The strongest substantiation of Nick’s innocence came when Anton conceded that he could not sacrifice his relationship with his son in order to further his illicit business. A tired and utterly demoralized Anton had not resisted the charges against him, especially after Felicity came forward. She had seen the news coverage of the arrest and brought the stolen thumb drive in as evidence.
After Anton and his key personnel all swore in court that Nick had never known of the illegal operations and had no part in any of Anton’s criminal activities, the D.A.’s case against Nick faltered.
In the end the judge had determined that the original plane was forfeit, along with a third of Nick’s earnings for the past year—the earnings that had come, in a broad sense, from the seaplane in question.
Nick’s lawyer wasn’t happy about it, and the tax implications still needed sorting out, but Nick gladly settled. Losing the Widgeon was a deep disappointment, and he was still trying to work a deal where he could buy it back from impound. But he was more than content to pay the money, just to ease the feeling that he owed society somehow for his father’s sins.
Cassie told him again and again that thinking like that was silly. Anton was doing time for all the wrongs he’d done, but she knew Nick wouldn’t feel good about himself if he didn’t pay too.
At last, today, they had taken the de Havilland Beaver up in celebration of Fly by Knight’s victorious exoneration. Cassie insisted upon being a paying customer as the only proper way to celebrate going back into business. Not that Fly by Knight needed another paying customer. With all the furor and publicity of the trial, bush expeditions and “flight-seeing” trips with the “bush-pilot hero” were booked months in advance.
“Was it a worthwhile trip, ma’am?” Nick teased as they hiked the half-mile trail to the estuary where the plane waited.
“Oh, absolutely, sir.” She patted her camera bag. “I’ll have to hire your company again.”
Nick growled and wrapped his free arm around her waist. “You’d better not fly with anyone else,” he said playfully.
Cassie laughed. “What’s to stop me, Mister Knight?”
“This.” He pulled her to a stop and placed a small blue velvet box in her hand.
She stared at it for a moment, then carefully set down her camera bag and opened the box. Two quarter-carat diamonds in an infinity setting sparkled in the last rays of daylight. She gasped as she took the ring out.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
Nick gently took it from her fingers. “Marry me?”
“At this very moment,” she told him with a smile. He slipped the ring on her heart finger, then swept her off her feet and carried her the short distance to the waiting plane.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my Family for their patience when I ask for proof-reads. Especially my cousin Anne and her daughter Elizabeth, without whom Knight Before Dawn would be a much clumsier read.
Special thanks to my husband, for bearing with me while I worked on this project.
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