Vaughan walked into Brady’s office and sat down. “I just talked to Harry Meadows,” he said.

Vaughan was obviously upset, which interested Brody. He hadn’t expected this reaction. “I see,” he said. “Harry doesn’t waste any time.”

“Where are you going to get the authority to close the beaches?”

“Are you asking me as the mayor or as a real estate broker or out of friendly interest or what, Larry?”

Vaughan pressed, and Brody could see he was having trouble controlling his temper. “I want to know where you’re going to get the authority. I want to know now.”

“Officially, I’m not sure I have it,” Brody said. “There’s something in the code that says I can take whatever actions I deem necessary in the event of an emergency, but I think the selectmen have to declare a state of emergency. I don’t imagine you want to go through all that rigmarole.”

“Not a chance.”

“Well, then, unofficially I figure it’s my responsibility to keep the people who live here as safe as I can, and at the moment it’s my judgment that that means closing the beaches for a couple of days. If it ever came down to cases, I’m not sure I could arrest anyone for going swimming. Unless,” Brody smiled, “I could make a case of criminal stupidity.”

Vaughan ignored the remark. “I don’t want you to close the beaches,” he said.

“So I see.”

“You know why. The Fourth of July isn’t far off, and that’s the make-or-break weekend. We’d be cutting our own throats.”

“I know the argument, and I’m sure you know my reasons for wanting to close the beaches. It’s not as if I have anything to gain.”

“No. I’d say quite the opposite is true. Look, Martin, this town doesn’t need that kind of publicity.”

“It doesn’t need any more people killed, either.”

“Nobody else is going to get killed, for God’s sake. All you’d be doing by closing the beaches is inviting a lot of reporters to come snooping around where they don’t have any business.”

“So? They’d come out here, and when they didn’t find anything worth reporting, they’d go home again. I don’t imagine the New York Times has much interest in covering a lodge picnic or a garden-club supper.”

“We just don’t need it. Suppose they did find something. There’d be a big to-do that couldn’t do anybody any good.”

“Like what, Larry? What could they find out? I don’t have anything to hide. Do you?”

“No, of course not. I was just thinking about … maybe the rapes. Something unsavory.”

“Crap,” said Brody. “That’s all past history.”

“Dammit, Martin!” Vaughan paused for a moment, struggling to calm himself. “Look, if you won’t listen to reason, will you listen to me as a friend? I’m under a lot of pressure from my partners. Something like this could be very bad for us.”

Brody laughed. “That’s the first time I’ve heard you admit you had partners, Larry. I thought you ran that shop like an emperor.”