Page 54 of Sunset Tides
They got out of the car and she told herself to snap out of it. Now wasn’t the time to relax. It was a cool, rainy day, normally her favorite napping weather, but not today.
The town of Roche Harbor was adorable, of course. In the center stood a historic hotel called the Hotel de Haro.
It looked classy. Had it ever been targeted by eminent domain developers? Lucy made a mental note to reach out to the owners.
Angie greeted them at the door of her restaurant and led them to an office in the back. It was small and cramped, filled with papers and books, but Angie was welcoming enough. She offered tea and cookies, which only Jade accepted.
Lucy didn’t want tea. She jumped right into her interrogations. “Do you know anything about The Grand Madrona Hotel being condemned by the county?”
Angie nodded. “I know a little. I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to share.”
Of course. Why would the owners of the hotel deserve to know why they were being condemned? “But it wasn’t the council who initiated it?”
Angie shook her head. “Definitely not! We received a request from above, actually. There wasn’t anything we could do.”
“You’re required to hold the hearing?” asked Jade.
“Yes,” Angie said. “I do know there was a report declaring the area as blighted.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Lucy said. “The hotel is in perfect condition. It’s never done better! How could it be blighted?”
Angie spun her computer screen to face them. “Here, these are some of the pictures we were sent along with the report about the area.”
Lucy leaned forward. She didn’t recognize the first picture – it looked like overgrown grass. “That’s not the hotel.”
Angie clicked through, eventually reaching a picture of the old honey shop and the collapsing barn.
“Oh,” Jade said in a low voice. “That doesn’t look good.”
“It says these structures are abandoned and that they’re a fire hazard,” Angie said, reading from the screen. “Do you know these places?”
What a joke. How could anyone argue that the hotel had anything to do with this?
Lucy let out a sigh. “Yes, they’re near the hotel, but they’re not on our property.”
Angie frowned. “I’m afraid the hotel may be collateral damage.”
Lucy’s jaw dropped. “How is that fair!”
“It isn’t.” Angie spun the screen around again. “Which is why I’m telling you. I could get in trouble for this, so please, don’t tell anyone I showed you this report.”
This, too, seemed insane to Lucy, but at the same time, made perfect sense. Whoever was coming after them had money and power, and they would use it to silence them. “I understand. I appreciate your help – really.”
“I saw what you did for Grindstone Farm. That was incredible.” Angie offered a weak smile. “I wish you the best of luck.”
“Thank you.” Lucy stood from her seat. She’d heard enough. The council didn’t have much power in this, but someone did. She had to figure out who that was.
Jade got up and gave Angie a hug. “Thanks again, Angie.”
She smiled and nodded. “Of course. You might want to contact the owners of the other properties and see if they’re able to make the repairs or demolish the offending structures.”
Lucy nodded. “Okay, I can do that.”
“Also,” Angie dropped her voice, “You didn’t hear this from me, but bring the hotel’s financials to the hearing. You’ll want to prove its usefulness to the community.”
Lucy nodded. “Done.”
“Great.” Angie returned to her normal volume and opened the door to her office. “I assume you’ve hired an attorney?”
