Christmas at Timberwoods - Fern Michaels [72]
“There—you said it yourself. It could happen. And it just as easily could not happen. Think about the merchants. They’re the ones who pay your salary and mine. Don’t you owe them something?”
“I owe them a day’s work for a day’s pay. Up until now I’ve done just that. This is something different. We’re talking about thousands of innocent people.”
“More than one way to look at that. Our store owners have families depending on them. They’re people, too. What about them?” Richards asked angrily.
Eric shook his head. “The worst that could happen is they will lose a little money. We’re talking about human lives!”
“I’m warning you, Summers, and you too, Baumgarten—if word of this gets out, there’s going to be big trouble.”
“Are you going to go along with Richards?” Harold demanded of the police chief.
“I have no other choice. I wish there was something I could do, but I have to have hard evidence and there isn’t any. This center was checked out thoroughly. If I were to send you a bill for the manpower, you’d blow a gasket. The police department isn’t for your personal use, you know. Richards is right. I’m sorry, Baumgarten.”
“We’re right back where we started from,” Lex said angrily.
Heather drew Lex out into the hall and whispered to him, “What if we call all the shop owners and ask them to come into the mall early tomorrow, say around eight? We’ll ask them what they think. Perhaps they can bring some pressure to bear on the police. It’s worth a try.” She continued quietly, “After Richards goes home, of course. If you can get Noel over here, that will be five of us calling. It’ll take us hours, but it might be worth it. At this point, with the storm and all, I don’t think any of us should even attempt to go home.”
“I agree. We’ll go back to Baumgarten’s office and work from there. Richards isn’t going to hang around. He thinks he’s won, so he’ll go home and crow a little. Look, here comes the cop and the captain. I want to hear what they have to say.”
“The little girl is still alive—just barely,” the captain reported. “The hospital said her picture was in the paper about a month ago, and the parents were pleading for help. I’m not saying Angela Steinhart saw that and made her story fit the real one, but it is possible. The rest of the details check out, too.”
The chief of police addressed himself to Dolph Richards, plainly ignoring the others. “That does it then. If there are any changes, if you get something more concrete, give me a call.” His tone clearly indicated that there had better not be anything else. “Have a merry Christmas,” he called over his shoulder.
Chapter 12
Harold stood on the dais of the large community room, flanked by Eric Summers and Felex Lassiter. Heather Andrews stood next to Lex.
The chief of the security rapped on the lectern for order. “First of all, let me say that we appreciate the fact that you braved the storm to get here so early. There was no other way this could have been handled. This meeting had to take place before the mall opens. Now, I want your attention and I want all of you to remain quiet while I’m speaking. When I’m finished, you can ask all the questions you want.”
Quickly and concisely, he ran through the events of the past several days. He ended with, “And the four of us standing here are in favor of closing the mall. But, as I said, the police were here and they, along with Mr. Richards, have refused to close Timberwoods.”
“If this is some kind of joke,” Barry Skyer said angrily, “I don’t appreciate it and I’m sure the others agree. What kind of stunt is this?”
“Believe me, Mr. Skyer, this is not a stunt. We’re trying to save lives. That’s why I called this meeting. If you, as a group, bring pressure to bear, Dolph Richards will have to give the order to close the center.”
Pandemonium broke loose. The shop owners looked at each other, fear, anger, and distrust on their faces. Fists were clenched and shaken in the air.
“Money! It always comes down to money!” Harold shouted. “Are your lives worth a few extra dollars? Think about your families! Think