Deep Waters

certified public accountant, got to his feet. He cleared his throat and picked up his report.
    "I'll begin with the renaming issue. Your Honor, as you know, the names Sunset Landing and Indigo Landing have both been suggested for the pier. The committee selected Indigo Landing on the grounds that it had more of an upscale ring to it."
    Charity leaped to her feet. "Hold on here, you can't just rename the landing by fiat. That pier is private property."
    Beside her Bea and Radiance muttered angrily to themselves. The audience murmured appreciatively. Charity knew that it was preparing to be entertained with another skirmish between herself and Phyllis.
    Phyllis gave Charity a frosty smile. "You can hardly object to a new name for Crazy Otis Landing."
    "On behalf of the Crazy Otis Landing Shopkeepers Association, I want to make it clear that we most certainly do object," Charity said firmly. "The present name has character and a uniquely whimsical quality which we feel will appeal to tourists. We like it, and we intend to keep it."
    Phyllis's eyes narrowed. "You heard the committee report. Everyone agrees that Crazy Otis Landing sounds too unsophisticated to attract the high-end tourist market"
    "I don't care what the committee decided," Charity said. "You can't rename the pier without permission of the owner."
    "True." Phyllis fixed Elias with a determined smile. "And since he's here tonight, I suggest we ask him what he thinks about renaming the property."
    Hushed expectation smoldered in the room. Everyone looked toward Elias.
    "Well?" Charity glowered down at him. "Say something."
    Elias glanced at her and then looked at Phyllis and the rest of the council. "The current name suits the pier. We'll keep it."
    Phyllis scowled. Another murmur went through the crowd. There was a smattering of applause.
    Charity sat down with a sense of triumph. Radiance and Bea grinned at her. In the back row Newlin let out a whoop.
    Gabe Saunders scowled. "The mayor's right, It doesn't sound real sophisticated, Mr. Winters."
    "The pier isn't what anyone would call real sophisticated," Elias pointed out.
    Laughter greeted that observation.
    Phyllis banged the gavel for silence. "That brings us to the second issue before the committee. Gabe, you agreed to check out the possibility of making an offer for the pier. What did you conclude?"
    Gabe shrugged. "Like I told you yesterday, Phyllis, we can afford to do it if we want, provided it's for sale and assuming Mr. Winters doesn't inflate his asking price above current market value."
    Charity prodded Elias's arm. "Tell them you aren't interested in selling."
    Elias gave her a laconic look. Then he turned obediently back to the council. "The pier isn't for sale."
    Another ripple of conversation passed over the crowd. It was louder this time. Charity noticed Tom Lancaster, the editor of the Cove Herald, scribbling swiftly on a notepad.
    Phyllis frowned at Elias. "Are you absolutely sure about that, Mr. Winters? The town is prepared to make a reasonable offer."
    Charity shot back up to her feet. "You heard him. He just told you the pier is not for sale."
    Phyllis's mouth tightened with barely restrained anger. "I was under the impression that Elias, here, actually owned the pier, not you, Charity. Would you mind very much if he spoke for himself?"
    "She's doing a pretty good job of speaking for me," Elias said very politely. "Might as well let her finish."
    Someone gave a snort of laughter. The crowd tittered. Charity felt herself turn crimson as she subsided into her chair.
    "I believe we'll table this issue until next month." Phyllis smiled coldly and turned to another member of the council. "Clark, would you please give us the report of the Fair committee?" Clark Rogers rose to his feet. Elias did, too. Without a word, he turned and walked out of the council chamber. Charity watched uneasily.
    An hour later at the conclusion of the council session, she joined her fellow shopkeepers on the front steps of the town hall. Everyone was jubilant.
    "Hope that settles the thing once and for all," Bea said. "If 11 be all over town by tomorrow morning that we told the mayor and the council to their faces that the pier was not for sale."
    Ted yawned. "Sure hope it's the last time I have to sit through one of those council meetings. Damned boring."
    "I don't think Crazy Otis Landing will be on the agenda again anytime soon," Radiance said. "Elias made it clear that he's not interested in renaming the