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the midst of speeding through traffic to get there, her mind had played out all kinds of scenarios, including the possibility of a break-in.
    "Professor," she prompted. "Your call…was there something – "
    "As you can see, this museum celebrates worldwide explorations. That’s why a local landmark opportunity of this magnitude shouldn’t be ignored." His tone, coupled with his stiff posture, was that of an attorney defending his case. And that’s when she noticed the wall of images behind him – as if he had strategically positioned himself before a mounted assault. Every photograph featured a salvage crew with their arsenal of toys: tugs, cranes, pulleys, winches.
    Anger simmered as she realized why he had chosen this particular spot to meet. Perhaps even why he’d given her plenty of time to explore. But the emotions she struggled to hold in check reached a boiling point when her eyes latched onto Chase’s unmistakable profile, camouflaged in nearly every frame.
    "So this is the reason I’m here," she fumed. She wanted to storm out of the museum, leaving the professor in her wake. But not before clarifying that another manipulative stunt like this would result in recommending the foundation’s complete disassociation with the museum. "In the future, Dr. Ying, I would appreciate –”
    "Rachel, please…" The professor stepped toward her. "I understand how unprofessional this all seems. If I’ve demonstrated any impropriety on my part, I do apologize."
    "Duly noted, but I really don’t have time for this today." She stepped around Dr. Ying and headed for the closest exit, immune to his persistent appeal.
    "Under usual circumstances, my actions would seem irrational," he called out. "But since your father died while working on this project, I thought it only right I come straight out and tell you the truth."
    She froze, stunned by his words. She twisted around and glared at him. Desperation was obviously making the man crazy. He’d use any tactic to get his own way. “My father died while salvaging the Griffin wreck,” she shouted back. “He didn’t know anything about your ship. How could he? Chase just found it."
    "Well, that’s not entirely true."
    What wasn’t true?
    Rachel stormed back to confront him. "My father’s crew told the police they’d been working the same grid for six months. They were pulling up cables, machinery…shell casings. Are you telling me they all lied ?"
    "Not technically," he corrected. “You see, after the Griffin had been abandoned by other diving operations, they acquired exclusive salvage rights for that site. They sat on it for six months to validate their claim. But even though Sam’s salvage rights were legal, they weren’t the same as ownership rights. He was going to face multiple claims on the ship’s contents and would have been lucky to end up with ten percent at best.”
    Doc wasn’t telling her anything new. His recap was only adding weight to her discontent.
    “ With his funds running out, Sam was planning to call it quits,” he said. “Then he came across two remarkable discoveries: the anchor chain belonging to an ancient ship and a passage in the ocean floor.”
    Passage? What the hell was he talking about?
    “ Sam was convinced it lead to the Wanli. But even Chase wasn’t fully aware of his suspicions. He was going to be Sam’s eyewitness…someone to validate his findings. But then we lost Sam and the investigation brought everything to a screeching halt.” Dr. Ying glanced at Chase’s photograph on the wall. “After I authenticated the lacquered piece he’d found, your father fully intended to share everything with you. He just wanted to wait until he was absolutely certain. Until he could substantiate his claim and prove himself a credible explorer."
    No…until I believed in him.
    Even after four years, the final argument she'd had with her father tore at her conscience. They'd been at it for days, avoiding each other, speaking only when