Page 54 of Condemned By Secrets

Anna’s anger was a pot over an open flame in danger of boiling over. She heard her heartbeat roaring in her ears as she stared at the mayor. The letter she’d just given Anna made her blood boil. It was coloring her vision red, and she worried about what might come out of her mouth. “Youdid this.”

The mayor’s expression didn’t falter at the derision in Anna’s voice. “Anna, historical or not, that place is an accident waiting to happen. The town building inspector was bound to look at it eventually.”

Anna’s chest vibrated with the force of her breaths as she snarled at the mayor, “You had him condemn the property.”

The mayor frowned at her tone, but Anna didn’t care. “Read carefully, child. Only the dwelling is condemned. The barn you were interested in isn’t affected.”

That fact didn’t mollify Anna. “Why did you do this?” she demanded, ignoring the mayor’s dig at her. “Because I voted against the development project?”

The woman sighed and patted her hair, avoiding Anna’s glare. “Ididn’t do anything.” She waved at someone over Anna’s shoulder. “I’m sorry this news is unsettling, but it can hardly come as a surprise. The farmhouse is practically falling in on itself.” The woman didn’t even touch on the fact that Anna had stood up to her when she’d accosted Anna at the start of the Development Review Committee meeting to try and manipulate her for her vote.

Anna’s hand clenched and crinkled the paper that had set her fury on full blast. “It could’ve been restored. With the proper equipment . . .”

The mayor waved a hand dismissively. “I’m not so sure. In any case, the building inspector didn’t seem to think so. I believe the letter says you have thirty days to demolish it, does it not?”

Anna’s face flushed in anger at the thought of demolishing a farmhouse that had stood for over two hundred years. She was about to tell the mayor what she’d really like to demolish when a voice stopped her cold.

“Mayor Landstrom.”

The fury fueling Anna was tempered by fear at the sound of Richard’s voice. When he stopped next to the mayor, Anna’s cheeks paled, and she wanted to run away.Why is he here?

“Ah, Richard. Maybe you can talk some sense into Anna. She seems rather upset over the condemnation of the farmhouse.”

“That is a shame, but perhaps it’s for the best?” He reached to place a hand on Anna’s shoulder, and she instinctively jerked away. He frowned but didn’t remark on the gesture. “We try to save as many historic structures as possible, but we can’t save them all. There has to be room for progress too.”

Hewouldbe on the mayor’s side. Anna’s rage returned and she sneered. “Progress? I don’t think destroying a piece of history progresses us anywhere.”

The mayor’s eyes widened. “Well! It seems you need some time to come to terms with this, Anna. I’ll leave you to it.” On a sharp nod, she left, but Anna didn’t feel relieved, not with Richard lingering.

“Why are you here?” She speared him with a look that promised he’d regret it if he tried anything. “You’re not even on the committee, and you’re supposed to be staying away from me until the trial.”

“I doubt your case will make it to trial.” He shook his head. “I really wish you would let this go. We could’ve been on the same team.”

“I see whose team you’re on.” She crossed her arms over her chest and glared daggers at him.

“Oh, I’m on my own team, Anna. No matter what you—or the mayor—thinks.” He winked—winked!—at her.

Anna stifled a shudder, but the lid on her rage nearly flapped open. “Right.”

“I’ve got somewhere to be, so . . . I’ll see you later, Anna.”

She scowled. “No, you won’t!”

Before turning away, he tossed one of his slimy smiles at her, and a shudder racked her. The man gave her the willies in the worst possible way. Either he was still messing with her, or he was a psychopath. She had a fleeting thought that perhaps she should look into a restraining order, except Richard hadn’t exactly threatened her . . . this time. Anna shrugged it off. Then she remembered he hadn’t told her why he was at the meeting.Grrr!

She wasn’t even sure whyshewas here. An obligation, yes, but a pointless one when no one bothered to listen to her. She’d wasted her breath arguing against the latest development project because the mayor backed it and made sure everyone knew it. The woman had even tried to bribe Anna into voting for it by offering to support her plan to use the Cooper barn as an event venue if she supported the mayor’s plan for apartments—on the same property.

Anna rolled her eyes and headed for her car. She didn’t want to spend another second in Town Hall. This evening had started poorly when Mayor Landstrom stopped her before she’d even set foot in the door to tell her if she voted to approve this development project, the mayor was sure there was a way they could both get what they wanted for the Cooper property. All they had to do was ‘work together’.

Thinking about the exchange had Anna shaking her head in disgust. She wasn’t about to be bought and hadn’t agreed to the mayor’s proposal. Not out of principle, though it had certainly made her want to. She’d refused because she was doing her job.

As a member of the Development Review Committee, Anna had looked into the proposed development the mayor was backing. It was for a mixed-use structure that would sit on the edge of the historic district. The developer was the same one out of Chicago who’d built the Shoppes at Rolling Brook.

Sure, this new building would provide offices and living spaces, but it would also be a complete contradiction of the town’s character, not to mention the local environment. Anna reached her car and shook her head as she climbed in, still replaying the meeting in her mind. Could she have argued a different angle? Would it have made a difference?

Probably not.Anna acknowledged. The vote had gone four against one.

Despite her reservations, she recognized the town’s need for additional commercial and residential real estate. Because of that, she wasn’t completely opposed to the plan. She’d only wanted to raise concerns and point out the need to do an environmental study since they’d be bulldozing nearly fifty acres of woods. But her suggestion had raised the mayor’s hackles, and then she’d gone and served Anna with that stupid letter.

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