away.
“I invited you here so we could talk about the report.”
His words, so incongruous to his actions and so unexpected, made her blank on a response.
“I’m very concerned about the historic background you’re writing. Frankly, I don’t want you to write it at all, but if you do, then you must only include sustainable facts.” His grip on her hand tightened, but his expression remained friendly.
“What do you mean you don’t want me to write it? You’ve been helping me.”
“I read the new research questions you submitted to Jack on Friday. I want you to drop most, if not all of them, but without killing Jack’s permit application.”
“I can’t. I consulted both Rosalie and Jack on the research questions. The Corps approved them and have made them part of the scope of work.”
“Then I need you to stall producing the report for as long as possible.”
“My deadline is firm. Believe me, I want more time.”
“Damn. I’d hoped this wouldn’t be necessary, but it looks like I don’t have a choice. I’m giving you fair warning, Libby, you need to be very careful of what you put in writing.” He looked at her steadily, leaving her no doubt he was serious. “Destroying the reputation of my great-grandfather will get you sued for libel.”
She pulled her hand away. He’d said it was a warning, but it felt more like a threat. Hysterical laugher threatened. And Simone thought Jason was attracted to her. “Lyle Montgomery’s reputation is already pond scum.”
“But my grandfather’s bigotry and misconduct have never been documented in a public report. TL&L has an important business deal in the works. Whatever you put in print, you’d better be able to back up. No conjecture. No suppositions.”
She knew from his firm voice and clear gaze that the full power of his Seattle law firm stood behind his words. “I understand.” Libby sipped her wine without tasting it. She’d been given a very fine line in which to draft her report. If she pleased Rosalie, she ran the risk of a lawsuit, because most of Lyle’s worst deeds were based on hearsay. The beating death of the union man in 1939 was out, as were several other crimes attributed to him. “Your restrictions could limit the report to the extent that the Corps won’t issue the permit. Is that what you want?”
“Absolutely not. Listen, Libby, I’m in the same bind you are.” His voice and eyes softened. “I want the Center built. But your report can’t compromise my family and the business. I convinced my great-aunt and uncles to let you interview them. I’ve given you the boxes that contain my mother’s research. Now I expect you to help me.”
C HAPTER S EVEN
A TAP ON M ARK’S OFFICE DOOR interrupted his concentration. Officer Luke Roth entered the room and sat. “Thanks for taking the suspicious circumstances call for me Friday night, Chief. Isn’t Libby Maitland the same nutjob who reported her car stolen Thursday?”
“She reported her car stolen.”
“So, what did she want on Friday? Did she think the people on TV were watching her?”
“She’s not one of those. I’ve made some calls to Seattle, and I don’t think she’s a crank.” Mark sat up and riffled through his papers to find the list he’d made earlier. He found it and said, “I want you to check alibis on a few people.” He handed Luke the paper. “If someone’s messing with her, they might be doing it because of the Cultural Center. They could have targeted Libby as a way to stop the project.”
Luke scanned the list of names. He looked up. “What’s Jason Caruthers doing on this list?”
“A hunch,” Mark said.
“Everyone in Coho likes him. They think he’s some sort of golden boy, but if you ask me, he’s just a throwback to the old man. Jason’s the new Lyle in town.”
“Why do you think that?”
Luke shrugged. “Lyle bullied people. Jason out-smarts them. Different methods, same result. Jason closed the mill and fired more
“I invited you here so we could talk about the report.”
His words, so incongruous to his actions and so unexpected, made her blank on a response.
“I’m very concerned about the historic background you’re writing. Frankly, I don’t want you to write it at all, but if you do, then you must only include sustainable facts.” His grip on her hand tightened, but his expression remained friendly.
“What do you mean you don’t want me to write it? You’ve been helping me.”
“I read the new research questions you submitted to Jack on Friday. I want you to drop most, if not all of them, but without killing Jack’s permit application.”
“I can’t. I consulted both Rosalie and Jack on the research questions. The Corps approved them and have made them part of the scope of work.”
“Then I need you to stall producing the report for as long as possible.”
“My deadline is firm. Believe me, I want more time.”
“Damn. I’d hoped this wouldn’t be necessary, but it looks like I don’t have a choice. I’m giving you fair warning, Libby, you need to be very careful of what you put in writing.” He looked at her steadily, leaving her no doubt he was serious. “Destroying the reputation of my great-grandfather will get you sued for libel.”
She pulled her hand away. He’d said it was a warning, but it felt more like a threat. Hysterical laugher threatened. And Simone thought Jason was attracted to her. “Lyle Montgomery’s reputation is already pond scum.”
“But my grandfather’s bigotry and misconduct have never been documented in a public report. TL&L has an important business deal in the works. Whatever you put in print, you’d better be able to back up. No conjecture. No suppositions.”
She knew from his firm voice and clear gaze that the full power of his Seattle law firm stood behind his words. “I understand.” Libby sipped her wine without tasting it. She’d been given a very fine line in which to draft her report. If she pleased Rosalie, she ran the risk of a lawsuit, because most of Lyle’s worst deeds were based on hearsay. The beating death of the union man in 1939 was out, as were several other crimes attributed to him. “Your restrictions could limit the report to the extent that the Corps won’t issue the permit. Is that what you want?”
“Absolutely not. Listen, Libby, I’m in the same bind you are.” His voice and eyes softened. “I want the Center built. But your report can’t compromise my family and the business. I convinced my great-aunt and uncles to let you interview them. I’ve given you the boxes that contain my mother’s research. Now I expect you to help me.”
C HAPTER S EVEN
A TAP ON M ARK’S OFFICE DOOR interrupted his concentration. Officer Luke Roth entered the room and sat. “Thanks for taking the suspicious circumstances call for me Friday night, Chief. Isn’t Libby Maitland the same nutjob who reported her car stolen Thursday?”
“She reported her car stolen.”
“So, what did she want on Friday? Did she think the people on TV were watching her?”
“She’s not one of those. I’ve made some calls to Seattle, and I don’t think she’s a crank.” Mark sat up and riffled through his papers to find the list he’d made earlier. He found it and said, “I want you to check alibis on a few people.” He handed Luke the paper. “If someone’s messing with her, they might be doing it because of the Cultural Center. They could have targeted Libby as a way to stop the project.”
Luke scanned the list of names. He looked up. “What’s Jason Caruthers doing on this list?”
“A hunch,” Mark said.
“Everyone in Coho likes him. They think he’s some sort of golden boy, but if you ask me, he’s just a throwback to the old man. Jason’s the new Lyle in town.”
“Why do you think that?”
Luke shrugged. “Lyle bullied people. Jason out-smarts them. Different methods, same result. Jason closed the mill and fired more
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