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"Well, you damn well should be thinkin' about it, if you ask me"

"I didn't ask you, but I'll take your opinion under advisement"

"Under advise "That a fancy way of sayin' you ain't interested in my opinion?"

"No Just meant I'll consider it" He watched a familiar,lot Mitchell Madison Bryce was at the wheel

Damn He did not need another scene with Octavia's self-appointed guardian, Nick thought Ti Boone said "Tiet ot to be onabout that painting, won't you?"

"Sure But it's probably gone for good"

That gave Nick pause He turned back "Why do you say that?"

"Can't see anyone around here hangin' a stolen painting in his house Sooner or later, so"

"Okay, I'll give you that And I'll also admit that this Upsall picture isn't the sort of fine art that you'd expect would appeal to the connoisseurs a us here in Eclipse Bay"

"Heard it looked like so Boone said

"Hey, I've got a kindergartner who can do better-looking art Yeah, the Upsall is sort of ugly Sure hard to envision so to the trouble to steal it just so he could hang it on the wall of the restroom And it would look a little out of place in the Total Eclipse, too"

Boone thought for a moment "Still leaves all those fancy types up at the institute and Cha"

"Maybe If that's the case, we'll have to let Valentine deal with it I'ht have taken it as a prank or on a dare I can see souy who'd had a couple-three-too- to swipe the painting as a stunt"

"Huh Hadn't thought of that"

"In which case," Nick said in the sa, "if it just shows up again there will be no questions asked"

Young Boone squinted knowingly and snapped his oily rag

"Gotcha I'll spread the word"

"Thanks"

Mitchell was out of the SUV He had his cane in one hand and he was et going," Nick said "Places to go, people to see"

Boone glanced past hi rapidly "Good luck Gonna be hard to avoid Madison He's got a bee in his bonnet about you and that Miss Brightwell gal"

"I know" Nick assessed his chances of escape He had the advantage of being several decades younger than Mitchell, and he hadn't developed any arthritis yet If he ht just make it to the car before Madison intercepted him "See you around, Boone"

"See ya"

Nick went swiftly along the gently shifting dock Helot when he realized he wasn't going to be able to dodge his pursuer He could outrun him, of course, but that would have been the coward's way Hartes did not run froht there, Harte" Mitchell thuround as he veered to the right to block Nick's path His bushy brows bristled across the bridge of his aggressive nose "I want to talk to you"

Nick halted Not ured