“Ain’t no bacon stuffed down my socks, good buddy,” Grumpy said and patted Haviland on the head. “Though I reckon my shoes smell like a kitchen, hm?”
Grumpy’s work boots reminded Olivia of the tracks in the sand near the lighthouse keeper’s cottage. She turned back to the townsfolk again but could only see the feet of those seated in the first row.
Even if Rawlings brings me the collar, will Haviland be able pick up the scent in this crush? Olivia’s worries were interrupted by the arrival of Mayor Guthrie, who was flanked by two policemen. Walking behind that trio were a man and a woman wearing sunglasses. Olivia only caught a glimpse of the pair before the room exploded in a chorus of high-pitched screams and the cops quickly leapt in front of their charges.
Haviland, disturbed by the yelling and shrieking, retreated behind the table. Olivia took her seat and pulled the poodle against her, crooning into his ear. It seemed to take ages before the mayor appeared behind the podium and Blake Talbot and Heidi St. Claire settled into a set of reserved seats in the front row. As the burly policemen took up their positions at the end of each aisle, holding out stiff hands to stop the further encroachment of the hysterical young girls, a third made his way to Olivia’s side. Wordlessly, he handed her a paper grocery bag and then joined his fellow officers.
Olivia peered inside. Haviland’s collar rested inside a sealed plastic bag.
“Attention, please!” Mayor Guthrie shouted into the microphone. “Girls, please! Quiet down! Stop screaming! PLEASE!”
Somehow, the decibel level dropped enough for the mayor to speak without hollering. His cheeks were already flushed with heat and self-importance.
“I understand that many of you are excited by our special guests.” The mayor beamed and Olivia was impressed by his tact. Clearly, Heidi St. Claire was the star attraction, but by using the word “guests,” he made certain to include Blake Talbot as one of Oyster Bay’s honored visitors. “Miss St. Claire has graciously informed me that she is willing to sign autographs after our meeting is adjourned.” Here, Guthrie had to pause while the girls went wild again. “So if you’d care to wait outside while we conduct our business ... ?”
“No way! It’s totally raining!” one of the older girls argued.
Olivia looked toward the row of windows lining the outer wall. Indeed, a steady rain had begun to fall, leaving slashes of water against the glass.
“It’s blowin’ sideways,” Grumpy stated. “Lightnin’ will be comin’ along shortly.” He smiled at his wife, who had nabbed an aisle seat in the third row. “Guess Dixie was right about there bein’ fireworks tonight.”
Seeing that none of the girls or their parents intended to wait in the hallway or on the building’s covered portico, the mayor called the meeting to order. As he made a few incidental announcements, Olivia’s gaze repeatedly swept over the crowd. She saw many familiar faces, including Wheeler from Bagels ‘n’ Beans, Annie from the B&B, and surprisingly, Officer Cook dressed in plainclothes. The young lawman was leaning against the wall, chewing on a plastic straw. He looked utterly bored, but Olivia could see that his eyes never stopped roving.
“Good boy,” Olivia murmured and Haviland’s ears perked up. “I was talking about Cook. I would never use such a simple adjective to describe you, Captain.” She smiled as the poodle licked her palm and turned her eyes forward again.
Finally, Guthrie yielded the mike to Ed Campbell, the chair of the Planning Board. The loan manager was all smiles as he quickly reviewed the minutes from the previous meeting. Wasting as little time as possible, he reiterated the Talbot Fine Properties proposal to build the community of Cottage Cove and then called for a vote. Unlike the previous meeting, the Planning Board didn’t have to open the floor for public opinion, so Olivia rose and announced, “I would like to suggest a revision to this proposal. One that would preserve the Confederate cemetery.”
Ed Campbell had been anticipating the suggestion, yet he still frowned as he surrendered the podium.
Olivia succinctly explained how the majority of the board was in favor of the housing development, as long as the graveyard was protected and more storm drains and green space were added. She watched Blake Talbot as she spoke, but it was difficult to tell what he felt without being able to see his eyes. However, when she suggested relocating the putting green, the muscles in his jaw tensed and his lips compressed into a tight line. He was clearly unhappy about the counterproposal. Heidi, who had removed her sunglasses upon sitting, put her hand on her boyfriend’s and gave it a supportive squeeze.
I wonder if he knows about Max yet, Olivia wondered.
According to protocol, Ed had to call a vote on the original proposal, but all the members voted nay except for him. Shrugging with exaggerated resignation, he asked for a second vote to support Cottage Cove as long as a representative from Talbot Fine Properties agreed to the changes. None of the board members took advantage of their opportunity to voice an opinion on the proposal except Marlene, who raised her objections over the destruction of what she described as an irreplaceable ecosystem.
“Despite how people-friendly the new park would be,” she remarked with quiet passion, “it cannot replicate the environment currently inhabited by dozens of plant and animal species!”
By now, the audience had grown tired of the topic at hand. The girls began to twitter with increasing volume over the staccato of the driving rain. Mayor Guthrie shot nervous smiles in Blake Talbot’s direction while Ed Campbell stuck out his freckled forearm and tapped on the surface of his watch, rudely signaling for Marlene to wrap things up.
Ignoring him, she began to list the names of the bird species that used the current park as their nesting grounds.
Olivia continued to scan the faces of those before her. As her eyes came to rest on Heidi St. Claire, the starlet glanced to her right and her expression of polite boredom instantly transformed to one of shock. Her mouth fell open and her eyes grew round and dark with distress.
In a blink, Heidi had her face under control, her dull gaze once again resting on the American flag. Her training as an actress served her well, but Olivia’s sharp eyes didn’t miss how the young woman was lacing her fingers together so tightly that her hands trembled with the effort.
Who scared you? Olivia leaned her body forward. She could feel her heart swelling as the blood rushed through her body. It was as though every part of her being was suddenly aware of the killer’s presence in the room.
And then, she saw him. He was a man she knew by name, a man she’d spoken to, a man she’d smiled at, and he was easing his way out of the room along the side wall. Obviously, he hadn’t wanted Heidi to see him, but she had.
I don’t understand, she thought wildly. Why would Heidi recognize him?
As Marlene continued to point out the flaws of the new park from the perspective of a snapping turtle, Olivia dialed Harris’s cell phone number. She willed him to meet her eyes as she held her own phone to her ear and tried not to slide her gaze to the left, where the murderer’s retreat had been temporarily blocked by a trio of girls holding poster board banners reading, “WE ❤ HEIDI!!!”