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“Hey,” he said, closing the door carefully behind him. “I wanted to apologize again for the circus. I know we agreed on a specific schedule, but I didn’t expect the crew and Sully’s guys to get so territorial.”

Amy waved a hand and managed a faint smile. “It’s over now.”

Mason’s expression softened. “Still—it’s on me. I pushed too far this morning. You’ve been more than generous with the access. Especially letting the team crash at that cottage. They’re beyond thrilled; we haven’t had lodging that nice in months.” His voice was gentler now, but edged with something that felt rehearsed but earnest.

“I’m glad it’s being used again,” Amy said absently, shuffling a few papers she didn’t actually need to look at.

Mason didn’t move away from the door. “I heard some of the mayor’s pearls of wisdom on my way out.”

Amy tensed slightly, glancing up. “You did?”

“Hard not to. Politicians tend to be really good at projecting their voices.” His smile was sympathetic. “He doesn’t get what you’re trying to do here—not really. But I do. You’re bringing something important back to life. The history, the structure… the soul. That takes guts.”

Compliments from Mason always came layered—one part sincerity, one part salesman polish. Still, she appreciated the attempt.

“Thank you. That… means more than you think,” she said.

He stepped closer, just enough for her to feel how he sucked the air out of the room. “You know,” he went on, “these episodes are going to make this place. The first one should air soon. Maybe next week. Just the introduction—background, local lore, your vision for the restoration. Then the real work starts. We’ve got hours of good footage already. A ton of recordings, interviews, raw EVPs…”

Amy offered a tired smile. “I’m glad. You’ve certainly made an impression on the island.”

“Yeah, we seem to have that effect wherever we go.” He chuckled. “But trust me—when people see how we wrap this story… it’s going to be spectacular.”

She frowned faintly. “Wrap it how?”

Mason’s eyes gleamed, a flash of excitement held just beneath the surface. “Oh, you know. The build to the finale is everything. We need drama—human connection, emotional payoff. The haunting’s part of it, sure, but the real hook is what it brings out in the living.”

Amy nodded as if she understood, though his choice of words reminded her of Matt’s warning about Mason’s methods. She tried to ignore the prickly twinge creeping up the back of her neck.

“Sounds ambitious,” she said while she stacked her folders neatly to give her hands something to do.

“Ambitious is good,” he said softly, watching her a moment too long. “You and I are going to create something unforgettable here, Amy. People will talk about it for years.”

She gave a brittle laugh; at this point, she didn’t have the energy to unpack his meaning. Her gut simply told her she wouldn’t like it. “One step at a time. Right now, I’d settle for a week without any surprises.”

Mason’s grin returned—dazzling, practiced, and strangely hollow. “Well then. I promise we’ll behave. And keep to our agreement about the renovation schedule. Scout’s honor.”

He tapped two fingers to his temple in mock salute. A flicker of intensity passed through his eyes that didn’t match the joke.

“Appreciate that,” Amy said. She’d turned back to her screen, but she could feel his gaze linger another heartbeat before the door clicked shut behind him.

When he was gone, the silence folded back in.

Amy rubbed her temple and tried to redirect her mind from the day’s collisions—the crews, the mayor’s thinly veiled threat, Mason’s strange energy. She picked up her phone, and her thumb hovered over Sully’s name. Then she set it back down. It wasn’t like him to be absent from the work site, and she wondered what could have pulled him away.

In the midst of her thoughts, a soft creak echoed from the hall, two floorboards gave a faint, deliberate sigh.

Amy froze and listened.

Nothing.

Still, she had the distinct feeling that, beyond the door, someone—or something—had stayed behind, an unseen observer.

Chapter 20

By mid-afternoon, Sully had given up trying to get any work done.

The twins were relentless.