Theres an easement, Bernard said.
Caleb heard the side door to his house swing open. He knew it would either be Matt or TJ.
In here, he called out.
Do you want me to wait until were alone? Bernard asked.
Why would I want that? Is it a secret option? Is it illegal?
Is what illegal? Matt asked as he strolled into the room.
Yes, Bernard drawled. As your lawyer, I feel its my duty to advise you to break the law.
Thats a first, Matt said, taking another armchair. What are we drinking?
Im considering tequila, Caleb said.
Matt rose again and headed for the bar.
Keep talking, Caleb prompted Bernard.
Bernard exhaled an exaggerated sigh of impatience, like he was the one whod been kept waiting.
Theres an easement, he repeated, producing a map from his briefcase and unfolding it on the coffee table between them. The access road for the Crab Shack crosses your land. He pointed. Right here.
You mean TJs land.
No. All four residential lots were originally a single parcel. TJs, Matts and the Parkers lots were carved out at minimum size, and the remainder stayed with the parcel your grandfather purchased. The effect is a peninsula of land owned by you that runs in front of each of the other properties. Nobody pays attention to it, because its mostly the sheer face of a cliff. That is, except for the access road.
Caleb leaned forward to study the map lines.
Matt returned with three glasses of tequila.
I thought youd know I was joking, Caleb said to Matt. Hed expected Matt to open a few beers.
Too late now.
Caleb wasnt a big tequila fan, but he accepted the glass anyway.
If he was reading the map correctly, where the Crab Shack driveway branched off the access road, it crossed his land for about two hundred yards.
On one side of the driveway is a cliff, Bernard said.
Matt crouched on one knee. And the other is too close to the high water mark. Its vulnerable to tidal surges if theres a storm.
Is it possible for her to reroute along the shore? Caleb asked.
I talked to an engineer, Bernard said. In effect, shed have to build a bridge.
Theyre on a budget.
Then, theres your answer.
Matt gave a whistle. Thats playin hardball.
Im losing ten thousand a day in idle equipment rental.
So, youd bankrupt her?
Id use it for leverage. Caleb straightened to contemplate.
Hed already tried the carrot. Maybe it was time for the stick. Hed show Jules that if they didnt work together, it would mean mutual assured annihilation. Surely she couldnt be so stubborn as to choose that option.
Calebs front door opened again, and TJ strode in from the hall. We ready to go? There was an eagerness in his tone.
The three men had agreed to hit a club in Olympia tonight. It had seemed like a good idea at the time. But now Caleb was regretting the commitment. Hed rather stay home. He didnt plan to confront Jules with the threat of canceling her easement tonight, but he wasnt in the mood for dancing and inconsequential conversation with random women either.
Is that an ambulance? TJ asked, gazing out the window.
Caleb turned as he stood, immediately seeing the flashing lights closing in on the Crab Shack.
Thats not good, Matt said, rising to his feet.
Caleb was already heading for the door, with Matt and TJ at his heels.
The fastest way to the Crab Shack was along the footpath. Caleb broke into a run. He knew every inch of the pathway, and it took him less than five minutes to get to the peninsula, his mind going over all the possible scenarios where Jules might have been hurt. Had she fallen off the ladder? Had she burned herself with the paint stripper?
Matt stuck with him, with TJ falling a bit behind. Caleb had no idea whether or not Bernard had even bothered to come along. As he ran up the gravel driveway, he could see the paramedics moving a stretcher. He put on a burst of speed.
Then he saw Jules under the lights. She wasnt the one on the stretcher. He felt an immense surge of relief. But then his fear was back. If it wasnt Jules, it must be Melissa.
He finally got close enough to call out.
What happened? he asked.
Jules looked over at him in surprise. What are you doing here?
We saw the ambulance lights, he said through the gasps of his breath. What happened?
Nail gun, Melissa said from the stretcher, her voice sounding strained.
Caleb was relieved to hear her speak. But then her words registered.
You were using a nail gun? He moved his attention to Jules. You have a nail gun?
I dont have a nail gun. Noah has a nail gun.
Wheres Noah? Caleb wanted to have a word with the man. What was he thinking letting Jules and Melissa use a nail gun? Was he crazy?
It was my fault, Melissa called from inside the ambulance.
Are you coming with us? the paramedic asked Jules.
Yes. She moved for the door.
Ill meet you there, Caleb said.
Why? she asked as she stepped up to climb inside.
Just go.
Melissa seemed pretty good, Matt said.
TJ arrived, panting.
You need to hit the gym, Matt told him.
No kidding, TJ said. Who got hurt?
Melissa, Caleb said. Something about a nail gun.
TJ gave him an incredulous look. Is it bad?
She was talking from the stretcher. But Im going to head down to Memorial and find out what happened.
You are? TJ seemed surprised.
Caleb thought it was a perfectly reasonable course of action. The women were their neighbors, and Jules might need something. At the very least, shed need a ride back home.
White knight syndrome, Matt said.
Whos he rescuing? TJ asked.
Good question. TJ raised a brow at Caleb. The rational one or the difficult one?
The difficult one. Neither.
Caleb was simply being neighborly...and practical. He was being neighborly and practical. There was nothing remotely unusual about that.