Tim watched them go, a nagging sense of unease settling in. Why did he always feel like he was a chapter behind?
Chase could feel the distance growing between him and Scout, like a gap he didn’t know how to close. She had hardly looked at him during that rather mind-blowing meeting. So much information that he needed to process to write up the story for the paper. But that would have to come later. For now, he needed to fix things with Scout. He left Ranger Rivers’s office and hurried out to where she was standing with her father and Naki in the parking lot.
Scout’s father. Dr. James H. Johnson. That was another mind-blowing discovery.
World-famous marine archaeologist. The guy was practically a legend in Maine. Johnson was the one who’d found the wreck of an old merchant ship off Machias. They said he’d pieced together the whole story, made people realize that stories from the past were waiting to be found.
There was the discovery of a nineteenth-century merchant ship off Mount Desert Island, where he uncovered not only well-preserved porcelain and navigational tools but also a deeper understanding of the trade routes that shaped Maine’s economy. He also worked on identifying a British warship near Bar Harbor, whose wreck confirmed details of a naval skirmish from the 1700s. It was the kind of work that connected history’s fragments, giving a clearer picture of past lives and lost events. His expertise wasn’t just in the discovered artifacts but in what they revealed about the lives of those aboard.
Chase shook his head, trying to keep up. How had Scoutnevermentioned who her father was? He knew about all these discoveries, but realizing Scout was the daughter of the man behind them added a whole new layer to the way he saw her—there was much more to her than he’d even begun to imagine. He didn’t want to let her go.
“Scout, can I talk to you for a second? Privately?”
As she hesitated, Chase thought for sure that she was about to say no, when, happily, her father intervened.
“You go, honey. Naki and I have some work to catch up on.” Dr. Johnson opened his car door and slid inside.
Hesitating, Naki said nothing, but his dark eyes flicked from Chase to Scout, sharp and unreadable. Chase felt a strange pressure under that gaze, like Naki could see every one of his flaws. He gave a nod to Scout and climbed in the passenger side of the car. Scout watched them drive away, a disappointed look on her face.
Then she turned to Chase. “I have a few minutes to spare. But just a few. I’m due at the pier soon.”
He motioned toward a bench near the edge of the parking lot, and they sat down. His leg bounced nervously, and he took a deep breath. “So ... that’s your father. I’ve heard about him. Pretty impressive guy.”
“That’s him.”
“And then there’s your mother. She’s quite...”
Scout gave him a look as if to say,Better watch it.
“Hey, I loved her. She’s vivacious. Charming. Conversational.”
“That she is.”
“Family dinners must be ... fascinating.”
“You have no idea.” She scoffed a laugh. “Look, Chase, I need to get to work.”
“Right. Get to the point.” He took in a deep breath. “I wanted to talk to you face to face because ... well, a lot has happened in the last few days. I know that I have some explaining to do.”
Scout cupped her knees with her hands. “Honestly, I think it’s all pretty clear.”
“No, it’s not,” Chase insisted. “I need to apologize. I left you on Precipice Trail and didn’t return for you like I said I would. But I never would have left you there if I didn’t have complete confidence in you. And I was right. You took care of yourself.”
“You left me on the trail because you wanted to get that story to the press.”
He lifted his palms. “Guilty. I am sorry, Scout. Truly sorry.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “And runnin’ the story has helped theBar Harbor Gazette, hasn’t it?” Her voice was cool but not unkind.
“More than helped.” He let out a heavy sigh. “It’s saved thenewspaper, Scout. I can’t even begin to tell you all that’s happened in the last two days. Ads are booked solid through the new year. Subscriptions have tripled. National news agencies are coming tomefor interviews. Best of all, people are talking about their local paper like it’s part of their morning coffee routine again.”
She gave him a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m glad for you, Chase. I know that paper is important to you.”
“Hearing your father’s theory about my great-great ... how many greats?” He shrugged. “Anyway, it just confirmed to me that sometimes the ends justify the means.” His eyes widened. “Not Arthur Lipp’s means. I’m not condoning sabotage. Or suicide. Don’t get me wrong.”
Smiling a little more, she gave a slight shake of her head. “I knew what you meant.”
That small flicker of kindness gave him hope. “Scout, I’m hoping we can pick up where we left off. The more time I’ve spent with you this last week, the more I’ve realized I want to keep spending time with you. If anything, I’m even more dazzled.” He shifted closer on the bench and dared to take her hand. “Scout, I think you’re the one.”
