Page 44 of Home for Justice
Beside him, Bert chuckled. “Mary keeps us honest. And organized.”
Mary turned her bright smile to Bert. “Mind if I borrow him?”
“For you? Anything,” he replied with a wink.
She rolled her eyes good-naturedly, but Tyler noticed her smile warmed at Bert before she gestured for Tyler to follow her back into the lounge. There, they sat while she walked him through stacks of forms. There were mundane employment agreements, emergency contact information, and medical waivers. But somehow, even this part felt right.
It felt like a beginning.
Before Mary returned to her office, she dropped him back off at the main workroom. Logan had stepped away to make a call, and Tyler wandered to the far wall where a detailed map hung under glass. His gaze followed the marked boundaries, noticing the lines that stretched beyond the compound, winding into forested terrain.
Cory joined him, arms crossed over his chest. “Logan didn’t fence the whole place. Too rough, too much wildlife. But he’s got cameras on every ridge and trail, all linked to the control system.”
Todd called from across the room. “We take turns doing night monitoring shifts. Covers our own perimeter and any external clients.”
Tyler’s eyes narrowed. “Wait… this boundary here? That’s the line behind my grandfather’s place.”
Logan returned just then, catching Tyler’s discovery. “Your land backs directly to ours. Your grandfather’s property… well, your property is a beautiful piece of land. You’ve got a hell of a view, and no one will ever build behind you. That’s LSIMT.”
A laugh escaped Tyler as he shook his head. “The only thing I have to worry about is Anthony Milton trying to sweet-talk me into selling it.”
At the mention of the developer’s name, Logan’s expression shifted, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. Tyler clocked it. “You know something about him?”
Logan’s response was calm, but there was steel beneath it. “If you’re thinking about selling, he’ll give you a decent price. Let’s just say… he’s not a man who builds with integrity. And he’s not above using others to get what he wants.”
“Hell no,” Tyler snapped, his voice sharp as a blade. “There’s no damn way I’m letting him build anything on land that belonged to my grandparents.”
Beside him, Logan gave a slight nod, and the tension that had tightened his frame eased, as though he’d been waiting to hear those words.
“I’ll be straight with you,” Logan said. “I’ve looked into Anthony Milton. Not just because he’s sniffing around the edges of our property here, but because I’ve had local business owners come to me with stories. Pressure tactics. Intimidation. He makes offers they can’t refuse, and if they try to, he leans harder.”
Tyler wasn’t surprised, considering it was what Justice had also said. And what he’d thought when he’d met him. AnthonyMilton was more than just a pushy land developer, and this wouldn’t be the last time his name came up.
A voice piped up from the other side of the room. “He’s a snake in the grass,” Sadie said flatly.
Tyler turned to see her seated behind a curved array of monitors, a flash of emerald code reflecting off her glasses. Her long dark braid spilled over one shoulder, and her expression was no-nonsense.
Cory walked up, arms folded. “We caught him on our perimeter cams back near the wooded line that separates your property from LSIMT. He claimed he didn’t know where the boundary was. Acted really innocent. Said he was buying the land from your grandfather for a condo project.”
Tyler’s jaw clenched as he looked at Logan. “I guess you weren’t exactly thrilled.”
Logan’s laugh held no humor. “I don’t interfere with what people do on their own land. But I knew Charlie was getting older. Last time I saw him at an American Legion meeting, he still had fire in his eyes, but his hands were shaking when he reached for his coffee. I worried Milton might try to push him and play on a perceived weakness.”
Tyler blew out a breath, a mix of grief and guilt tightening in his chest. “He never told me,” he murmured. “Last time we spoke, a month ago, I told him I’d be heading this way after my retirement. He didn’t say a word about being approached. Just said how glad he’d be to have me back in Montana again.”
Respectful and heavy silence settled over the group for a moment.
“Milton builds garbage,” Todd said finally, breaking the quiet. “Spends just enough to make the exterior look good, but everything behind the walls is crap. He’s got one inspector in his pocket. He doesn’t even hide the payoff.”
“Yeah,” added Frazier, stepping over with a scowl darkening his features. “He put up a shopping center about forty-five minutes out. Made a killing. But within three months, two businesses had to shut down due to structural leaks. Another one lost everything when the sprinkler system malfunctioned. Flooded their whole inventory.”
“Because the inspector signed off,” Todd finished grimly, “Milton walked away clean. Left the business owners to file insurance claims while he raked in more money.”
“What about residential?” Tyler asked, eyes narrowing.
“Lakeview Road,” Frazier answered. “I looked at a few houses there. Thought maybe I’d buy. But the minute I stepped inside, I knew. Cheap drywall, electrical work that wouldn’t pass a real inspection, plumbing that’ll leak within a year. He cuts corners everywhere. The lots are tiny, crammed together like sardines. No privacy, no pride.”
Tyler let out a low growl. “He’s already come out to talk to me once. I got rid of him, but I have no doubt he’ll be back.”
