A Flicker of Doubt - Tim Myers [6]
“I won’t take up much of your time,” he said, either missing my intonation or choosing to ignore it
“What is it you want?” I asked.
“Since my latest downtown project was so successful, I’m putting a package together out here by the river. We could squeeze thirty condos and apartments into this building alone. I understand this place is tied up legally, but if you want to fight it, I’m willing to put my lawyers on the job I’ll make you a rich man, Harrison.”
My great aunt Belle had given me the deed to River’s Edge with the stipulation that I run the candleshop for five years, and though I knew I could probably break the
Codicil if I had to, I would have rather defaulted on the bank loan than go against her last wishes.
“I told you before, I’m not interested.”
“You can’t stand in the way of progress, Harrison. I’m coming out here, one way or another.” He gestured out the window of my shop. “It would be a shame to lose all these trees around you, wouldn’t it? Think about that.”
“What are you talking about? Cyrus Walters and his sister aren’t selling.” Cyrus and Ruth owned a great deal of the land that abutted River’s Edge, though they’d never done anything to develop it Instead, Cyrus had cut a path for strolling in the undergrowth that ran along the river, one I walked nearly every day.
“You obviously haven’t talked to them lately.” The expression on his face made my stomach knot up. “If you change your mind, call me, but don’t wait too long.”
He breezed out of the shop and I felt my heart sicken. Was it possible that Cyrus was actually thinking about selling his land?
When the complex had been a warehouse factory in its first incarnation, Cyrus’s father had bought up all of the surrounding land for expansion. When the factory failed, he was busy dying himself. The land went to Cyrus and his sister, and while Cyrus had stayed in Micah’s Ridge his entire life, Ruth had moved to West Virginia to be closer to her grandchildren.
I walked out onto the walkway in front of River’s Edge and looked at the trees that bracketed us. It would be horrible to lose them, especially to a massive block of apartments and condominiums. The construction noise and debris alone would make my life miserable, not even considering what would happen when all those people moved in right on top of me. The nearby location of so many new residents would probably help some of my tenants, but I wasn’t sure how many of the Yuppies, Dinks and local social climbers would be interested in candlemaking.
I called Cyrus to see if Runion was just bluffing, but there was no answer at his home. In fact, his answering machine wasn’t even connected. The phone rang for a solid four minutes before I finally gave up. I’d have to talk to him before Runion could persuade him and his sister to sell. I knew he hadn’t yet, or Runion wouldn’t have wasted his time with me.
Eve came back to the candleshop an hour before she was supposed to start work, but I didn’t push it I knew she meant well.
“Harrison, I can work this shift by myself if you want to go upstairs.”
“I appreciate it Eve. I think you all are right. What I really need to do is to get out of here for a while. Are you sure you don’t mind watching the place by yourself?”
“Just be back before closing. I’d rather not take the deposit to the bank if I don’t have to”
‘I’ll be back in plenty of time to handle that” I said. I walked upstairs, but skipped my apartment and headed to Markum’s office. He was just locking up as I approached.
“Going somewhere?” I asked.
“I thought I’d grab some lunch. Did you shut the candleshop down after all?”
“No, Eve’s handling things. Millie called her, and she came in early.” I took a deep breath, then added, “I heard from Morton.”
Markum’s eyebrows shot up. “What did he have to ‘ say?”
“He told me what the coroner found. Becka didn’t drown; she overdosed on sleeping pills.”
Markum frowned. “Then how did she end up in the river?”
“The sheriff believes that she