At this point, Tonya Holmes rose and approached the podium. “Not necessarily,” she stated. “A rent increase is one possible solution, sure. And it will probably be part of the solution.”
“How can you do that?” an elderly gentleman interrupted, gesticulating with his cane before leaning on it again for support. “We’ve got leases. You can’t just start charging us more rent.”
“Your leases contain a clause that allows the pension fund to pass on increases in the ground lease,” Tonya replied. “But we assure you that this is a last resort. And we’d raise rents as little as possible. We’re going to fight the lessor on this increase.”
“We came out here today so that you’d hear the facts instead of just rumors,” Maggie reiterated. “And our very last resort will be to exercise our rights to raise your rent. You have my word on that.”
Glenn raised his hand. “If you’re not successful in defeating this increase and you don’t want to raise our rents, where else could the funds come from?”
“That’s a very good question,” Tonya responded. “We’re exploring options. We could charge fees to the vendors that supply goods and services to Fairview. We could hold a fundraiser.” Tonya smiled at Maggie. “Our mayor is good at that.”
Another hand shot up, and a diminutive woman stood. “You won’t see me if I don’t stand,” she joked. “I’d like to suggest that we lease out our recreation room for events and parties. We’ve got a really nice facility and we don’t use it very much. I’ve thought that for years. We could raise some money that way.”
“That’s a terrific idea,” Tonya stated.
“Any other ideas come to mind?” Maggie asked.
Gloria chimed in. “We could open a small gift shop. We have the space, and we’ve got residents who turn out gorgeous arts and crafts.”
“And maybe once a month we could hold a bake sale,” added the woman on her right. “We could advertise it around town. Hold it on Saturday mornings.”
“We could hold a farmers market on our front lawn,” called out a man standing in the back. “Charge a fee to each vendor.”
“That’d be a lot of fun,” agreed two women simultaneously.
Maggie and Tonya exchanged a relieved glance. These people were resourceful.
“I’m inspired by your can-do spirit. I want to encourage you to keep thinking of ideas to generate income.” Maggie’s eyes swept the audience. “Most of all, I don’t want anyone losing sleep over this. We’ve got a long way to go. You had to be informed. For now, the attorneys and Councilman Frank Haynes are working with the lessor to get this issue resolved. Fairview Terraces is in his district, and I know he’s very devoted to you. I’ve seen him working late into the night at Town Hall. His business experience makes him uniquely qualified to tackle this issue.” She noted with satisfaction the nods of approval from the crowd.
“If you have any additional questions after all this sinks in,” she concluded, “you know where to find me. Councilmembers Holmes and Haynes and I are available to you at any time. And keep generating those inspiring suggestions!”
Chapter 15
Maggie reluctantly logged off her computer shortly after six. Now that she wasn’t giving John a ride home from physical therapy anymore, there was no reason to leave the office any earlier. At least Eve would be waiting to greet her, wagging her tail, and turning in circles at the sound of Maggie’s key in the door.
As she headed for the elevator, Maggie noticed that Frank Haynes was working late again. She bypassed the elevator bank and headed toward his office. He was bent over a pile of documents strewn over his desk, making notes on a legal pad. He hadn’t heard her approach and started when she spoke.
“Burning the midnight oil, Frank?”
He looked up and ran his fingers through his thinning hair. “This ground lease thing is a mess. The factors that play into the rent increase are extremely complex. I’m going through the lessor’s calculations, but can’t verify their figures.”
“Thank you, Frank. That’s exactly what we need to have done. Can anyone in accounting help you?”
“Honestly, no. They’ve tried. Nobody understands this. Alex is also working on it.”
“I’m sure the two of you can get to the bottom of anything.”
“Actually, we were hoping to put our conclusions together and run them by you. You’re an accountant after all.”
Maggie nodded. “I’d be happy to go over them.”
He rested his head in his hands.
“Frank, you look exhausted. I think you need to go home and get some rest. Why don’t you walk out with me?”
Haynes met her gaze. He straightened his shoulders and paused, as if weighing a momentous decision. Maggie raised an eyebrow. “Come on, Frank. This will all be here tomorrow.”
“I guess you’re right. I wasn’t making any progress, anyway. I’ll pick it up first thing tomorrow,” Haynes replied with a tired smile.
The evening air felt chilly when they exited through the rear door; there would be frost on the grass in the morning. Haynes loved this time of year. Impulsively, he turned to Maggie. “Are you on your way to pick up the good doctor?”
“No,” Maggie sighed. “I’m not doing that anymore.” Haynes noted the sadness in her voice. Trouble in paradise? he wondered.
“If you don’t have other plans, why don’t we grab a bite to eat?” he suggested tentatively.
Maggie regarded him thoughtfully. “Thank you, Frank. Can I take a rain check? I’ve got to head home to feed and walk my dog. She’s been inside all day.”
Frank looked genuinely disappointed, she realized. “Will you be at Town Hall tomorrow? Maybe we could grab lunch?”
“No,” he replied stiffly. “I’ve got business meetings all day. That’s okay—just a thought.”
“You understand about dogs,” Maggie said, referring to his well-known status as the founder and principal funder of Forever Friends.
“Yes, that I do,” he conceded.
Maggie decided to press the point; if she had an opportunity to forge a cooperative professional relationship with Frank Haynes, she needed to seize it. “The next time you’re at Town Hall during the day, please let me know and I’ll buy you lunch. I’ll rearrange whatever’s on my calendar.”
Haynes smiled in spite of himself. “If you insist. I’ll be back before the end of the week.”
“Terrific. Just give me a call,” she said as she reached her car. “Have a good night. And Frank, thanks for working so hard to get things straightened out for the residents of Fairview Terraces.”
No need to tell her that he couldn’t have cared less about them, he thought as she drove off. He was just following Upton’s advice to get on her good side.
***
Maggie slung her purse over her shoulder shortly after one o’clock on Friday. She had been waiting all week for Frank Haynes to accept her offer to buy lunch, but he hadn’t contacted her. She had misgivings about the whole idea anyway since she still resented the way he had taken credit for the Easter carnival at Rosemont. It could have been an innocent mistake and, frankly, what politician didn’t try to steal the limelight whenever possible? But after how much work she had put into the event, it still raised her hackles.
She rounded the corner of Town Hall to find Frank Haynes pulling into the lot. She momentarily considered darting into the trees along the sidewalk and pretending she hadn’t seen him. For heaven’s sake, she scolded herself. You’re not in kindergarten. Act like a grown-up. You offered to have lunch with him, so march on over there and ask if he’s hungry. If she were lucky, he’d already have eaten and would turn her down.
“Hello, Frank,” she said as he retrieved his briefcase from the backseat. “I was hoping to run into you. I’d still like to take you to lunch.”
Haynes looked startled and hesitated before responding.
He doesn’t want to spend time with me any more than I want to spend time with him, Maggie realized. That�
�s why he hasn’t been around all week and got here so late today. His reluctance intrigued her. She pressed him again before he could reply. “Come on, if you’ve already eaten, you can keep me company. I was just going to walk over to Pete’s for a quick bite.”
Trapped, Haynes nodded. “Sure. And no, I haven’t eaten. Sorry I haven’t been back all week. I’ve been busy. But I could spare thirty minutes for a sandwich.”
They made the short walk to Pete’s Bistro in silence. Pete looked at Maggie quizzically when she asked for a table for two. After the unlikely pair had placed their orders, Haynes launched into a summary of his findings on the ground lease issue. Maggie held up a hand to interrupt him.
“That’s terribly important and I know you’ve done an incredible amount of work to get to this point. I want to hear what you’ve uncovered, but not now. We’ve only got a few minutes to eat, and I’d like a break from thinking about all of this. I want to get to know you better.”
Haynes drew a deep breath. “Not much to tell that you don’t already know,” he replied gruffly. “Born and raised here. Own a conglomerate of fast-food restaurants and other investments. Member of the town council. That’s it.”
“That’s definitely not it,” Maggie smiled. “You’re the force behind Forever Friends, such a wonderful thing to have done for the community. Tell me about your pets. Have you always been a dog lover? Eve is my very first dog. I can’t imagine how I’d ever live without a dog again.”
Haynes smiled with genuine pleasure. That’s his soft spot, Maggie realized.
“I rescued a stray when I was ten,” he said. “A big mutt of indiscriminate pedigree. He was a grand dog—healthy as a horse—who died at the age of seventeen, when I was in college. I’ve had at least one dog ever since. Always strays. Pretty soon I was collecting them right and left. Decided I needed somewhere to take them. So I set up the shelter.”
Maggie nodded. “What do you have now?”
“I’ve got a Border collie mix. She’s a marvelous dog. I’ve also got an oversized calico cat. She adopted me about five years ago, just moved right in.”
“I’ve heard cats do that sometimes. I’m surprised one hasn’t adopted me. I found Eve in that snowstorm when she escaped from Forever Friends. I’d say she adopted me.”
“And that’s how you met your boyfriend? Dr. Allen?”
“That’s how I met him, yes, but we’re not seeing each other anymore. How about you? Have you been married? Do you have children?” she asked before he could inquire further about her relationship with John.
“I’m divorced; have been for a long time. We didn’t have any children,” he answered gruffly.
Maggie looked at him thoughtfully. “You’ve got to be one of the most eligible bachelors in town. Have you wanted to remarry? Or just having too much fun playing the field?”
Haynes blushed in spite of himself. “I don’t have time to play the field. Between Haynes Enterprises, the town council, and Forever Friends, I don’t have much free time.”
Maggie smiled. “I know what you mean. With Westbury’s financial crisis, being mayor is all-consuming. Besides, I’m not so sure I want to remarry. And I don’t know how I’d meet someone, anyway.”
She glanced at her watch. “We’d better get back,” she said, signaling for the check. “This has been fun. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you better. Thanks for joining me.”
Frank Haynes smiled and realized he couldn’t remember the last time anyone had treated him to lunch.
Chapter 16
A week had gone by since the disquieting meeting with the mayor and Councilwoman Holmes, and the residents at Fairview Terraces were still abuzz with chatter about the predicament they found themselves in through no fault of their own. Many simply wanted to complain, but a surprising number wanted to help.
“You know what?” Gloria said as she sat back and observed the other diners. “There’s more energy in this room than there’s been in I can’t remember when.”
“That’s one way of putting it,” Glenn remarked.
“I’m serious. When was the last time you felt you were working on something that really mattered? It’s been a long time for me. That baby blanket was a start, but nothing like this. Look around you. We’ve got people talking to each other who haven’t spoken in years.”
“You’re right about that,” Glenn said upon consideration. “Gives us all something to rally around. But I haven’t seen anything productive come of all this. We don’t have any direction.”
“What do you want to happen?” she asked.
“I’d really like this whole problem to go away. For Councilman Haynes to straighten this out.”
“Me, too,” Gloria replied. “But I would like Fairview Terraces to set up a gift shop or craft co-op or something like that. I’d be willing to volunteer. I think it’d be fun.”
Glenn smiled at her. “That blanket got you going, didn’t it? I’ve seen your knitting basket by your chair when I pick you up.”
“I have to admit that project brought lots of good things into my life,” she replied. Glenn hoped she was referring to him. “What would you like to do if we need to raise money?”
“I’ve been giving that some thought. Renting the unused space would be the smart thing to do. It wouldn’t inconvenience any of us. In fact, it could bring in customers for your gift shop.”
“It just might,” she replied
“But none of this is likely to happen. Nobody is doing anything concrete, as far as I can see.”
“Then why don’t you make it happen?” Gloria challenged. “You’ve got the business acumen and experience. You’re well known and well liked around here. And you’re always talking about how much time you have on your hands. So fill it with this project. Whether we wind up needing the money or not, it’s a good idea.”
Glenn scanned the dining room as he considered her suggestion. Maybe she was right. He’d always been a good organizer. He turned back to her and nodded slowly.
***
Chuck Delgado paced in his office above his liquor store. Noticing that he was sloshing whiskey out of his glass, he exchanged his glass for the bottle on his next pass by his desk. He might own a liquor store, but there was no point in wasting the stuff.
It had been months since Frank Haynes had requested—no, demanded—one of these clandestine meetings in the wee hours. After the indictment of that idiot William Wheeler, they had agreed to keep their distance. Go dark for a while. Let the trail grow cold. As far as he knew, no one had linked any of the councilmembers to the fraud and embezzlement that had almost bankrupted Westbury. What had stirred Haynes up?
Delgado started at the rap on the door downstairs. He pressed the entry button and settled himself behind his desk while Frank Haynes methodically climbed up the stairs to Delgado’s lair.
Haynes paused inside the door, allowing his eyes to adjust to the low light. He scanned the sofa and chairs for a place to sit and decided to remain standing. “I see you haven’t bothered to straighten anything up in here,” he sneered. “I think those are the same hamburger wrappers that were on the floor the last time I was here.”
“What do you care? You call me here to lecture me about cleaning my office? Go to hell,” he slurred.
“No, Charles, that’s not why I’m here.”
I hate it when this bastard calls me Charles, Delgado thought.
The two men stared at each other.
“What’s up?” Delgado finally asked, breaking the silence.
“The lease on Fairview Terraces. The increase in those phony fees. You’re squeezing the town for the arrearage. Threatening foreclosure?” he snarled. “Are you nuts?”
“It’s the landlord, Frankie. And it’s all in writing. It’s in the lease. Legit.”
“I’ve done some digging. I know that the landlord is you and your greedy cronies. It may be in the lease, but do you want to put a spotlight on yourself? Now?”
“I know why you volunteered
to straighten this mess out with the landlord. Those old geezers at Fairview are your constituents, and it’s hard to get re-elected when the seniors are against you, ain’t it, Frankie? You might have to campaign and spend some money like the rest of us.”
“I’m working on their behalf, yes. This isn’t just about re-election, you moron. We don’t want anyone digging into anything even remotely related to us. Scanlon’s interested in it, and they’ve got some professor from a university consulting on how to get Westbury out of the financial mess it’s in. Lots of eyes are going to be all over this.”
“Damn. That ain’t good,” Delgado replied, suddenly sounding a lot more sober.
“No, it’s not. For now, Scanlon isn’t suspicious of anything and is so busy that he’s willing to let me handle this. I need to make this problem go away, fast, before anyone looks in this direction. Do you understand?”
“You want us to back off for you, Frankie?”
“That’s exactly what I want you to do. But let me handle it all.”
“You want to be the hero?”
“Exactly. I’ll string this along a little bit. Have meetings at Fairview where we get people scared and all stirred up.”
“Then you ride in on your white horse and save them? Beat down the big, bad landlord. The great, compassionate Frank Haynes?”
“Would that be so bad? It’ll get me re-elected for sure. And we need as many of us to stay on the council as possible. We don’t want any more nosey councilmembers like that bitch Tonya Holmes.”
Delgado straightened in his chair. “Not a bad plan, Frankie.”
“So you’ll get the landlord to stop the foreclosure on the ground lease and quit trying to collect from Fairview Terraces?”
Delgado nodded slowly. “I can try. I’ll make some calls in the morning.”
Haynes stood.
“I’ll do my best with the boys, Frankie,” Delgado extended his hand.
Haynes reluctantly took it and shook on the agreement. He hurried down the stairs to his Mercedes sedan parked in the shadows and reached for the hand sanitizer as soon as he opened the glove compartment.
Weaving the Strands Page 7