Page 51 of Last Date
Pearl Cove had always been my home and safe haven. However, lately, I felt like it might be the death of me.
Chapter Nine
The next day on my lunch break, I went to the Whole Wheatery to grab some groceries. I’d neglected many of my usual chores because of all the excitement lately, but there were certain things I couldn’t do without, and food was one of them.
As I walked up to the sliding glass doors, I saw a card table to the left of the entrance. Behind the table sat Bob Tiegerman handing out flyers and trying to get signatures for something. When he saw me, he hurried around his table, almost knocking over his chair.
“Kip O’Connor, right?” He held a clipboard as he approached. Today he wore a pine-green sweater vest, but it too had moth holes just like the other one. His mousy brown hair was frizzed from the moist sea air, and he smelled of apple cider vinegar.
“That’s right,” I responded warily.
“I recognized you from the newspaper article.”
“Did you?” Had literallyeveryonein Pearl Cove read that darn story? I really didn’t want to forever be known as the guy who found Allister Green murdered.
He narrowed his eyes. “You told the police about me being there that night.”
I grimaced. “They wanted to know who I’d seen.”
“Of course.” He twisted his lips. “I almost had a heart attack when they knocked on my door.”
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t personal. I just couldn’t lie to them.”
“Nobody wants a visit from the police.” He gave a high-pitched laugh. “I wasn’t sure if I should open my door or run out the back.”
Frowning, I said, “That would have been a mistake. If you haven’t done anything wrong, there’s nothing to be worried about.”
His eyes shifted side to side. “Uh, no. That’s right.” He cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you’d be so kind as to sign my petition?”
“What’s it for?”
“Even though Allister Green is dead, Ascot Development is going full speed ahead with their plan to build apartments at Plunder Cove. Can you believe it?”
“Unfortunately, I can.”
He furrowed his brow. “I really thought if Allister was gone, they’d back off, but they didn’t.”
“No. He was just one of their backers.”
“I thought he was the driving force,” he muttered. “It seems I was wrong.”
“Ascot Development has very deep pockets. They won’t be easily discouraged.”
“It would seem not.” He gritted his teeth. “We’ve got to stop them.”
“Were their plans approved already?” I frowned, taking the clipboard from him.
“Not yet, but rumor has it the city council is a million percent on board. The mayor too. We have to show them they work for us. We citizens won’t stand for this sort of thing here in our little town.”
I scribbled my name and address on the form. “I’m definitely not in favor of the apartments. That’s one of my favorite spots to walk on the beach and have barbeques. When are they holding a public hearing about the development?”
“That’s just it. They’re stalling, saying maybe it’s not necessary. The city council and mayor just see dollar signs, but people like us care about the beauty of Plunder Cove. That’s the people’s land. How dare they try and destroy it with apartments.”
“Uh… right.” I agreed with him, but his level of intensity was off-putting.
I handed the clipboard back to him.
“Would you like a T-shirt?” he asked, scurrying over to this table. “I just had them made. Look, I put a grunion on the front to remind people that the sea creatures need Plunder Cove too.” He held up a white T-shirt with a picture of a grunion. “People love T-shirts.”
