1022 Evergreen Place - Debbie Macomber [102]
He needed to speak to his father-in-law. Pacing back and forth in the parking lot, Linc realized that in his present frame of mind he’d make a mess of this. He was too angry to think logically or speak calmly. Linc had a temper, which he tended to fire off quickly; with enough provocation he’d say something he couldn’t take back. This conversation was too important to be ruled by emotion. He needed a clear head and cool reason.
Just as he was finally ready to enter the building, out came Leonard Bellamy. The other man frowned when he saw Linc. “What are you doing here?” Bellamy demanded.
Linc bit back a sarcastic reply. He felt like telling Lori’s father that he was in the area and thought they could go for a beer together. Instead, he spoke in as polite a tone as he could manage. “I’d like to talk to you for a couple of minutes.”
“I’m busy.” Bellamy attempted to step around him.
Linc blocked his move. “Unfortunately, I have a lot of time on my hands and my guess is you know why.” The man had set out to ruin his business and had just about succeeded. Linc couldn’t hang on much longer. He’d been able to find out that Bellamy had told certain influential people in Cedar Cove and adjoining communities that Linc was a gold digger who’d married his daughter for her money. Bellamy had also tried to thwart him by delaying his license application. When that didn’t shut Linc down, he’d apparently spread false rumors. Not that Linc could prove it, but there’d been hints. Mack McAfee had made a point of telling him that he’d heard Bellamy was “out to get” him.
Linc had spoken to his attorney, who said there was basically nothing to be done. He could file a suit for slander or for restraint of trade but Linc would rather end this than take his father-in-law to court—especially with a weak, hearsay case.
Long before he’d set up his shop he’d done extensive research on the area. Only because he felt he could make a go of it had he decided to branch out into Cedar Cove; otherwise, he would’ve continued his commute into Seattle. Based on his findings, he’d obtained a loan from a local bank to cover his start-up costs and he’d drawn on his savings, sinking most of the money into remodeling the garage.
As part of his research, Linc had gone to visit various local insurance claim adjusters. These were the people who generally sent work his way. He’d talked to a number of them before he’d made his decision to move. Every one of them had assured him there was a need for his business.
When the promised work didn’t come, Linc went to see them all again. On his second series of visits Linc found his reception much cooler. The adjusters had no work to send him and weren’t interested in receiving his bids. When he dug deeper, Linc learned that Bellamy was good friends with someone high up in the state insurance commissioner’s office. Linc couldn’t prove that Bellamy had used their friendship to influence the adjusters but it all added up.
He’d purchased a garage that had sat in disrepair for several years, cleaned it up and remodeled it. Then he’d hired two employees. Now these employees were twiddling their thumbs while Linc paid their wages from his dwindling reserves. Another month like the last one, and he’d have no choice but to close his doors.
“I said I don’t have time, nor do I have the desire to speak with you,” Bellamy said in a tone few would question. “Now kindly step aside.”
“You’re spreading lies about me in the community.” Bellamy’s attitude made Linc reconsider the advisability of taking him to court. But the idea went in and out of his mind in seconds. Much as he disliked Bellamy, the man was Lori’s father. Linc refused to jeopardize that relationship—or at least jeopardize it any more than Bellamy already had himself.
“We can make this all go away,” Bellamy said, his mood suddenly more affable. “With a snap of my fingers, I can set things straight for you.”
Linc hesitated.