Share the Moon. Sharon Struth

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СКАЧАТЬ 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 what you’re suggesting.”

      Voices filled the air like the low roll of thunder. Buzz pushed his microphone back and threw an angry glare in Adli’s direction. Adli nodded.

      “All right, everybody. Calm down. This has been a long night. Most of you have spoken. I am calling an end to this meeting at ten forty-five. Do I hear a second for this motion?”

      Someone seconded it and Adli shouted above the noise, “Thank you all for coming.”

      Sophie stood, opened her bag, and stored her notepad and pen. Bernadette returned and picked up her jacket from the seat behind Sophie, her satisfied grin suggesting great pleasure over tonight’s outcome. “Guess I raised a few eyebrows, huh?”

      Sophie slipped a wool scarf around her neck then zipped her bag closed. “You sure did, my friend. Any idea where the rumor started? It’s just the kind of lead to help me find some legitimate dirt on RGI.”

      “No idea.” Bernadette leaned close and whispered, “Sooo…what’s going on with the sandy-haired hottie?” She fanned herself with her fingertips. “Lawdy, lawdy. If his wink didn’t tell all.”

      “I’ll discuss it later. I need to interview him now.”

      Bernadette twisted her lips and shook her head. “Be careful. You blushed when he winked.”

      “I was angry.”

      She shrugged. “If you say so, but from where I sat, the last time a guy made you blush, you know what happened.”

      Sophie threw a warranted glare at her friend. “Yes, I remember.” She leaned close to Bernadette and whispered, “Listen, this is my chance to prove to Cliff my personal feelings won’t interfere with a story ever again.”

      Ryan Malarkey’s arrival in town three years ago would forever fill Sophie with embarrassment. She’d met him around the time she emerged from the dark hole of her divorce and losing a child. Ryan was the defense attorney for a well-known writer living on the lake who’d been accused of murdering his wife.

      Ryan’s wavy brown hair and rich chestnut eyes would score an eight on the appearance scale, but what had ruptured Sophie’s better senses was his suave manner and focused attention on her. Each time he begged her to go on a date, she’d refused. After all, she hadn’t completely forgotten about her integrity as a journalist. However, his extra doses of attentiveness soothed her aching soul, empty and untouched for so many years. Thus, when he’d tossed some story leads her way, all favorable to his client, she’d chased them like they were nuggets of gold. They’d run a story based on those leads, leads eventually revealed as false. After reality hit, Cliff just shook his head and mumbled, “Seems your lawyer friend actually is full of malarkey. Now we look like fools.” He’d forgiven Sophie in no time, yet she still hadn’t forgiven herself.

      Bernadette touched Sophie’s forearm. “Honey, I’m not sure what’s already gone on between you and El Presidente, but be careful this time. I know how much you got hurt when Ryan took advantage of you. Okay?”

      “Trust me, Bern. I’ll never forget how stupid I felt.”

      She turned her attention to the stage. СКАЧАТЬ