Perfect Partners

fishing boats that had been dry-docked for repair or outfitting.
    Coiled lines, winches, and chains were everywhere. The sound of high-powered construction machinery rumbled through the walls. The smell of varnish and tar seemed to seep through the office window.
    Copeland’s office was littered with blueprints and marine supply catalogs. The old steel desk was stacked with papers and file folders.
    “You see what I’m saying, Letty? Copeland Marine is getting the work. My reputation is rock solid. Always has been. We got into a bind a few years ago when the economy took a downturn. I’ll admit I was a little overextended at the time because of some modifications I made to the yard.”
    “You were ass-deep in debt, Copeland.” Joel stuck his hands in his back pockets and smiled coldly. “The interest rate on the bank loans you had taken out were eating you alive. Another six months and you’d have lost everything. It was plain bad management that got you into that mess.”
    Victor ignored him, just as he had during the tour. He looked at Letty. “Like I said, I was a little overextended, and when Thornquist made its offer, I jumped at it. I didn’t know I was being set up. But things are working out the way I planned. And if you’ll just give me a little extra time I can pull this company out of the red.”
    “You’ve had all the time you’re going to get, Copeland.” Joel glanced at Letty. “We’ve seen enough. Nothing’s changed around here in the past fifteen years. Copeland’s still running his yard like it was some five-and-dime operation he had going out in his garage. He couldn’t save it even if we gave him an extra hundred years.”
    Copeland’s face turned a violent red. He swung around, confronting Joel for the first time that afternoon. “You shut up, goddamn it. I’m trying to talk to the owner of Thornquist Gear. And that sure as hell ain’t you, Blackstone.”
    Joel looked steadily at Letty. “There’s no point in hanging around here any longer.”
    “Now, just a damn minute,” Copeland yelled. “I got a right to tell her how it is. This is business, damn it.”
    Letty frowned as she realized the superficial calm that had existed during the tour was fading fast. “Excuse me,” she said briskly. “I would like to see the rest of the offices.”
    Victor swung his large head back to her. He glowered. “Huh? What are you talking about?”
    She smiled. “If you don’t mind. I just want to get a feel for the administrative structure of Copeland Marine.”
    “Administrative structure? I am the administrative structure of Copeland Marine. Always have been. This yard is mine.”
    “I understand. But you must have some support facilities—an accounting department, a payroll office, secretarial help. That sort of thing,” Letty said gently.
    “Well, yeah. Sure.” Victor walked past Joel without looking at him. He opened the door. “This way.”
    Letty stepped out into the hall and promptly collided with Keith Escott.
    “Excuse me, Ms. Thornquist.” Keith caught her arm to steady her. He had a file folder in his other hand. He frowned in concern. “Didn’t mean to run you down. You okay?”
    “She’s fine,” Joel muttered.
    Keith looked at him without expression. “I’m glad to hear it.” He glanced back at Letty. “How did the tour go?”
    “It was very interesting,” Letty said quietly. Memories of Diana on her knees in front of Joel filled her with a rush of sympathy for Keith. She wondered if he was aware that his wife had visited Joel in a motel room that morning. She sincerely hoped he never found out. Keith appeared to be a sensitive man. Letty would have hated to see him hurt.
    “We’re in a hurry here,” Victor said impatiently. “I’ll talk to you later, Escott.”
    Letty saw Keith’s eyes narrow briefly at the peremptory tone but his voice was mild when he spoke.
    “I thought you might want to show Ms. Thornquist some of the numbers I came up with when I did a long-range plan for Copeland Marine,” Keith said. He offered Victor the file he had under his arm. “I think she might find it interesting.”
    Victor knocked the file out of Keith’s hand. It fell to the floor, and the papers slid out. “You and your goddamn long-range planning. Get out of the way, Escott. Go play with your fancy little computer. I said I’d talk to you later. Come on, Letty.”
    But Letty was already kneeling down to help Keith gather up the papers. “Here, let