Page 32 of Condemned By Secrets

The young receptionist waved to a chair across the room. “You can have a seat. I’ll let the mayor know you’re here.”

“Thanks.” Anna sat in the stiff plastic chair and fiddled with her necklace as she gazed around the room.

The walls were painted a light cream, and the carpet was a braided Berber mixed with light brown in the same cream shade. A few paintings in a similar palette hung on the walls. The whole aesthetic was very neutral and, in Anna’s opinion, very uninspiring.

She shifted in her seat, her leg clinging to the plastic of the chair. It was clear and modern, a near match to the glass windows making up the façade of the building. The chair was as uncomfortable as the walls were boring, and Anna hoped she wouldn’t be waiting long.

She pulled out her phone to pass the time and noticed a text message from a number she didn’t recognize. Opening it, she frowned. The message was from Richard, but she hadn’t given him her number.

This is Richard. Now you have my number for when you’re ready to deal. Good luck with the mayor ;)

How had he known she was at the mayor’s? Had he gone to the society after she left? That would make sense, Anna thought.I bet Sandy told him.

Sighing, she closed the message and turned her phone off. Clearly, Richard wasn’t giving up. Anna wondered if Luther had talked to him yet. Maybe she should ask Luther—

“Miss Hendricks.” Anna looked up. The receptionist was holding the mayor’s door open. “She’s ready for you now.”

Anna rose, thoughts of Luther fled as the nerves seized her again. She swallowed, her stomach churning in anxiety over what the mayor might want. Steeling herself against it, Anna took a deep breath, shook her hair back, then entered Mayor Landstrom’s office.

“Anna, so nice to see you again.” The mayor gestured at the cream-colored club chairs in front of her desk. “Please, have a seat.”

The color scheme continued in the mayor’s office. Trying not to laugh at it, Anna settled in the offered seat. While waiting for the mayor to continue, Anna took in the woman’s glass waterfall desk, the light brown cabinets behind it, and the neutral-colored contemporary artwork on the walls. It was clear the mayor had a particular style she preferred—modern with clean lines and very little color.

Mayor Landstrom cleared her throat and Anna glanced back at her. “You wanted to see me?” She noted the mayor’s style extended to her wardrobe because she wore a cream suit with a white blouse. Her light brown hair was meticulously styled, and the sole pop of color was in the turquoise gem at her throat.

The mayor’s face remained calm, but Anna detected a note of irritation in the twitch of her eye. She wasn’t thrilled with Anna’s lack of interest. “Yes, dear. I understand you’ve come up with a proposal for the Cooper Farm, but I’m here to tell you there’s already a plan in the works for that property.”

Anna’s stomach dropped. “Oh? This is news to me. What are those plans, may I ask?” She struggled to keep her voice pleasant when she felt like screaming in frustration.

The mayor’s saccharine smile grated on Anna’s nerves. “It’s going to be developed, but more than that . . . I can’t tell you at this time.”

Oh really? Not if I can help it!“That’s interesting, Mayor Landstrom, because the historical preservation society owns the property. And, as its director, Icantell you we have no plans to turn it into a development.”

The mayor’s lips flattened, and her eyes hardened as she stared Anna down. After several seconds when it was clear Anna refused to concede, the woman changed tactics, pasting another fake smile on her face. “Now, Anna. I’m sure you know the town needs more housing.” She steepled her fingers on her desk and leaned forward. “That property is a prime location, and a real estate developer out of Chicago is interested in it. Surely, you can understand the town will prefer added living spaces over saving a farm that is no longer being worked or evenlivedon?”

Anna wanted to snarl at the woman but there was some truth to her words. They added fuel to Anna’s fears that the town wouldn’t like her plans for the farm. Taking a steadying breath, she gathered her courage and spoke, “I don’t want to just ‘save’ the farm, Mayor. My plans for the property will turn it into an asset the town is currently lacking.”

“Unless that ‘asset’ includes rental housing, I think you’ll have a hard time outselling the development plan.” The mayor folded her hands and shrugged at Anna with a smile as though she was purely pointing out the obvious.

Anna knew how to be diplomatic, how to smile and nod, to agree without really agreeing, but years of training from growing up in the spotlight abandoned her now. Anger over the mayor thinking she could railroad anyone with an agenda that differed from hers, set Anna’s teeth on edge. She clenched her fists and her nails bit into her palms. “I suppose it will be up to the town.”

Mayor Landstrom chuckled. “You have such zeal! I could use a young woman like you on my team, Anna. Surely, coming from a big city, you know the only way to keep this town alive is to allow it to grow.” She rose and, coming around her desk, she perched on the front of it as though they were merely friends having a chat.

Her relaxed posture wasn’t fooling Anna. The whole ‘you and I are the same’ approach was not about to work on her. “Certainly, growth is necessary, but it doesn’t have to come at the cost of historic structures.”

“Oh, but think of the costs associated with preserving those structures. It’s less of a strain on the town to tear down and start fresh.”

Anna’s pulse sped and adrenaline surged through her veins as the topic heated her ire. “That’s actually a misconception. Studies have sho—”

“We could debate this all day, I’m sure, but I have another appointment.”

Anna didn’t appreciate being cut off, but she knew it meant the mayor was afraid she’d lose the argument.

Mayor Landstrom stood, and Anna followed suit. As she turned to go, the mayor sighed. “Anna, it pays to have friends in this business, and I’d hate for you to burn bridges so soon.”

Anna’s hackles rose as she studied the mayor’s face. The woman looked genuinely concerned, but Anna couldn’t tell if it wasn’t simply an act. “I’ll keep that in mind, Mayor.”

The woman smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “You do that.”

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