Page 52 of Girl, Accused

Council President Torres introduced Resolution 273-B for preliminary approval of the Granville South Power Station Modernization Project, with an initial budget allocation of $6 million. President Torres cited the need for ‘infrastructure that can carry Granville into the mid-21st century’ and ‘reduce dependency on the regional grid during peak usage periods.’

Councilman Robert Spears requested clarification on the ‘unusually rapid timeline’ for project approval. President Torres noted that delays would increase costs and potentially jeopardize federal matching funds.

Resolution passed 4-1, with Councilman Spears dissenting.

Interesting, but not what she was looking for. Ella flipped to the August minutes. She caught on a section labeled ‘PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.’ The text described seven citizens who spoke about various issues – four supporting the power station project, two opposing it on environmental grounds, and one elderly woman complaining about teenagers skateboarding on the war memorial.

Ella stifled a yawn then flipped the page.

Then her brain snapped to alertness.

Speaker 8: Adam Canton, Pastor of First Light Assembly, approached the podium at 7:43 PM.

‘Thank you, Council Members, for allowing me to speak tonight. My name is Adam Canton. I am the pastor of First Light Assembly on Wexford Street, and I'm here to address the destruction of our church to make way for your so-called 'modernization' project.

‘Our church has stood on that corner for 112 years. Three of us work there. Myself, Father Thomas Walsh and Sister Mary, who are here with me [Indicates]. We've weathered floods, fires, and the Great Depression. We've fed the hungry and sheltered the homeless when this city turned its back on them. And now you're telling us you're tearing it down for a substation? So that what? People can run their air conditioners a few degrees colder in summer?’

The transcript continued with Rebecca Torres's response:

President Torres: ‘Pastor Canton, the city has offered fair market value for the property, plus relocation assistance. The electrical substation is a critical component of the modernization project. I understand your emotional attachment, but progress requires sacrifice.’

Canton: ‘Sacrifice? Easy for you to talk about sacrifice when you're not the one being sacrificed. This isn't about emotional attachment. This is about a community being bulldozed for profit. This is about greed.’

There was the word again. Ella was suddenly engrossed. She continued on.

President Torres: ‘I'm going to have to ask you to keep your comments germane to the issue at hand.’

Canton: ‘This IS the issue! You're serving money, not people. You're willing to destroy a house of God for what? A few more dollars in some contractor's pocket? The Bible says that no one can serve two masters, and we all know which master you've chosen. This is a middle finger to God.’

Ella nearly dropped the paper. No one can serve two masters. The exact words left at the murder scene, written in blood on Torres' laptop.

At this point, President Torres requested security to escort Pastor Canton from the podium due to ‘personal attacks and inappropriate conduct.’ Pastor Canton continued speaking while being removed:

Canton: [Partially unintelligible] ‘...will answer to a higher power for this! Greed is a sin that consumes from within! God sees what you're doing, even if they don't!’ [Indicates audience].

Security removed Pastor Canton from chambers at 7:49 PM. President Torres called a ten-minute recess to restore order.

Ella's hands trembled slightly as she set the paper down. This was it. This was the confrontation Frank had mentioned, with details he'd either forgotten or deliberately omitted. Adam Canton hadn't justobjected to the power station project, he'd publicly accused Torres of corruption and embezzlement, using the same biblical references found at the murder scene.

She scanned the rest of the transcript, looking for any follow-up. A handwritten note had been added to the bottom of the page:

Pastor Canton banned from future council meetings by unanimous vote. Security incident report filed with GPD. No charges pressed.

Ella pulled out her phone and dialed Ripley. She picked up on the first ring.

‘Talk to me.’

‘Adam Canton. Pastor of First Light Assembly on Wexford Street. Had a major confrontation with Torres at the August meeting. Mentioned the exact verse that was left on Torres's laptop.’

‘I’ll run him.’ Keyboards clattered in the background. ‘Instant match. Adam Canton, 54. Two priors. Misdemeanor trespassing during a pipeline protest in 2013. Disorderly conduct at a zoning board meeting in 2019.’

‘Any violent history?’

‘No, but even serial killers have to start somewhere.’

‘Any address for him?’

More typing. ‘His last known was an apartment above the church.’

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