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She had ed in Eclipse Bay, too, but that had been wishful thinking on her part She knew that now Her search for ho

"Just out of curiosity," she continued, "did Laura have a proble?"

Jerehtly, clearly startled by the question Hisartist'"

"One last question Did you see much of Nick while you and Laura were ain for a while Eventually he shook his head "No Things change when you getaround with them for the most part"

"Yet she still found time to have an affair with Nick?" Octavia spread her hands "Get real, Jeremy"

"What the hell is this? You think you can just walk into this situation and analyze it without knowing all of the people involved?"

"I know soot their flaws, but I honestly can't see any of the Harte htened away fros, I know a bit more about you, too You can see a person's personality and character clearly enough to translate it onto a canvas Try looking at Nick with your artist's eye Ask yourself how you would paint hiot it bad for him, don't you?"

"My feelings for Nick have nothing to do with this discussion" She dug her car keys out of her shoulder bag and went toward the door "But I will tell you one thing, Jeremy I won't let you use me to punish him for what you think he did with Laura"

Chapter 13

"Hear you're investigating that ee across the BMW's windshield with professional expertise and flipped the dirty liquid off with a flick of his wrist "Just like that private eye guy in your books"

Nick leaned against the side of his car while he waited for Hickson to finish servicing it He studied Sandy through the lenses of his sunglasses It was felt in soas station Legend held that as a teenager, he'd had a penchant for collecting phone numbers off restroo phrase for a good ti one of the nuy white tiles in the station's restroo was certain: The Eclipse Bay Gas & Go was a nexus point of local gossip

"You readpersonal I don't read a lotta fiction, y'know? I prefer azines you favor They've all got centerfolds featuring ladies whose bra sizes exist only in the realm of virtual reality Talk about fiction"

Sandy did not take offense He dipped his squeegee into a bucket of water and aimed another swipe at the windshield "I read 'em mostly for the articles, y'know"

"Sure Since you knohat I' foraround about that painting"

"Anything you think I can use to helpthat you're getting war souffaw

Nick did not move Sandy's sense of huh school years

"What have you heard?" Nick asked

"Heard you were getting it on with the chief suspect, that's what I heard Whooee You're hot, all right, et er restrain hiee It dropped into the bucket, splashing dirty water on his shoes He paid no attention