasure Hunter: Taya Bayliss Mysteries, #1

By E. J. Gore

Taya is not happy when her family moves from the city to a tiny fishing village. Almost immediately, she finds herself mixed up in a fifty-year-old mystery. She befriends an elderly lady called Mae who seems to hold the key to a vast treasure.

But is there really a treasure, or is it all just imagination?

Is the painting a clue, or is it merely a keepsake?

Two local boys certainly think the treasure is real and spend their time making life difficult for Mae.

 Join Taya as she tries to help her new friend, outwit the bullies and sort out the clues.

Are you a treasure hunter too?

• Language: English
• Publisher: E. J. Gore
• Release date: Jul 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781516319015

Book preview

E. J. Gore

Also by E. J. Gore

Taya Bayliss – Dog Sitter

Copyright © 2012 E. J. Gore

All rights reserved.

ISBN-10: 098730804

ISBN-13: 978-0987370822

Chapter 1

On a crystal clear morning in March, with the sun still low in the sky, Taya Bayliss knew she was in trouble. It was like that moment in a movie when the star is in danger, and everything seems to move in slow motion.

Taya could smell fish and engine oil. She could hear the noise of people shouting and rushing about as fishing boats unloaded their catch. She could

see faces looking down at her; one female, old,

deeply lined, mouth open, and two males, young, laughing; and she could feel herself slipping, falling

backwards, towards the sea.

She closed her eyes and held her breath, waiting for the shock of the cold water.

It didn’t come. Instead, her outstretched arm was grabbed and she was being pulled forward and steadied. Eyes wide with fright, heart pounding, Taya slid down, leaned back against the stone wall and found herself chest to chest with a tiny, white haired woman who was staring at her intently.

‘Gotcha! Too cold to swim today,’ the old woman giggled, showing small even teeth.

Taya stared at her. This was the face she had seen as she was falling. She blinked and rubbed her shoulder that was sore after being tugged so forcefully. She was still panting with shock. Who is

this person? What is happening? She felt confused

and, suddenly angry.

‘Why did you push me?’ she hissed. ‘You could have killed me.’

‘Pushed? Not me, not me,’ the woman said, shaking her head. ‘You okay? Good. Come on, there’s Mikey. Don’t want to miss him.’

Taking Taya’s arm in a surprisingly strong grip, the woman turned abruptly and, dragging Taya behind her, rushed to the slipway. As they passed the boat, Annie 2, a grinning fisherman tossed a calico shopping bag to the woman.

She caught it, tucked it under her arm and continued back along the pier towards the village, still hauling Taya behind her. As they dodged their way through the people, Taya struggled to stay on her feet. Where are we going?

The woman seemed intent on setting some sort of speed record as she hurried on. Taya shouted

in protest but her voice was lost in the noise of the crowded pier. She pulled and twisted, trying to free her arm from the grip of the bony claw that held her

fast. How can such a fragile looking little woman be so strong? Finally, outside the teashop, someone stepped directly into their path, causing the woman to stop for a moment. Taya pulled as hard as she could and suddenly, she was free, and running like the wind.

Taya ran as fast as she could, seeing nothing but the ruined lighthouse in the distance, just knowing that she had to get away.  At the entrance to the laneway that led off the sea front road and out towards the headland, she slowed and risked a look back. The woman was standing still, in front of Perrin’s Tea Shop, looking straight at her.

‘She’s