“Thank you, Hank,” I said, and invited him inside. He looked around the room with the practiced eyes of a man who checks for exits and tactical angles.

“Your father told me not to say too much,” he admitted as he sat down. “But he wanted you to know this land is more than just a view of the lake.”

I nodded. “I found the box and the mineral survey last night.”

Hank gave me a slow smile. “Good. That means you already know the truth.”

“Most people around here think this is just pretty scenery,” he said. “But Adelaide was a lot smarter than the geologists I worked with during my service.”

“She knew exactly what was under the dirt,” he added. I leaned forward and looked him in the eye.