“We were best friends.” His eyes seem to shroud, like he’s remembering something he had forgotten. “Did everything in college together, but when we moved to the Key—life got in the way.” A sad expression crosses his face. “We grew apart. He was a good man.” He pats me on the back. It seems like he’s eager to finish the conversation. “My wife Crystal and I will have to have you over for dinner one night. I’ll share some of those collegestories.” He winks. “I’ll have her call you.” He excuses himself and walks to the table to start the meeting.
I catch Scott watching our conversation. He turns away, like he’s uninterested.
“We’ve logged three unauthorized dive attempts this week alone,” Mark announces as he gestures at the map pinned to the wall. He speaks in a measured tone. “We’re lucky no one else has been hurt, but until this madness dies down, only pre-approved authorized dives are allowed.”
Scott adjusts the dive schedule. Even as I bristle at his coldness toward me, I have to admire how he commands this space. When the meeting ends, I linger on the Driftwood Inn’s porch, watching the waves crash against the shore.
“Maddie,” Elaine’s voice startles me. She approaches, the streaks of silver in her hair gleaming in the late afternoon sun. “Do you have a moment to talk?”
“Of course.” I step aside to make room at the railing.
“Somewhere private.”
We walk to my cottage, where I invite her to sit, then fix us both some tea. After sharing a few pleasantries, Elaine talks.
“There’s something about your brother you should know.”
A nervous knot tightens in my stomach. Another secret. “What is it?”
She hesitates for a moment before speaking. “Did you know Nathan was in love?”
I’m surprised, this wasn’t the topic I expected. “Yes. But I know nothing about her.”
She frowns. “Well, I’m sorry I haven’t come to you sooner. Nathan and I were working in the university offices one day when I noticed a picture lying on his desk—a beautiful young woman. I teased him, and he shared something with me. It was like he wanted to get it off his chest with someone he could trust. He told me she was his fiancée. I, of course, was thrilled for himand asked who she was. He said he couldn’t tell me or anyone who she was yet. He was hiding something, but I didn’t want to pry. Later, he left the photo on the desk and… never had the chance to pick it up. It was clear how much she meant to him.” She pauses, giving me a moment to soak in the information. “I thought you should know. I’ve been looking into it, hoping to find her and share this with her. There’s a lead. I’m meeting a man tomorrow who claims he knew about the relationship. He’s asked I keep his identity secret for now. But he’s someone we can trust. I’ll let you know what I find out afterward. He was close friends with them both.”
She slips me a small photo.
I turn it over, and a shock jolts through me. It’s the pretty blond woman from the general store and the airshow. The one with a hidden bruise and a little girl. The little girl who had to have been born just months after Nathan disappeared.
Should I tell Elaine about her? No. I’ll wait until she meets with her contact. I want to trust her, but I have to be careful.
“Thanks, Elaine.”
Elaine squeezes my arm gently. “You remind me of him. In all the best ways.”
“I have something to share with you, too.” I lay Nathan’s maps across the table. “These are the entrances he explored,” I explain, tracing a line with my finger. “And here, these were areas he thought were worth investigating further,” I tell her what I found in Nathan’s stolen notes and the warning.
Elaine studies the maps, her gaze sharp and focused. “This is remarkable. Nathan’s work on these maps may help us find what he was searching for.”
“I’ve been careful about who I share this with. It’s hard to know who I can trust.”
“You’re right to be cautious,” Elaine says. “After hearing about what you’ve found in Nathan’s notes and these maps—what he was hiding.” She hesitates. “I’m worried that someone may have harmed him, and they don’t want us to find out who they are.”
A creak at the cottage’s front door makes us both freeze. My heart pounds as I slowly look.
“Did you hear that?” I ask.
She pales. We walk over, and I carefully open the door and peek outside. There’s dirt on the front step and fresh footprints on the ground below the stairs, large footprints—a man’s size. We can see the footsteps trail around the corner of the inn. A chill runs up my spine.
“Someone was here,” I whisper hoarsely, dread coiling in my chest.
Elaine, fearful herself, places a steady hand on my shoulder. “Lock your doors. Have someone stay with you at the cottage. Be careful. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Unease clings to me. Whoever was listening at the door heard everything we said.
I approach the marina slowly—Scott’s boat rocks gently in its berth. My heart is pounding hard and fast as my gaze lands on him, wiping downAdeline’s railing. The sunlight frames his figure, painting his broad shoulders in amber and shadow.
Ding trots beside me, his tail wagging like this is an ordinary walk. I envy his blissful ignorance as I stop at the edge of the dock. Ding barks, once, eager to get Scott’s attention. I draw shaky breaths, forcing myself to steady my nerves before calling, “Scott?”
