Deep Waters

sure as hell isn't the type to move to a small town and run a curio shop on a pier. Keep your eyes open, Charity. My guess is he knows something you don't."
    "Such as?"
    "Who can tell? Maybe one of his off-shore clients is preparing to move into Whispering Waters Cove."
    "And Elias is here to pave the way?"
    "It's about the only scenario I can think of that fits the situation. If that's the case, there's money involved. A lot of it."
    "He said he inherited the pier from Hayden Stone, our former landlord."
    "Maybe he did and maybe he didn't," Davis mused.
    "Are you saying that Elias Winters may have bought the pier from Hayden Stone on behalf of his off-shore client?" It worried Charity that she had not thought of that possibility herself. She hoped that she hadn't been out of the corporate world for so long that she could no longer trust her instincts. "Maybe that's why Hayden was in Seattle when he had the heart attack. He was finalizing the deal. But why would Elias lie about it?"
    "Use your head, Charity," Davis said. "The pier may be just the beginning. If Winters has been hired to pick up a lot of choice real estate for a foreign investor, the last thing he'll want to do is drive up property values around Whispering Waters Cove."
    "True." Charity drummed her fingers on the stack of Elizabeth Lowell books. "If he's going to buy a lot of land here, he'll try to keep the purchases quiet as long as possible. Pretending that he inherited the pier and has no immediate plans for it would be one way of deflecting curiosity."
    Davis chuckled. "You told me the town council wants to go boutique. But, believe me, they ain't seen nothin' yet. Not if Winters is a player. Some of his clients are into world-class resort developments. Waterfront is perfect for them."
    Charity considered the situation. The town council was already salivating at the prospect of converting Crazy Otis Landing into an upscale tourist attraction. But the mayor and the council members would go wild if they believed that a wealthy off-shore investor was preparing to turn Whispering Waters Cove into a glitzy destination resort.
    "Any company moving into Whispering Waters Cove will want to pick up the land it needs as cheaply as possible before word gets out and all the locals decide to try to make a killing," Davis added. "It's common to send in a good point man to buy the big parcels before anyone knows what's happening."
    Crazy Otis Landing was a nice chunk of waterfront property, Charity reflected. It could easily form the heart of a major resort. "You think Elias Winters might be acting as a point man for an off-shore investor?"
    "I think it's a reasonable assumption, given what I've heard about Winters."
    "But why would he agree to renew the leases at the old rates if he wanted the pier for his client?" Charity was irritated by the rising note in her own voice. There was no call to get emotional about this, she thought. This was business. She had once been very good at business.
    "If I'm right, you're looking at three- to five-year planning in action," Davis explained.
    "In which case, renewing the leases for another year is no big deal," Charity said glumly. "Whoever is be hind the operation may not intend to start construction for another couple of years."
    "Exactly. Why not let the present tenants hang around for a while? Besides, it helps maintain the low profile."
    "I get the picture," Charity said. "If we want secure leases here on the pier, we'd better negotiate them for at least three years, maybe five."
    "Relax," Davis said cheerfully. "It's not your problem. You've got more than enough business savvy to keep your little bookstore going regardless of what happens to the pier. In fact, a major resort would probably do wonders for your bottom line. People on vacation read a lot. You'll be okay."
    But Bea, Yappy, Radiance, and Ted didn't have her skills and business acumen, Charity thought. They were not what anyone in the corporate world would call players. It was true that they had improved then-business methods in the past year, but their little shops were unlikely to survive a sudden, major redevelopment of the pier.
    "Thanks, Davis. Say hello to Meredith."
    "I will. About time you came into the city to see us, isn't it?"
    "I'll get in one of these days."
    "Good." Davis hesitated. "Sure you're not bored with running that little pier shop yet?"
    "I'm sure."
    "I have a bet with Meredith. I give you six more months before you come back to