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Silence hummed on the line

"That's the real probleured he had married for life He hasn't adjusted to the loss of A to protect himself"

"Look, I know folks here in Eclipse Bay like to say that losing her broke Nick's heart" There was a note of gruff sympathy in Mitchell's voice "Expect it's true, ith hi a Harte and all But that ain't no excuse for hiirl like Octavia She's had a rough tirandson, I don't think she's tough enough to protect herself"

"So you've decided to do it for her?"

"Soot any family around to take on the job"

Sullivan hesitated "All right, you've made your point"

"Got another one to randson spent last night at her place"

That gave Sullivan pause "The whole night?"

"Well, htly "Didn't think so"

"But it's pretty damn obvious those two are foolin' around"

"Obvious to you, maybe"

"Yeah, obvious to me You should have seen the way

Octavia jumped to Nick's defense this afternoon when I cornered him down at therandson?"

"I was just makin' sure he understands he can't have his ith Octavia"

"Damn it, Mitch--" Sullivan broke off abruptly and backtracked to the other part of Mitchell's comment "What did you mean when you said Octavia ju for her"

"Nick? Working for Octavia Brightwell? Doing what, for crying out loud?"

"Playing private detective, I hear Like that fellow in his novels"

Sullivan struggled valiantly to hang onto the few reled froator?"

"Long story That painting Thurgarton left to AZ and Virgil and the Heralds got stolen froht"