Page 6 of Forbidden Moon
“I’ve enjoyed meeting a number of the folks living there, including the owner. You will undoubtedly hear talk around town regarding the “commune” and speculation about what they get up to. My advice is to disregard all of it. They are delightful people and good neighbors who happen to love nature and closely guard their privacy.
“As a DNR officer, you’ll probably be stopping by the LRC office downtown. A charming young man named Jonah Blair runs it, and he is well-liked and respected. You’ll have to form your own opinions, of course, though if you give them a chance, I think you’ll see they’re a real asset to the community.”
RJ nodded in agreement, wondering what she chosenotto tell him and why.
“Fair enough. I look forward to meeting some of them after I get settled in. I appreciate your help and advice. One more thing—after I unload the truck, I’m going to need something to eat. Any suggestions?”
“Try the Irish Oaks Bar and Restaurant. I included directions on the list I left for you. The food is wonderful, and the bar is popular with the locals. Remember, if you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call me. Welcome to the area, Mr. Wilson! I hope you’ll be happy here.”
Chapter 3
DELTA AVENUE APARTMENTS
Tom Kilburn checked in with the foreman and then stood back to observe. Workers scampered over and through the extensive scaffolding, which now encased the entire building. The exterior makeover required a subcontractor specializing in jobs like this one, and they were almost finished with the stage-one concrete repair work.
Stage two involved replacing the single-pane windows with something more energy-efficient and user-friendly. Every resident would benefit from fresh air and lower utility costs, and the specialty glass promised to cut down on glare.
The final stage was a new facade, modernizing the overall look and concealing the weathered, ugly, concrete exterior people were used to. He’d seen a computer-generated image of the finished building, and the eye-catching difference made a bold statement. The local paper ran an article before the work even started, interviewing Tom and taking pictures. This building would be the most publicly visible project Natural Homes had ever taken on, and the community collectively held its breath during the transformation.
Satisfied with the progress, Tom went back inside. Unlike the packlands crews, most of his workers were humans, hired during his time in Kalkaska. They faced a rough start at the beginning of the project, but now that everyone seemed comfortable with his leadership style, things ran smoothly. He and the few other shifters on-site simply had to be extra careful not to reveal themselves while they worked.
His biggest problem right now wasn’t the construction but the delicate balancing act with the residents. While they eagerly anticipated the finished result, no one seemed to understand the noisy, messy, inconvenient road which led to it. Most folks rolled their eyes and grumbled quietly. He couldn’t blame them, as the entire process was highly disruptive and stressful. Unfortunately, he and the crew walked a thin line trying to keep people happy.
Residents were required to relocate while their apartment was remodeled and then move back in—assuming they intended to sign a new lease. Some units would no longer exist, such as those on the first floor and the ones split up into efficiencies.
Except for the elevator shaft, the ground level was completely gutted to make way for new commercial tenants and the expanded front entrance. Meanwhile, the vacated second story allowed his crew to renovate the building a floor at a time. Once they reached level five in December, the work would be nearly complete. Until then, Tom headed upstairs to see how the kitchen and bathroom tear-outs were coming along.
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MEANWHILE, IN APARTMENT505
Dominic peeked through the living room curtains to make sure the coast was clear and lifted his binoculars for a quick scan across the bay. The new ones he’d purchased were more powerful, allowing him greater range and detail—exactly what he needed, and just in time to be blocked by the forest of scaffolding. Damn it!
Standing on a chair helped as he leaned this way and that to get a better view of the usual routes the shapeshifters used. It took a while to realize the “wolves” were patrolling their borders, looking for intruders, he supposed. He’d seen them, in their human form, turning back boaters and jet skiers who made attempts to come ashore. Who knows what they did to people who trespassed their property on foot.
As far as he could tell, none of them were armed, so either they were unusually persuasive or very intimidating. To be fair, Dominic hadn’t heard of anything nefarious going on, and these people moved in over four years ago. He assumed they must be able to control themselves while in their wolf bodies. All the same, the idea of facing one or more of them alone frightened him—the primary reason he wouldn’t attempt a walk in the woods for a closer look.
Dominic’s surveillance came to an abrupt end as his field of vision switched from the Preserve to a blurry swatch of neon green T-shirt. He lowered the binoculars to find a construction dude staring at him in confusion on the other side of the glass. While his face turned red, he got down off the chair and held up hisBirds of North Americabook. The guy laughed, gave him a thumbs-up, and returned to his work patching the concrete. At least Dominic hadn’t been spotted in his underwear or something equally embarrassing. He waved and closed the curtains, hoping to resume his observations after the work crew went home.
Living on the fifth floor granted him certain advantages, especially with the building being renovated. Up here, the noise wasn’t as intrusive, and he would be among the last group of residents forced to relocate. When his Aunt Carol Jo told him she and some others had purchased the building and were planning major work on the place, he wondered where he’d be able to find something affordable. She put his mind at ease immediately.
“Dom, honey,you’rethe main reason I decided to get involved. This place isn’t fit for a cockroach, let alone my nephew! You’ll have the first pick of any one-bedroom or efficiency unit in the building, and it won’t cost you one cent more than you’re already paying. I know it’s all a noisy mess right now, but you’ll have a clean, beautiful place to live once they finish. It will all be worth it—you’ll see!”
He smiled at the memory of their conversation, so grateful she’d gotten involved in his life at a critical juncture. His move to Gladstone, at her invitation, last fall turned out to be the best decision he’d made as an adult—placing his post-incarceration life on a fast-track to something much better. His job at North Bluff Grocery could hardly be called a career and barely paid the bills, yet he was doing something productive andnormalfor a change. He much preferred selling potato chips and laundry detergent to illegal drugs. No more dancing to someone else’s tune or looking over his shoulder all the time, to say nothing of the guilt.
