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 about."
Sullivan nodded. "And she comes first now, is that it?"
"That's it."
At six o'clock that evening every parking lot was full. A large crowd of locals, Heralds, tourists, and summer people thronged the street and sidewalk.
Colorful balloons bobbed from the open doors of the shops and gallery. The temperature had been above average during the day, a balmy eighty-two, and the late summer sun was fending off the evening chill. The Annual Eclipse Bay Summer Celebration was in full swing.
Octavia breathed a sigh of relief when several kids, dragging their parents, surged into Bright Visions the minute the door was opened.
"It looks like the show isn't going to be a disaster after all," she said in a low voice to Gail, who was supervising the punch-and-cookies table.
Gail chuckled. "Told you not to worry. Did you really think anyone would stay away? Every kid with a picture in the show will be here tonight, and everyone else in town will come just to get a look at you and Nick together. After all, you're the lady who shattered the curse."
"And then, of course, there is the fact that I am a noted local art thief," Octavia said dryly.
"Hey, a little notoriety never hurts when it comes to publicity."
"Just goes to prove the old publicity axiom, I guess. 'I don't care what you call me so long as you spell my name right'."
Gail's amusement faded. "It's true that people are very curious about your relationship with Nick. And I won't say that the rumors about the missing Upsall haven't piqued everyone's interest. But the bottom line is that a lot of people really like you, Octavia. You're a nice person."
Octavia made a face. "You mean, for an art thief?"
"Gail is right." Hannah appeared out of the crowd and helped herself to a chocolate chip cookie. "You and the Bright Visions gallery are part of this town. Folks wouldn't be talking about you if you weren't considered a legitimate member of the community. Local folks never talk about outsiders. They're not interested in the summer people or the casual visitors."
"Like it or not, you belong here," Gail said.
Hannah glanced toward the door. "And here come a couple of your biggest admirers."
Octavia followed the direction of her gaze and saw Eugene and Dwayne enter the gallery. They looked different. It took her a few seconds to realize that both men had shaved and put on clean shirts and pants for the occasion. Eugene's hair was slicked down with some sort of shiny pomade, and Dwayne had tied his in a ponytail.
The pair came to a halt just inside the entrance, blocking traffic. Although they had walked into the gallery with a certain air of bravado, they now appeared uncomfortable. She got the feeling neither of them knew what to do next.
"Will you look at that," Gail murmured. "They've actually buttoned their shirts."
"Sort of ruins the image when you can't see Eugene's hairy belly through the holes in his undershirt, doesn't it?" Hannah mused.
Gail frowned. "I hope they're not here to start trouble."
"Don't worry," Hannah said. "Sean Valentine is just outside talking to Nick and A.Z. and Virgil. Eugene and Dwayne won't create any problems with the chief nearby."
"I agree, there's no cause for alarm." Octavia picked up two paper cups filled with punch. "They wouldn't have gone to all the effort to get cleaned up if they'd planned to start another brawl."
She made her way through the crowd to where Eugene and Dwayne hovered uncertainly.
"Hello," she said brightly, handing a cup to each man. "I'm glad you could make it tonight. Please come in and have a look around."