Camino Island

Bruce invites Mercer out to dinner with a visiting writer and another local writer, Andy. After dinner, the visiting writer leaves with Bruce, and Mercer and Andy have coffee. He tells her that the writer will stay with Bruce that night. Mercer’s sister’s family are staying in Tessa’s cottage for their vacation, so Mercer stays at a local bed and breakfast, called the Lighthouse Inn, while they are there. She hopes to get some writing done.

Denny has arrived on Camino Island, and visited Bay Books several times over the past few days. He and Rooker are considering their strategy while staying at a local hotel.

After the Fourth of July celebrations, most of the crowds leave the island. Mercer is reading The Paris Wife when she gets an email from Bruce, asking her to stop by the store. When she does, he gives her an autographed first edition of The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. He then tells her the real story of how he started his rare book collection with his father’s books.

They go to lunch, and she asks Bruce more about his ex-girlfriend’s novel idea that features Fitzgerald and Hemingway. She is reading books on the topic, and they both think that she could write and sell it. After lunch, he asks her up to the apartment over the bookstore, and she knows that he is propositioning her. When she replies that she doesn’t sleep with married men, he explains his open marriage and Noelle’s lover in France. In the end, she says no, but they both know the discussion isn’t over.

Mercer is in the sixth week of her investigation, and she meets with Elaine to discuss next steps. She worries that she is being too obvious, especially with the Fitzgerald-Hemingway story idea. Elaine points out that it was Bruce’s idea, and Mercer agrees to draft a first chapter to share with him.

Later that week, she goes to Bruce’s house for dinner with a famous publisher, Mort Gaspar, and his wife. When she gets there, they are all drinking heavily. Mercer joins in, and passes out sometime during the evening. When she wakes up, she is in the tower room of Bruce’s house, known as the Writer’s Room, where visiting writers often stay. She has a terrible hangover. Bruce knocks, then enters the room with a bottle of water. He suggests she take a bath while he makes breakfast. She knows that if she stays, they will have sex, but decides it is inevitable. After her bath, Bruce returns with a breakfast tray. They eat and drink mimosas before having sex.

Elaine’s team is surveilling Bruce and know that Mercer spent the night with him. Denny and Rooker know the same. When Bruce goes to the store, Mercer agrees to stay and when he returns, they go back to bed. They talk about reading and literature, and she mentions that, in preparation for the novel, she is reading all of Hemingway and Fitzgerald. Mercer stays again that night and leaves late Sunday morning.

Sunday evening, she goes to the bookstore after it closes, and they have a drink in the upstairs apartment. Bruce tells her he has a surprise and takes her downstairs to the basement. In the vault, he opens the manuscript drawers and shows her the manuscript for Fitzgerald’s The Last Tycoon. He tells Mercer the story of the Princeton theft and that the manuscripts had been split up—he only had one. He tells her that he occasionally deals in stolen books and she leaves, acting outraged and upset.

Afterward, Mercer wonders if she can make the call to Elaine that will destroy Bruce’s life and send him to prison. She debates keeping quiet and letting the investigation continue. Her deal with Elaine is not contingent on success—all she has to do is stay for six months. It is possible that Bruce will get rid of the manuscript and avoid capture during that time.

She goes for a walk on the beach and finds herself at North Pier, which she has so far avoided because it was where Tessa’s body was found. She thinks about her grandmother and what she should do. Early the next morning, she calls Elaine. Elaine then calls the FBI, who begin making plans.

That same morning, after Bruce’s employees arrive, he goes into his basement and opens the door leading to Noelle’s basement. He tells Jake that Mercer is not buying the writer’s table; instead, he is to ship it to Fort Lauderdale that day.

Elaine warns Mercer to stay away from the bookstore. The FBI plants a camera that records everyone entering and leaving Bay Books. Mercer is overwhelmed with what she has done, as well as by having to give a statement in court. They plan to use her information to apply pressure to Bruce and find the location of the other four manuscripts. When she gives her statement, she is amused by the fact that Bruce is more likable than anyone there. Afterward, Elaine tells her that the FBI will go into the bookstore soon.