Episode 9: The Case of the Pirate’s Curse (The Misadventures of Felix Bright and Dr. Moira Keys)

The Storm

It was a typically quiet Thursday in the office, with Felix balancing a stack of case files on his head while Moira reviewed a map of ancient ruins. Felix was practicing his balancing skills, though not very successfully.

"I’m just saying," Felix said, "if I can master this, I’ll be the world’s first detective acrobat."

Moira didn’t look up. "And I’ll be the one trying to save you from a concussion."

Just as Felix was about to claim victory over his uncooperative pile of papers, the door slammed open. A man entered, drenched in seawater, his hair wild like a storm itself.

"I need your help!" he bellowed, shaking off water like a dog.

Moira raised an eyebrow. "Did you just swim here?"

"I sailed," the man corrected, barely able to contain his urgency. "But I’ve come from the sea, and it’s cursed!"

Felix shot Moira a look. "If this is about a haunted pirate ship, I’m already in."

The Tale of Captain Redbeard

The man introduced himself as Captain Ellis Vane, the owner of a small, but remarkably sturdy ship called The Black Crow. He recounted his tale dramatically, using wide, sweeping gestures, even though most of the audience was just Moira and Felix, sitting in their office chairs.

"We were sailing along the coast when we found it—an island that wasn’t on any map!" Captain Vane said, leaning in as if they were sharing a great secret. "A place that was said to be cursed, where treasure hunters disappear, and strange noises echo across the shore. But we found something far worse."

"Let me guess," Felix interrupted. "A pirate’s ghost?"

Captain Vane nodded grimly. "The ghost of Captain Redbeard!"

Felix sat up straighter. "Now we’re talking. Tell me more!"

The Mysterious Island

Captain Vane explained that, after an unexpected storm had pushed The Black Crow off course, the crew had landed on the island. It was uninhabited, save for the wreckage of a pirate ship partially buried in sand. The crew, curious and a bit too eager for treasure, had explored the wreck. But as soon as they set foot on the ship’s deck, strange occurrences began—crew members hearing voices, objects moving by themselves, and an eerie figure appearing at the edge of the ship.

"Everyone thinks it’s a curse," Vane continued. "I think someone’s trying to scare us away from treasure. But what if it’s the ghost of Captain Redbeard himself?"

Moira rubbed her temples. "I’ve dealt with ghosts, pirates, and treasure hunters. But this sounds... off."

"You mean haunted?" Felix asked, already rummaging through his desk for a magnifying glass.

"No," Moira corrected, "I mean... suspicious. But I guess we’ll find out."

The Voyage Begins

The next morning, Moira, Felix, and Captain Vane set sail on The Black Crow towards the island. The sea was calm at first, the sun shining and the wind light, but Felix couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

“Just look at it,” Felix said, pointing at the horizon. “There’s an ominous fog rolling in. You know what that means?”

Moira looked out at the fog, then glanced at Felix. "You’re about to make a reference to a pirate movie, aren’t you?"

Felix grinned. "Aye, matey. We’re about to enter the Bermuda Triangle of bad decisions.”

The Island of Shadows

As the island came into view, the air shifted. The sun was still visible, but a heavy mist clung to the shoreline, making everything look like a shadow. The crew, unnerved, gathered their gear and set out toward the wreck of the pirate ship.

"You see?" Vane whispered, pointing to the decaying vessel half-sunken in the sand. "That’s Redbeard’s ship, The Sea Viper. It was said to be cursed after Redbeard buried his treasure and died in a mutiny."

Felix squinted. "It’s definitely creepy. But no sign of a ghost yet."

"That’s the thing," Vane said, his voice low. "You don’t see him. You feel him."

As if on cue, a cold wind swept across the beach, and a distant voice carried on the air. It was faint but unmistakable: "Leave, or join the crew of the damned."

Moira’s eyes narrowed. “That sounds like... a threat.”

"Or a really bad movie line," Felix said, fidgeting with his compass. "But we’re here for answers, so let’s get to work."

The Clue in the Cabin

They explored the wrecked ship, finding an old, abandoned cabin beneath the deck. Inside was a locked chest, its wood rotting but still intact. Felix, ever the enthusiast for unlocking things, tried to break the lock open with a rusty crowbar.

"Not exactly a subtle approach," Moira remarked.

"I prefer the big bang method," Felix replied, grinning. The lock cracked open, revealing a treasure map—more like a sketch, really—with several X’s marked across the island.

“Treasure maps are always suspiciously vague,” Moira said, turning the map over. “Look at this... the markings seem oddly modern.”

Felix examined the map more closely. “It’s a fake! Whoever made this was trying to lead us to something—not treasure, but a trap.”

The Trap Unveiled

As they continued to explore, the "ghost" of Captain Redbeard began to manifest—always out of sight, but ever-present, a presence that followed them through the mist. It wasn’t until they reached the highest point of the island that they discovered what had been hidden all along.

A group of treasure hunters—unaware of the curse and led by none other than Victor Legrand, the same patron from the previous case—were digging furiously at the base of an old tree.

“Legrand?” Felix said, stepping forward. “What’s this? Pirates, treasure hunts, and you?”

Victor looked up, a smug smile playing on his lips. “You didn’t think I’d let the pirates have all the fun, did you? I’ve been waiting for this treasure for years.”

Moira crossed her arms. “This was never about ghosts, was it?”

“No,” Legrand admitted. “But if I could scare off the locals, I’d have no competition for the treasure. Redbeard’s ghost was a perfect way to get you all off my trail.”

The Final Act

After a brief confrontation with Victor, they handed him over to the authorities, and the treasure was left where it belonged—buried on the island, its secret safe once more.

As they sailed back to the mainland, Felix looked out at the sea. “Well, that was one for the books. A treasure hunt, a ghost, and a villain with a flair for the dramatic.”

Moira shook her head, her voice dry. “Next time, we’re sticking to missing persons and bank heists.”

Felix grinned. “But pirates are so much more fun.”

And with that, Felix Bright and Dr. Moira Keys sailed into the horizon, leaving behind the curse of Captain Redbeard... and making a mental note to stick to slightly less exciting cases next time.