Summer in Eclipse Bay

reason this can't wait until tomorrow morning."
    "Yeah," Mitchell said. "No reason to ruin the fun tonight."
    Nick sat in the old wooden porch rocker, heels stacked on the railing, and watched the gleaming black limo coast slowly toward him down the long drive.
    He did not like the conclusions he had reached after his conversation with Mrs. Burke that afternoon, but he had to admit that when he put the pieces together, everything fit.
    The only problem now was how and when to confront the suspect.
    It was going to be an extremely delicate operation, he thought. The reputation of an upstanding member of the community was at stake. And much as he would like to do so, he couldn't see any way to hush things up, not if Octavia was to be completely vindicated. And she was his top priority in this affair.
    The truth would have to come out, he thought, watching the limo pick its way along the unpaved drive. He sure as hell was not going to let the cloud of rumor and suspicion hang over Octavia indefinitely. Someone had to take the fall and it wasn't going to be her. Which meant that there was no way around the unpleasantness that lay ahead.
    The limo drifted to a halt in front of the cottage. The rear doors snapped open before the driver could extricate himself from behind the wheel.
    "Dad." Carson pelted toward him at a hundred miles an hour. "Dad, we're back."
    Sullivan levered himself out of the other side of the vehicle, cane in hand, and started around the rear of the car.
    Nick looked at Carson running toward him.
My son
.
    And then Carson was in his arms and he was swinging his boy around in the familiar greeting ritual.
    When he set Carson back on his feet, he caught Sullivan watching them. There was fierce love and pride in the old man's face. He did not speak, but there was no need for words. Nick knew exactly what he was thinking.
I didn't do everything right along the way but by God, one thing you can count on, I'd go to hell and back for you two, no questions asked.
    Nick met Sullivan's eyes.
I'd do the same for you,
he thought.
No questions asked.
    Sullivan smiled slightly and Nick knew that he understood.
    The limo driver put two suitcases down on the porch and looked at Sullivan. "Anything else, sir?"
    "No, thanks, Ben. We're all set for a few days. I'll give you a call when I need you. Take it easy on the way back to Portland."
    Ben nodded. "Will do."
    "Bye, Ben," Carson said.
    "So long, pal. I'll look forward to meeting your dog when you finally get him."
    "Okay," Carson said.
    Ben nodded to all of them and went back down the steps. He got behind the wheel of the big car, put it in gear, and drove off toward the main road.
    Nick ruffled Carson's hair. "How was the trip?"
    "We stopped along the way and I got ice cream and Great-Granddad and Ben got coffee and then we looked at some caves. Really big caves. Bigger than the ones we have in Dead Hand Cove," Carson reported with excitement.
    "We stopped to stretch our legs," Sullivan said, coming up the steps, "but we made good time." He raised his brows. "Didn't want to risk being late for the art show."
    Carson looked at Nick. "Has Miss Brightwell hung my picture yet?"
    "When I stopped by the gallery a couple of hours ago it was closed to the public, so I didn't go inside," Nick said. "Octavia and Gail were very busy getting things ready for this evening. They're probably hanging your drawing of Winston as we speak."
    "Oh, boy." Carson whirled around and raced into the house.
    Sullivan stopped beside Nick. They watched the screen door swing shut behind Carson.
    "Had a long talk with Mitch today when we set out from Portland," Sullivan said. "We came up with a name for you. But we think we ought to go with you when you confront the person. If we're right, this goes all the way back to the days of Harte-Madison. Mitch and I feel some responsibility for the situation."
    "That collateral damage you mentioned?"
    "Afraid so."
    "What's the name of your suspect?" Nick asked.
    Sullivan told him.
    "That pretty well cinches it," Nick said. He picked up one of the suitcases. "I came up with the same name."
    Sullivan hoisted the other suitcase. "No reason this can't wait until tomorrow, is there? When word gets out no one's going to be able to talk about anything else. Gonna be rough."
    "If Octavia agrees, it can wait until tomorrow," Nick said. "But no longer. I'm sorry about what's going to come down when this becomes public knowledge, but I've got Octavia to think