Harmony Island Gazette

18. Ella

“Well, I’m out for the day,” Gloria announced as she stood in her office doorway, pulling her purse strap up onto her shoulder. Her gaze settled on me because, in all honesty, I was the only one she was talking to.

Everyone else was headed out soon, leaving me alone to work on the articles for the Sunday edition. When I first started at the paper, I was honored that Gloria trusted me with this task, but then I realized it was just grunt work. She’d already decided which articles went on which page, it was my job to make it all fit.

It had bothered me at first, but then I began to look forward to Wednesdays. I got to come in late and spend the evening at the office by myself. I would order a hamburger and fries from the diner, drink some Dr. Pepper, kick my shoes off, and blare my music while I worked.

It was kind of perfect.

Elizabeth was the last one to leave. I followed her to the door while she told me about the fight she got into with her boyfriend the night before. As she neared the door, she stopped and turned to continue the conversation. I listened and nodded for a few minutes before I reached forward and pressed on the door release.

“It sounds like you’re just going to have to talk to him,” I said as the evening air surrounded us.

Elizabeth chewed her bottom lip before she nodded. “You’re probably right.” She smiled over at me. “You’re such a good listener.”

“Thanks,” I said, still holding the door open.

She hugged her notebook to her chest before she took a step outside. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay? I can help.”

I shook my head. “I’m okay. Plus, you really should go talk to Gus.”

She sighed as she turned to the parking lot before she glanced back over to me. “You’re probably right. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“I’ll be here.”

She smiled and then turned and headed toward her car. I watched to make sure she got in safely and then let go of the door. Once it was shut, I turned the lock and headed back to my desk.

I kicked my heels off and navigated to my playlist on the computer. I hummed along with the words to the first song as I opened the email Gloria had sent me and got started.

I’d only mapped out the front page by the time Tim knocked at the front door with my bag of food from the diner. I raised my hand so he knew I’d seen him as I pushed away from my desk and padded over to unlock and open the door. I stuffed a twenty and a five into his hand and told him to keep the change as I took the bag from him.

I let the door close behind me before I turned and locked it once more. I settled back down at my desk, unwrapped the straw, and poked it into the lid of my Dr. Pepper. I munched on the fries and burger while I worked. When I was finished, I leaned back in my chair and then bounced a few times as I studied the layout in front of me.

The paper looked good to print.

I yawned and stretched before I gathered my garbage and dumped it into my trash can. Just as I straightened, there was a soft tap on the front door. I paused before glancing over. Had I really heard a knock?

I shook my head and turned my attention back to my desk. I hadn’t heard anything. It was just one of the curses of working alone at night. Every noise became someone or something.

I brushed the salt from my fingertips over the garbage can when the sound came again. This time, I couldn’t brush it off as ambient noise. There was really someone at the door.

I pushed my chair back and stood before I made my way over. I unlocked the door and pulled it open only to see Mrs. McDonnell standing there. She was wringing her hands as she glanced around behind her.

“Mrs. McDonnell?” I asked as I opened the door further.

“Oh, good, my dear. You’re still here.”

I nodded. “I’m always here this late on a Wednesday.” I frowned. “Did you need something?”

She began rapidly blinking like she was trying to keep tears at bay. “Yes,” she whispered. “I just spoke with Tim Turnbough from down the street. He’s agreed to sell his property to the Proctors just like I did.”

I reached out and rested my hand on her forearm. That seemed to do the trick. She pinched her lips as I glanced around. “Why don’t you come inside?” I stepped away from the doorway and waved her in. She nodded and entered.

I locked the door once we were both securely in the room. Then I waved for her to follow me to my desk. I was fairly certain that Gloria didn’t have cameras inside of the paper. Security cameras outside were another story.

I grabbed Elizabeth’s chair and pulled it next to my desk and motioned for Mrs. McDonnell to sit. She obeyed, and I grabbed the arm of my desk chair and pulled it so it was facing her before I sat.

I offered her a small smile. “It’s probably safer if we speak in here.”

She nodded. “Of course.” She took in a deep breath. “Tim came over to me not even an hour ago. I guess he just received word about the appraisal on his home.”

“Okay.”

She closed her eyes as if she were preparing herself to speak the next words. “He said that it came back at half what Marcus had offered.”

My eyes widened. “Half?”

She nodded. “Half.”

“Then don’t sell.”

Tears brimmed her eyes once more. “That’s the thing. When Tim called the Proctors to inform them that he was pulling out of the deal, they told him there was a clause in the contract. He couldn’t back out of the deal if there were factors outside of the Proctor’s control.” She began to wring her hands. “Appraisals are out of their control.”

This stunk. This entire situation stunk to high heaven. Something was going on. I wasn’t sure what it was, but my gut knew. It had always known. Even if this entire town seemed indebted to them, the Proctors were dirty.

I reached out and rested my hand on Mrs. McDonnell’s. She glanced up at me. Her tears had been set free, and they were now running down her cheeks.

“I’m going to lose my home.” Her voice was barely registering now. “And it’s not about the money, I promise. But I was going to help my kids. If the appraisal comes in at half, I’ll be left with next to nothing. I can’t give them the legacy when I pass that their father wanted to give them.” Her chin quivered. “I’ve ruined everything.”

Anger and fury rose up inside of me. I shook my head as I focused my gaze on her. She had to know that she didn’t cause any of this. The Proctors did. Asher did.

Realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Asher had sat at that table and told her this was a good offer. He’d been instrumental in helping close this deal. Did he know that this was going to happen? Was he working with the Proctors to deceive these people?

Was this the reason he told me not to look into that stranger outside of the paper?

My emotions sat like a rock in my stomach. I was angry at myself for not listening to my gut. I was mad at Asher for making me doubt myself. And I was worried that my friendship was ruined. Because there was no way I could sit on this. I was going to bring it to the community’s attention.

I had to.

“You didn’t ruin everything. Let me look into this and get back to you.” I smiled up at her. “They don’t own your house just yet. There’s still time.”

My words didn’t seem to be the salve I hoped they would be. Mrs. McDonnell just shook her head. “I wish I had your confidence, sweetie. But this is Marcus Proctor we’re talking about here.” Her voice dropped to a whisper once more. “I’ve already lost.”

“No.” I shook my head. “Give me some time. I promise, I will fight this. Proctor or not, they won’t get away with this.”

Mrs. McDonnell smiled. “Thank you.”

“Of course.”

I spent the next ten minutes going over every detail and writing down what she said word for word. I told her I would call her as soon as I discovered anything. I also told her to wait to see what her appraisal would look like. By the time she left the paper, she seemed to be in better spirits even if she was still doubtful that I could actually do anything.

I couldn’t blame her. The grip the Proctors had on this town was one of near strangulation. And I knew they weren’t going to let go without a fight.

I was in a reporter daze, just staring off and letting my mind wander, when my phone buzzed. I blinked, centering myself as I glanced over at my phone. Someone had just texted me.

Worried that it was Asher wondering what I was doing tonight, I almost ignored it. Until I remembered that it could also be Gloria. I picked it up.

The last thing I needed was Gloria thinking I couldn’t handle the paper layout and come trouncing down here. I needed her to believe that I had everything under control so she would leave me alone. Especially since I knew where her loyalties lay, and they weren’t with the truth.

But it wasn’t Asher or Gloria who had texted me. It was Shelby. I frowned as I read her text.

Shelby:Some of us ladies are going out to Harmony Pub in about an hour. Wanna join?

Perfect. That was exactly what I needed. I didn’t want to hang out here at the paper by myself. My mind would go crazy with questions and theories about the Proctors. And if I were home, I’d be doing the same.

Going out with a group of women all ready and eager to talk seemed like the perfect distraction.

I texted a quick thumbs-up emoji, and she responded with a smiley face. I put my phone down and focused on finishing up the layout before I saved it, closed my computer, and slipped it into my bag. I turned off the lights and pulled out my keys to lock up as I walked outside.

Once Harmony Gazette was all buttoned up, I made my way to my car and climbed inside. Shelby and Abigail were at the pub when I walked in fifteen minutes later. They’d grabbed a table in the back, and as soon as they saw me, they waved.

I nodded to them before I headed over to Jax and ordered a Diet Coke. He nodded, but it was Claire who told me she’d bring it over after she grabbed Shelby’s iced tea and Abigail’s glass of wine.

I thanked her and made my way to the table, where I pulled out a chair and collapsed on it.

“Busy day?” Shelby asked as she smiled at me.

“Long day.”

“Gloria’s working you that hard?” Abigail asked.

“Pretty much. I had to put together the layout for Sunday’s paper. I’ve been there since noon.” Not to mention my stress-filled, tension-packed morning at the farmers’ market with Asher. This day felt as if it were going on and on.

I was grateful that it was at least ending this way.

“You need this more than me,” Abigail said as she handed me the glass of wine Claire had just brought her.

I laughed and shook my head. “Only if I want a raging headache in the morning. I think that might not solve my issues.”

Abigail smiled as she took a sip.

Shelby and Claire had engaged in conversation, so I turned back to Abigail. She was so nice, and I was grateful that I was finding friends in Harmony. “How are things with Bash?”

She was mid-sip, so she pressed her finger to her lips as she swallowed. “He’s good. Busy.” She sighed. “He’s in so many negotiations when he is here, I barely see him.”

“Negotiations?”

She nodded. “His company has been buying up real estate around the island.”

I paused, my ears perking up. “Real estate? Like buildings or houses?”

She frowned like she was trying to recall. “I think both.” Then she sighed. “I mean, I love that our little town is finally getting recognized for its beauty, I just don’t want it to lose its old-time charm.”

“I totally understand.” I paused, my journalist hat landing solidly on my head. “I was in Harmony Cove this week, interviewing a resident who had just sold their house to the Proctors.”

Abigail glanced over at me. “Oh, Bash has been telling me all about that. He’s been surprised at how expensive those houses are. I keep telling him that Harmony Cove is prime real estate.” She sighed. “I wish my aunt hadn’t sold her house back in the day. We’d be rolling in the dough if she’d held on to it.”

“Bash said that Harmony Cove’s houses are top dollar?” My ears were ringing.

She nodded. “Crazy high. Like, millions.”

My mind was swirling. If Bash’s company was buying up Harmony Cove houses for millions, but the Proctors were telling the residents the appraisals had come in low…I shook my head.

I needed to do some research. Ordinarily, I’d call the expert, but I had a sinking suspicion that my only expert wouldn’t be too happy if I was moments away from ripping the curtain off a real estate scandal he was involved in.

I downed my soda and grabbed a twenty out of my purse. I set it down on the table and turned to the ladies, who were now all watching me. “I’ve gotta go,” I said as I stood and pushed in my chair.

“I realized I forgot an article, and if I don’t get the file to the printers by midnight, Gloria is going to have my head.” I gave them a quick smile.

“Of course,” Shelby said. “Do what you gotta do.”

I nodded at them before I turned and hurried through the pub. As soon as I was outside with the front door swinging shut behind me, I took off jogging toward my car.

I didn’t go home. Instead, I went straight to the paper and unlocked the door. As soon as I was inside, I headed straight to my desk, grabbed my computer from my bag, and plugged it in. I shook my mouse, and the screen glowed to life.

I sat down, determined to get answers. And, after my research, if I discovered that there was something going on in Harmony Island, I was going to expose it. This Sunday, in the paper.

I just hoped my relationship with Asher could withstand that kind of blow. No matter how I pitched it, Asher was embroiled in a scandal, and there was no way I could save him.

I could keep this under wraps, but that wasn’t who I was. The residents of Harmony Island deserved to know, so I was going to tell them.