He had gone over and over the situation all the way down to Woods Hole and then as he sat on the ferry, cupping his hot coffee in the ghostly illumination of the upper deck. He had barely managed to make the last boat, and the Island Queen had pulled out of dock just as the sun flashed and then winked out of sight, leaving ocean and sky in darkness.Nick had charged him with getting Avery to come east to deal with Ed and Helena. But Hughes hadn’t wanted him to come. He had hoped, when he telephoned him, to persuade Avery instead to send for his wife and son. As usual, Avery had been cryptic and unhelpful.“It’s character-building,” he had said, after Hughes had told him about the dead body.“I’m not sure that it is character-building,” Hughes said. “I think you’re missing the point here. Helena is very upset and we think it would be best if they were with you.”“And you think you know what’s best for my family.”“I’m not suggesting that.” Hughes felt like banging the receiver against the library table.
