CHAPTER 2
C HAPTER 2
E dgar Front, mayor of Morehead City, was a portly gentleman with the formal air of a pompous vicar. Edgar was a retired banker and looked the part. Unlike the beach-casual attire of almost everyone else in the hall, Edgar wore a starched shirt and trousers to a dark suit. A tie dangled over his ample belly like a silk lure. But he was meticulously honest and so trusted he also served as senior county commissioner. Edgar kept the region’s books in perfect order. He ran roughshod over both unscrupulous builders and time-wasting bureaucrats with ferocity.
Three chairs were positioned on the stubby platform that served as a stage for winter recitals. But the storm season was behind them, spring breakers had come and gone, and the late April evening held an unseasonable warmth. This was Rae’s favorite time of year. Not to mention how the afternoon was now spiced by the gentleman seated beside her.
As Edgar went through the long-winded process of introducing Rae’s uncle and the third man seated on the platform, Rae cast a few glances at this stranger who had once been the other half of her own heart’s flame.
Then she noticed the hands. To be specific, the shallow crease on the left hand’s fourth finger. The ring that was no more. Whatever it was that had caused the marriage to end, the hollow point at the center of Curtis’s gaze now had definition. Some years-long battle had creased his features and erased the boyish excitement that had once defined him. In its place was . . .
Rae was suddenly charmed by the prospect of discovering who Curtis Gage had become.
Which, of course, was ridiculous. Beyond absurd.
She was, after all, one step away from becoming officially engaged to the second love of her life.
Her ideal mate. A nearly perfect man. Everybody said so. Almost.
Just the same . . .
Mayor Front gestured to the uniformed deputy standing by the rear doors. “No one else is to be admitted. If they can’t be here on time, they’re not welcome. There’s been a lot of hot air expelled over this issue, and we’re not having any more of it tonight.”
The mayor’s stern tone definitely rustled some outraged feathers.
Edgar glared at the muttering crowd, waiting. When they finally settled, he went on. “Sheriff Knox and his deputies are here to make sure everybody behaves. If you don’t, you’ll be expelled. If you make trouble, we’ll invite you to spend the night as a guest of the county. Is that clear?”
The harsh no-nonsense introduction stilled the crowd, which now numbered so many they lined the rear and the sidewalls.
“Now some of you probably came here thinking it was as good a time as any to cause a ruckus. I’m telling you clear as I know how, you’re wrong. Those of you who came wanting answers, fine, you’re welcome. Everybody else, now’s your chance to leave.” He gave the crowd another glare. “At my personal request, the governor has sent down Brian Sparks, director of the state’s division of Parks and Recreation. Brian is also head of the parks’ Trust Fund Authority. And he serves on the board of the nation’s Wildlife Fund. I’ve known Brian for more than twenty years. He’s a good man and he deserves your respect. Is that clear?”
Rae noticed the confusion on many faces, and silently agreed. She had come expecting debate, argument, perhaps some fireworks of a down-home variety. Her island neighbors were here to vent their opposition to the entire project. Instead, they were being ordered to behave.
When Edgar was certain the crowd was as close to being under control as they’d probably come, he turned and said, “Brian?”
He was a tall man, sun-blackened and very fit. He wore an ironed cotton shirt and a wool tie in the awkward manner of somebody who probably needed help making the knot. Rae put his age in the mid-fifties. The hands that gripped the podium were massive. He spoke with the calm authority of a man accustomed to being obeyed.
“Evening, folks. I’ll do my best to answer any questions you have.”
Harvey Sewell, a legal windbag of the first order, rose from his place on the front row. He introduced himself and began, “I am the official representative of the Friends of Fort Walton Park.”
“I know who you are. State your question.”
“I have filed an injunction on behalf of my clients—”
“That injunction was dismissed with prejudice last week.” When a murmur of astonishment ran through the assembly, Brian added, “Dismissal with prejudice means the judge felt the case has no legal merit.”
Rae positively enjoyed watching Harvey’s features swell up like a frog ready to croak. She had come up twice against him in court. The man balanced a lazy attitude toward homework with an overabundance of windage. She thought the locals’ choice of Harvey as her replacement was very telling. Rae was not especially in favor of the resort project, but the law was the law.
Harvey yelled, “I will appeal that decision!”
“Appeal all you like. It won’t get you anywhere, and you know it.” He scanned the crowd. “Next question.”
One of the few women in the group whom Rae actually liked demanded, “How can you let them build on park land?”
Brian looked mildly astonished by the question. He turned and looked at the mayor, who said, “Told you.”
Brian nodded once and faced the assembly. “Folks, I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this. But it’s time you faced facts. There are four parts to answering this question. Firstly, the hotel has been open almost nine months now, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Second, the consortium has completed almost all the residential development’s roads and the first golf course. Seven homes are nearing completion. The oceanfront clubhouse will open in September. All the permits are in order, the governor has given his—”
That was as far as they let him go.
The trio on the stage let them shout for only a minute or so before Rae’s uncle rose from his seat and motioned to the deputy standing by the rear door. The deputy opened the exit and spoke to someone outside. Immediately two more deputies entered the hall. The sheriff stepped down and walked the central aisle as the first deputy started up toward him, while the other two moved along the outer wall. Their unified presence had an almost immediate effect. The shouting invectives were reduced to angry murmurs.
Brian Sparks continued in the same calm manner, as if the furor had never happened. Or at least had left him unscathed. “The third part of my answer is just as simple. Eighty-eight percent of the Fortunate Harbor’s resort property has always been in private hands . . .”
Brian waited while Colton stepped toward a trio still on their feet. Rae’s uncle jabbed his finger downward. When they were reseated, Colton lowered both arms. But he remained where he was, the gun-barrel gaze tight. Steady.
Brian started to continue, then saw a hand raised. “You there, go ahead.”
A man Rae did not recognize said, “But the family willed all that land to the wildlife conservation fund.”
“I know that’s what everybody’s been wishing had happened. Including myself. Around twenty years ago, the late George Cochrane made a handshake deal with my predecessor. Cochrane gave my predecessor his word. But he never actually got around to jumping through the legal hoops. When his widow recently passed away . . . When was it, Edgar?”
“Almost four years back,” the mayor replied.
“The Cochrane heirs secretly sold the property to the consortium who built the Fortunate Harbor Hotel. We only learned about the transaction after the fact.” He studied the audience, saw the shock on many faces, and added, “I was told you folks were advised this happened.”
This time, it was the sheriff who declared, “They most certainly were.” Colton pointed in Rae’s direction. “By their former attorney, who is seated right back there.”
As she rose to her feet, Rae had a bitter suspicion this was why Colton had insisted on their meeting right here. So she could tell the assembly, “That is correct. I informed the group’s leadership and was dismissed for speaking the truth.”
The mayor called, “Where are they seated?”
Rae spotted the Atlantic Beach mayor doing her best to hide in plain sight. The middle-aged realtor was serving her fourth term and succeeded by being everybody’s pal.
Rae decided to fib. “None of them are present.”
Edgar gestured to the group at large. “Why didn’t you tell the others assembled here?”
“The leadership ordered me not to say anything more about it,” Rae said. “I was told Mr. Sewell would handle all related matters from that point on.”
The lawyer bounced up and sputtered, “This is the first I’ve heard of any such—”
Edgar snapped, “Sit down, Harvey.”
Rae took that as her signal. As she retook her seat, a gray-haired matron three rows up turned and hissed. “Traitor.”
“Quiet!” Colton’s command was not actually shouted. It only seemed so.
“That leaves the fourth portion to my answer. It is true that the park sold some of its land.” Brian Sparks raised his voice to continue. “With the governor’s direct approval, the division deeded six and a half acres to the consortium. The simple fact is, we need the money. As most of you know, the last hurricane effectively destroyed the park’s beach access. In return for acreage that did not even contain a hiking trail, the consortium has rebuilt and expanded the beach frontage. It now contains two new crossovers, lighting, sewage, showers, parking for over a hundred vehicles, and a new structure that’s been leased by a local restaurant. The total cost to the consortium was over eight million dollars. The grand opening was . . .”
“Two and a half months ago,” the mayor offered. Edgar sounded beyond weary. “Many of the folks gathered here attended. Which means they heard me thank Fortunate Harbor for the part they’ve played in our region’s future.”
Brian gave that a moment. When no one else spoke up, he finished, “Folks, if you ask me, we need more deals like this. The state’s legislature continues to strip away the parks’ budget. Our trust fund is basically empty. This way, everyone benefits.” He ignored the rising mutters and told the mayor, “I guess that just about does it.”
Mayor Front rose to his feet and called, “This meeting is hereby adjourned!”