Scout tipped her head. “You’re sure there’re only a couple of clues left?”
“Positive,” Chase said. “Leaving early tomorrow will give us plenty of time to—”
“I can’t,” Naki said suddenly, his voice quiet but firm.
Both Chase and Scout turned to him, caught off guard. “Can’t what?” Scout said, lowering the butter knife.
“I’m not available tomorrow.”
Scout exchanged a look with Chase, who had stopped mid-bite into his popover. He knew just what she was thinking: If they didn’t have Naki, the chance for cracking clues greatly diminished. Not impossible, but not easy. Chase swallowed. “Why not?”
Naki gazed past them to the still water of Jordan Pond. “Church.”
Chase blinked. He hadn’t thought of Naki as a church guy. “Sunday. Okay. So go to church next week. Or meet us later in the afternoon.”
“No,” Naki said, turning toward him at last, his gaze steady and calm.
The words settled like a stone dropped in water, rippling through the table. Chase set his half-eaten popover down. “Comeon. You can’t miss church one Sunday morning?”
Naki turned to him, his dark eyes unflinching. “Not when I’m preaching.”
Chase and Scout exchanged another look—this one of complete surprise. Discovering that she had no idea about Naki moonlighting as a preacher gave a little lift to Chase’s spirits, like maybe he was imagining that there was more between them than there was. “Fine,” he said. “Scout and I can handle it. I think I’m getting these clues figured out, anyway.”
“Ohreally.” Scout raised an eyebrow. “How about you give us an example?”
Chase reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “‘The first light finds my secret where sky meets stone, atop the highest peak that greets the dawn before all others.’”
“Cadillac Mountain,” Naki said without hesitation.
“Exactly.” Chase grinned. “See? I’m figuring out this lighthouse keeper’s logic. We’ll hit Cadillac first thing, then head to the last clue.” He turned the page in his notepad. “Here’s theone that’s right in front of us: ‘In the mirror of the pond, look to the twin sentinels who guard the northern shore, and there lies the heart of the treasure.’” He turned around and pointed. “Obviously, it means Jordan Pond.”
Naki lifted an eyebrow. “I agree. But where?”
“I’m glad you asked. Most would read that clue and think the twin sentinels are the Bubbles. But we’re smarter than that.” Chase tapped his forehead with his finger. “These clues all have a red herring in them. What seems obvious is wrong.”
Naki nodded. “I agree with you.”
“So, there’s a pair of large trees on the Carriage Road Outlook that frame the pond. They would make a perfect hiding place.” He stood, extending a hand toward Scout with a little flourish. “Shall we?”
Scout took his hand but rolled her eyes. “Iama ranger, you know.”
“Of course,” Chase said, grinning. “But you’re also a lady. You can be both.”
Scout laughed, pulling her hand out of his. “If only my mother shared your opinion.”
Naki rose more slowly, his gaze flicking between the two of them. “Lead on,” he said. His tone was even, but there was a hint of something Chase couldn’t quite place.
Chase clapped his hands together, eager to keep the momentum going. With a little luck, he was going to wrap this story up tomorrow. Ah, one more reason to smile: Spending the day alone with Scout would be the icing on the cake.
Scout trailed behind Chase as he led the way toward the pond’s shoreline, her steps crunching softly on the gravel path. She stopped abruptly when she realized Naki wasn’t behind her. Turning around, she saw him still back at their table, pulling some cash from his wallet and sliding it under the edge of aplate. The waitress, busy clearing another table, caught sight of it and gave him a smile.
Touching.
Chase hadn’t thought to leave a tip.
She waited as Naki approached, his strides steady and unhurried. “Thanks forthat,” she said quietly when he reached her.
Naki gave a small shrug. “I waited tables in college. Once you work in the service industry, you become a good tipper.”
