Share the Moon. Sharon Struth
Chapter 3
“Welcome to tonight’s public hearing. For those who don’t know me, I’m Northbridge First Selectman, Buzz Harris.” Buzz spoke close into the microphone and his rough voice made the speakers screech. “Since this is a zoning matter, our moderator tonight will be….”
Sophie’s anger drowned out his chatter. She clamped her jaw vise tight as she watched the man she now knew as Duncan Jamieson whispering into his lawyer’s ear.
She flinched when both men stopped talking and stared right at her. She glanced stage left to the dark curtains as her neck and ears went impossibly hot. Wait. She wasn’t the liar. She snapped her head in their direction, but they’d turned their attention on Buzz.
The second-term selectman gripped the sides of the podium, his brown suit jacket tightening around his stocky arms. He continued his opening statement in support of the resort project, the lines on his square face pulled more taut than usual. A sweep of his fingers through the thick gray hair near his temples, a habit of his whenever controversy was present, confirmed his discomfort.
Buzz continued his opening address. In his role as a full-fledged member of the local old boy’s network, he manipulated the boards under his reign with ease. Sophie kept a careful watch on politicians like him, just waiting for them to cross the fine line into genuine corruption. What kind of pull did he have with zoning on this matter?
As she scribbled down one of Buzz’s statements, she remembered her five dollar bet with Cliff. Would he consider “Reporter Wooed by Nemesis” an adequate win?
Buzz introduced Duncan Jamieson. The handsome executive strode to the podium with the self-assurance of a king. He leaned with his elbows on the walnut top, fingers steepled together while he surveyed the crowd. His gaze lingered over her longer than the others. This time, she didn’t look away and tried out her best death glare.
He cleared his throat and scanned the room. “First, I’m happy the hearing is so well attended. One thing is clear. The residents of this community care about its well-being.” His arms opened wide, a gesture that would’ve made Dale Carnegie proud. “The vision RGI holds is for our resort to become a part of the lake’s history and to honor the people who live here by our contribution to the area.”
The confidence Duncan had exhibited when taking over Sophie’s boat problem was magnified in his formal presentation. He addressed Board members with familiarity, as if he’d known them forever, and discussed the town with the authority of a newly anointed mayor.
Bernadette’s dated auditorium chair squeaked. Her breath gushed next to Sophie’s ear. “Jeesh, you’d think this guy was the new grand pooh-bah.”
Sophie turned sideways. “Confidence isn’t one of his problems.”
Bernadette raised a questioning brow.
“Later.”
“RGI is committed to working collaboratively with all parties.” Duncan put on a contemplative frown. “Especially those who have concerns. We hope to have a partnership with S.O.L.E. because my firm cares about the environment as much as the rest of you.”
Bernadette exhaled, so loud Duncan’s head jerked in their direction. Her seat squeaked again and she whispered in Sophie’s ear. “I’ll bet he thinks he’ll finish and waltz out of here tonight without a single question. Guess he doesn’t know how things work in Northbridge.”
Sophie nodded. Their small New England form of government was called a town meeting format. The residents were seasoned pros at public forums, where local decisions were often made. Public hearings were their idea of a fun night out. Bernadette liked to brag she could recite Robert’s Rules of Order with the same ease she could list the ice cream flavors at the Dairy Inn.
“Most important, RGI wants full disclosure of all information.” His gaze drifted to Sophie, causing the same jolt she’d received the first time they met. “I hope to work closely with the local press to ensure everyone is informed.”
She attempted no outward reaction. Inside, though, her emotional needle swung back and forth between desire and rage.
Bernadette surfaced again with the persistence of a pesky gnat. “Hmm. I’ll bet he does.”
Sophie narrowed her gaze at Bernadette, who leaned back in the seat, her lips pressed into a thin smirk.
How could she interview this guy afterward? His flirty wink suggested he hadn’t thought twice about the sham he’d tried to pull on her.
He finished to applause mixed with low boos. The moderator and zoning board chairman, Adli Zimmerman, went to the podium and opened the floor for public comments.
Bernadette popped from her seat, in perfect position to win the relay race to the microphone. Several others lined up behind her. Adli ran an anxious hand across his bald scalp, centered between trim white mounds melting into sideburns.
She grabbed the microphone fast and tight. “Bernadette Felton. Twenty-four Appletree Drive.”
Buzz hurried from his seat and went to Duncan, his forehead crumpled with deep lines of worry. He whispered in Duncan’s ear. The executive nodded, but the slight wilt of his shoulders suggested the secret stole some of his confidence.
Sophie’s nerves twitched. One question circulating around town about this project was founded in pure gossip. Nobody had the nerve to ask this in a public venue. Nobody except Bernadette.
* * * *
Three hours later, the line at the microphone had dwindled to one person. Sophie’s bottom ached from sitting so long and she wanted to run to the restroom yet didn’t want to miss something good. This would go down as the longest public hearing on record and she hoped this speaker was the last.
The speaker finished in less than a minute. Bernadette hooked her hands over the back of Sophie’s chair. “My first trip to the mic was a warm-up. Watch this.” She bolted for the metal stand, her zeal as she grabbed it holding the promise of a hullabaloo.
Buzz’s jaw unhinged and pure fear settled on his face, as if the ghost of Elvis just entered the building. “Excuse me, Adli.” The speakers screeched. “Only those who haven’t spoken should come forward. Many of us want to get home.”
A low boo rumbled from the crowd.
From behind the podium, Adli adjusted his wire-framed glasses. “I understand your concerns, Buzz. However, the first time Bernadette spoke, she represented her special interest group. In fairness, we should give her an opportunity to speak once on her own behalf.” He peered over the tops of his spectacles at Bernadette. “If that’s what she intends to do.”
Bernadette tucked one side of her layered hair behind an ear and tilted her head. “Yes, it is. Thank you, Adli.” Her sweet tone oozed charm. “My question is for our First Selectman.”
Buzz clenched his jaw tight, so tight it seemed seconds away from snapping.
“Mr. Selectman.” She adjusted the microphone to her height. “There’s a great deal of talk around town suggesting some of our elected officials might personally gain from changes in the current zoning. Can you assure the public a fair and democratic process will take place on the board and members won’t be…well, let’s just say I hope they won’t be tainted by outside financial influences.” She paused and stared straight at RGI’s president. “Such as bribes.”
Duncan Jamieson had appeared to listen to the last hour’s worth of speakers with neutral interest. Bernadette’s comment, however, made the color drain from his face. His worried gaze traveled to Buzz, whose profile resembled stone, his anger so tight she half expected his cheeks to crack and crumble.
“Rumors are not statements of fact, Mrs. Felton!” Buzz’s roar shook the room. “I’m a patriotic man and take our democratic process quite seriously. I resent your implication that I, or anybody else in my administration, would do