Perfect Partners

to push aside the nightmare image of his father screaming silently through the window of the sinking car.
All your fault
.
    He breathed deeply, just as he did when he was running. It was going to be finished very soon, he reminded himself.
    “You had a right to go after me.” Joel sat forward, his hands flat on the desk. “But you had no right to punish Dad for what I’d done.”
    “Shit, that happened fifteen years ago. I was pissed off. Everyone in Echo Cove knows better than to get me pissed off. Everyone except you.”
    Joel shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know that the management of Thornquist Gear has decided to give Copeland Marine another eighteen months to pull itself out of the red.”
    Relief appeared first in Copeland’s eyes. It was followed by an expression of triumph. “I knew it. Knew you’d back off in the end. It was that little Thornquist gal, wasn’t it? She wouldn’t let you shut Copeland down because she knew what it would do to the town.”
    This was it. This was the moment he had been waiting for, Joel thought. He searched himself for some powerful sense of satisfaction, but all he seemed to be experiencing was a cold, distant curiosity. It was as if he were an observer rather than the one taking revenge.
    “Don’t get too excited, Copeland. Your company has been given an eighteen-month extension, but you haven’t.”
    “What the hell are you talking about? Nobody can run that company except me and you damn well know it. Copeland Marine is mine.”
    “Not anymore. As of today, you are no longer president of Copeland Marine. In fact, as the owner of the controlling interest in the firm, I am ordering you not to set foot on Copeland Marine property unless and until I give approval.”
    Copeland’s jaw dropped. “What are you tryin’ to say, you bastard? You think you can run my company from here?”
    “No. I’m putting your son-in-law in charge. Escott assumes the reins officially this afternoon. You’re out of the picture as of right now.”
    “
Escott
. That gutless pansy? You can’t turn it over to him. Copeland Marine is my company! It’s always been my company.” Copeland surged to his feet. His hands balled up into massive fists at his sides. “Nobody takes Copeland Marine away from me. You hear me, Blackstone? Nobody.”
    “I hear you.” Sensing the violence in Copeland, Joel stood up slowly. He realized he was hoping the man would take a swing.
    “
Nobody
.” Copeland swept his arm over the surface of Joel’s desk, knocking the wire basket, calendar, lamp, and a sheaf of files onto the carpet. “You can’t do this to me.”
    Joel smiled savagely. “What are you so upset about, Copeland? I’m only doing to you what you did to my father. I’m firing you. No big deal. You can always go look for another job, can’t you?”
    “You goddamn bastard.” Copeland reached down and scooped up the fallen lamp. He started to swing it at Joel the same way he had once swung a length of solid teak.
    “Just like old times, isn’t it, Copeland?” Joel taunted softly. “Come on. Let’s see you try it. Give me the excuse I’ve been looking for to take you apart.”
    Copeland raised his huge arm. “
Fucking bastard
.”
    The office door opened.
    “Excuse me,” Philip Dixon said with astonishing calm. “Am I interrupting anything?” He looked from Joel to Copeland, a slight frown furrowing his elegant brow. “Hello, Copeland. Here to make a last-minute pitch to save Copeland Marine? Afraid there’s not much point. Blackstone is quite correct when he says that the only realistic alternative is liquidation. I’ve consulted on any number of similar situations, and one has to face facts.”
    Copeland stared at Philip for an instant. Then he hurled the lamp down onto the carpet in a gesture of frustrated fury.
    He stormed out of the office without another word.
    Joel watched him go, and then he turned to Philip. “Nice timing, Dixon.”
    “Copeland appeared rather upset.”
    “Yeah, he did, didn’t he?” Joel looked at Mrs. Sedgewick, who was hovering uncertainly in the doorway. “Call Escott at his hotel. Tell him I want to talk to him immediately. And then get someone in here to clean up this mess.”
    “Yes, sir.” Mrs. Sedgewick, looking unusually subdued, vanished.
    Philip cleared his throat to get attention. “I stopped by to talk to you about the details of the Copeland Marine liquidation. As it happens, I have a few thoughts on the