During his after-work hours, he combed images of North Georgia with the fervor of Sherlock Holmes, searching for landmarks that matched her dad’s map. Worse, he expected her to do the same. He’d divvied up Georgia and asked her to search the northwest corner. He’d taken the northeast corner. Each evening when they returned to their respective homes, they studied the terrain, working their way toward the middle of the state.

It was like trying to find a thumbtack at a garage sale, and for the first time since opening the initial clue, Finley wanted to embrace her father for making the treasure hunt so difficult.

Because here’s the thing. Luke’s technological contributions to Furry Tails were of value. The treasure hunt was of value. But his presence was of far greater value. If the end of the hunt meant he’d move away, then she wasn’t ready for the hunt to end. She’d lost Chase with the suddenness of an axe falling. An emphatic no filled her every time she contemplated losing Luke with the same swift finality.

She needed more time with him. His family needed more time with him. She began praying that God would give them more time.

But on Friday night . . .

Time ran out.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Luke had become so used to staring at online maps and finding nothing that when he finally did view a body of water shaped in a familiar way on Friday night, it took him several seconds to recognize what he was seeing.

He leaned toward the computer, his boredom and tiredness vanishing. Had he found something that resembled Ed’s drawing?

He had.

Lake Trahlyta was written in the center of the blue mass. A narrow lake, it rested in a diagonal direction. Round like the head of a club at the top, jagged at the bottom.

It was nine thirty. He’d been reclining on the sofa, feet on the coffee table, laptop balanced on his abdomen. Now his bare feet hit the floor as he sat up and reached for his photocopy of Ed’s map.

He compared the page to his screen. A match.

Adrenaline pumped through his body, giving him a taste of what it must’ve felt like for Finley when she’d figured out each clue.

He zoomed in and out on the digital map until the other elements included in Ed’s drawing came into view. The roads, check. The streams, check.

He’d found the location of the treasure.

He pushed the heels of his hands against his eye sockets, then dragged his hands down his face and dialed Finley. He couldn’t wait to end this hunt. Only by ending it would he be able to ensure her safety.

“I found it,” he told her before she could even say hello.

“You found the location of the treasure?”

“Yes.”

“Luke! You rock star!”