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By Root 992 0

containing the old Fort Trumbull would go to the state for a public park. The Interior Department had already signed off and the state’s Department of Environmental Protection had approved the plan too. The northern tip of the base would go to the city for a marina. All the federal and state approvals were in place for this transfer too. The middle parcel of the base property, which included all the buildings and labs, was the most marketable piece. The committee planned to sell the middle parcel to the highest bidder at public auction. The city stood to harvest millions in tax revenue once the buildings were sold and reoccupied.

Basilica and Markowicz were nearing the end of their work. The navy had already audited the plan. Early in the evening on April 2, Markowicz left his downtown office and walked the two blocks to City Hall. Numerous officials from the navy’s real-estate and budget offices were in town to iron out details. Markowicz anticipated an uneventful meeting focused on procedure and timelines.

But inside City Hall he found Basilica standing outside the council chambers, seething.

“What is it?” Markowicz asked.

Basilica showed Markowicz a copy of Hamilton Lee’s letter to Rich Voyles. While Markowicz read, Basilica vented. It infuriated Basilica that the NLDC felt it had the power to take homes. Eminent domain was one of the most sweeping powers held by government. Things were about to get ugly fast.

To Basilica, the letter signaled a major political power shift in the city. Governor Rowland, he felt, had found himself a Trojan horse: Claire and the NLDC. Basilica knew no real-estate agent would write that kind of letter without direction. He also knew that the agent worked for Steve Percy and that Percy held a seat on the NLDC’s board. Basilica understood that Percy planned to attend the meeting with the navy officials.

“What are you going to do?” Markowicz asked.

“I’m gonna confront his ass.”

A strategic thinker, Markowicz preferred a more diplomatic approach to his adversaries. He also didn’t think a shouting match with Percy would provide the ideal way to kick off an important meeting. But he didn’t bother trying to talk Basilica out of it.

Percy arrived in his customary sport jacket and tie. He had white hair, bushy, dark eyebrows, and a pug nose. Basilica pounced.

“Where do you get the balls to send something like this out?” he said, shoving the letter in Percy’s face. “Who gave you permission?” Basilica shouted.

The NLDC had given it, Percy insisted.

“You can’t threaten these people with eminent domain,” Basilica shouted. “You don’t have that power.”

Basilica stormed into the meeting room. Markowicz was waiting for him inside the doorway. He had overheard most of the shouting. Without saying a word, Markowicz raised his eyebrows and nodded in the direction of the conference table in the center of the chamber. The seats around it were full. Basilica did a quick head count. More than fifteen people were on hand, all in suits and equipped with notepads and pens. Other than the two navy officials, most of the faces were unfamiliar.

“Who in the hell are these people?” Basilica mumbled.

Markowicz had no idea. He pulled out a pad and prepared to take minutes.

Basilica cleared his throat and took his position at the head of the table. He opened the meeting by asking the visitors to introduce themselves.

John Downes and Gary Timura said they worked for the Downes Group.

Basilica recognized the name. The Downes Group was a consulting firm and a subsidiary of the Frank E. Downes Construction Company. Members of the Downes family had donated heavily to Governor Rowland’s election campaign.

“Why are you here?” Basilica asked.

Downes explained that the NLDC had hired his firm as consultants one month earlier.

Markowicz didn’t get it. A construction firm with strong ties to the governor had been retained by Claire to work on the Fort Trumbull redevelopment project. Why are they showing up at a meeting involving the disposition of a navy base? Markowicz wondered.

Confused, Markowicz noted the other