The man extended a hand in greeting, which Warren shook vigorously. Was he sweating?

“You’ve got your daughter to thank for that,” Ted said. “She sent me a personal invitation. She’s a smart cookie gathering all this money in one place.” Ted flashed them what appeared to be a well-practiced smile.

Warren glanced toward the tent where Louisa still worked. “Louisa invited you?”

Ted was looking at Cody now, which Warren noticed belatedly. He fumbled over his introduction so badly it became clear something was wrong. “Sorry; where are my manners? Ted, this is Cody Boggs. Cody, my old friend and colleague Ted Kauffmann.”

Cody shook the stranger’s hand as Warren pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed his forehead.

“Boggs?” Ted squinted at Cody. “Daniel’s son?”

“That’s correct, sir,” Cody said. “You knew my father?”

Ted finally let go of his hand. “Good man.”

“The best,” Warren said. “The very best.”

In the distance, JoEllen waved at her husband.

“I’m sorry, gentlemen,” Warren said. “I think I’m being summoned.”

Ted nodded. “You best answer the call.”

Warren rushed off, leaving Cody standing awkwardly with a man he didn’t know, but who had known his father. A man who, according to Louisa, had replaced Warren as Maggie’s financial adviser. Maybe there was no connection, but what if there was?

He glanced at Louisa and found her looking in his direction. Had she set this up for his sake? Was this his only chance to ask Ted Kauffmann if he knew anything about any of this?

“So you’re in the Coast Guard?” Ted asked. “Your dad would be proud of that. He was such a stand-up guy. Better than Warren and me, that’s for sure.”

Cody frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Daniel was such a Boy Scout.” Ted slid a hand into his pocket. “Tried to corrupt him more than once, but he always resisted, no matter how appealing the payoff.” Ted took a drink from the glass he was holding with his unpocketed hand, the ice cubes clinking against the edges. “Warren always said your dad was too smart, and he really was.”

Cody looked over at Louisa’s dad, who stood with his wife under one of the red beach umbrellas Louisa had attached to the tall tables to help shade people from the sun. Warren looked back at them nervously.

What was going on?

“Warren, on the other hand, now I could always count on him to overplay his hand.”

“I’m not sure I follow, sir.”