Chapter 25
Katrina and Robert Tolle
Katrina threw a sharp glance at the two large security guards who stood protectively by the doors. She didn’t knock as she barged into Jefferson’s office, and Robert scurried in behind her.
Jefferson was sitting behind a large mahogany desk, speaking on the phone. He held up a hand, indicating for them to wait.
Arrogant prick. Katrina bristled.
He was a fit man, with a dark, full head of hair he kept short and neat, and a tanned complexion.
He was good-looking, and excessively wealthy, his parents had left him a hefty inheritance when they passed.
Plus, he’d made a few smart investments in real estate, adding to his wealth portfolio.
As a result, he usually had much younger women hanging off his arm.
Katrina looked around while she waited. The side wall was covered, floor to ceiling, with expensive hardcover books, including an old encyclopedia set in mint condition.
A large leafy potted plant was nestled in the corner by a room-width window that led out to a balcony.
The darkness glared in and reflected their images on the windowpane, haunting as poltergeists emerging in the night.
Cole, the pompous little prick, sat on the other side of the room in a black leather chair, legs crossed, whiskey in hand.
Jefferson finally put down the phone. “Katrina, Robert,” he said, tone casual. “We thought we might be seeing you. Please sit.” He indicated with his hand to a chair.
Katrina had no intention of making herself comfortable. “If you think for one moment that I’m going to let you and your little friend develop those lands, you can think again.”
“Now calm down, Katrina. I’m sure we can figure something out that will work for everyone.”
Patronizing asshole! Fifteen people in the last four years alone had gone missing in those mountains. Fifteen families she had to console, assuring them they were doing all they could to find their loved ones. Knowing the whole time that they were dead and wouldn’t be found.
“Yes, of course we can,” Cole agreed. “Whatever you and Robert need, Katrina. Money is not an issue.”
Katrina ignored Cole. “Jesus, Jefferson! You’ve lived here a long time, and you know what might happen if those lands are disturbed.”
“I do. In fact, I know a little more than you, and it’s exactly why we plan to develop them.
” He clasped his hands together. “Now, if you’ll sit, we can discuss the best way forward.
This town is dying, Katrina. Dying under your leadership.
Surely you want jobs for the locals, people moving in . . . your daughter to come back?”
She shook her head. “Not at that cost. You will never get people to fall for this—I will never support it. I will speak to every member of council, every landowner, to make sure your plan never goes ahead.”
Jefferson sighed with barely contained exasperation.
“I’m tired and you look tired. Perhaps tomorrow, around noon, you could come over, and we can take you step by step through the development. We are confident that once you hear what we plan to do, you will be on our side.” He looked at Cole, who nodded in agreement.
Katrina clenched her teeth. There was nothing he could say that would change her mind. Even if they got some of the landowners to agree to sell their shares of the land, the Native Americans would never allow it. The sacred burial grounds needed protection.
“Fine, tomorrow at noon. But I doubt you will change my mind.”
Jefferson sat back in his chair with an air of confidence and hooking his ankle over his thigh.
“I’m certain that once you know the full story, you will be our biggest ambassador.” He gave a wolfish grin.
Katrina left the office, Robert by her side, thinking about the people who went missing.
They’d never been able to pinpoint the exact cause.
Most of the cases were not technically closed, but were written off as missing persons, and the coroner reports always stated they were presumed dead.
Without bodies, it couldn’t be verified.
Rumors of hauntings kept the locals away.
The out-of-town folk were an entirely different matter.
If they put a swarm of them at the base of the mountain, she shuddered to think how many might vanish.
The wind had erupted from the calm of the night with vigor. Katrina wrapped her arms around her waist and tucked her head down as they walked toward their car.
Robert wrapped his arm around her back. “What do they know that they think will change our minds?”
“I have no idea, but I can’t imagine anything would be worth the risk. Unless his plans include only the base of the site, and he closes the mountain off to the public?”
On the horizon, lightning sliced the sky. She lifted her head, gazing over the mountains, shrouded by dark, turbulent clouds twisted and churned as if offering some kind of ominous foreboding.
“I guess we’ll find out tomorrow,” Robert mused, taking his hand from her back to open the car door.
Perhaps it was the noise of the wind, or because both their minds were concerned with the proposed development, but they didn’t hear the man approaching.
There was no internal warning that alerted them, nothing to let them know danger was imminent; all they felt was an intense flash of pain on the back of their heads. And then they knew no more.