by John Holt
* * *
Over the next few days it emerged that a similar letter had indeed been sent to every resident in the Valley. Latimer Holdings had offered to buy virtually every piece of land in the valley, stretching from the town, down to the lake. Even the odd shaped plots down by the creek. Who was Latimer Holdings? Why did they want the property? Was Latimer just another name for Lorimer? It seemed very unlikely, and made no sense at all, but it was just a possibility. Clancy decided to contact Doug Lorimer. He had known him for many years, they had been at school together.
* * *
“It’s not us, Bill,” Doug Lorimer said. “I can assure you of that. We’re not really interested in buying up scattered parcels of land. Especially worthless little plots. Why would we? I mean if your land actually joined on to ours, then maybe that would make sense. Maybe we might be interested. I said maybe.”
He stood up and walked to the far wall. There was a map showing the Lorimer farm. “Bill, we have more than enough land. We don’t need anymore.” He walked over to his desk, and opened the top drawer. He took out a large brown envelope, and then walked back to where Clancy was sitting.
“Truth of the matter is we have also received one of those letters.” He placed the envelope down in front of him. “Whoever Latimer Holdings are, they want our land as well.”
* * *
Chapter 14
Town Meeting
Three days later the Rosemont Gazette had made arrangements for a town meeting to be held at the old Community Hall, in the town square, not far from the old stockyards. Mike Cole and Bill Clancy had taken their positions at a trestle table up on the stage, and watched as their friends and neighbors slowly made their way to their seats. Clancy looked at the clock on the sidewall. It was seven forty five. The meeting was due to commence in another fifteen minutes. He glanced around the hall. “I don’t see Frank Miller or George MacDonald,” he said.
“There’s George,” Mike Cole responded. “He’s just coming in now.”
“I see him,” said Clancy. “And there is Frank, sitting by Dave Lennon. It looks like a good turnout. Incidentally, Mike, did you invite our esteemed Governor?”
Cole started to choke, trying to keep from laughing. “Yes I did. He said that although he appreciated that it was an important issue, it was not significant as far as the State was concerned. Therefore, he would not be attending. However, he did wish us well, and thanked me for the invitation. Which I think was very nice of him.”
“It certainly was,” Clancy replied. “What about our illustrious Mayor?”
Once again Cole started to choke. “Mr. Martin Berry was certainly invited. He was very keen to attend. Sadly, however, he had a prior engagement, which he could not break. He also wished us well. If there was anything he could do, we just had to call him.”
“Very nice of him as well,” Clancy commented. “Well, it looks like we will have to manage without them both. It’ll be hard, but we have no choice.” Clancy checked the clock once again. It was five minutes to eight. He tapped Cole on the arm, and indicated the clock.
“We’ll give it another few minutes,” said Cole. “Then we’ll make a start.”
* * *
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Cole called out.
Gradually the audience began to settle down. All talking stopped and silence fell, as they waited expectantly.
“It is just after eight o’clock, so we will make a start.” Cole looked at the audience, and then cleared his throat. “The reason we are here this evening is to discuss the letters that we have all received from Latimer Holdings, offering to buy our land.”
“Somebody has already been buying up worthless land down beyond the creek,” somebody called out. “Why? Who would want to do that? It just doesn’t make any sense.”
“It has to be the Lorimer people,” said Jed Cartwright. “I mean, Latimer, Lorimer, they’re the same aren’t they? It stands to reason.”
“Got to be,” replied the first voice.
“They’re up to something,” a voice from the back called out. “They’re trying to get your land cheap.”
“That’s crazy,” said Henry Raines. “Why would they want your land, or my land? They have more than enough.”
“Besides the offer is a very fair price,” called out Frank Miller. “It’s certainly not cheap.”
Loud murmurings came from the audience, and everyone started to speak at once.
“It’s not Lorimer,” Clancy firmly announced. The audience fell silent once more. “I’ve already checked with them, besides there is Doug Lorimer, sitting right over there.” He pointed to the left side, about half way down the hall. “Ask him yourself.”
Doug Lorimer did not wait to be asked. He stood up, waving a brown envelope above his head. “I can tell you exactly what I told Bill,” he said. “It’s not us. Look we received a letter just the same as the rest of you.” He paused, holding the envelope higher. “You all know me. You’ve known me for a very long time. If I wanted your land, I would come straight out with it. There would be no mystery.” He paused for a moment. “Is that correct,” he called out. There were shouts from the audience, in agreement. “I am as much in the dark as the rest of you. I don’t know who Latimer is, either.”
“Well, I don’t care who they are”, declared Frank Miller, who ran a smallholding at the edge of the valley. “I’m selling, and that’s that. I’ve had enough struggling, and getting nowhere.” He paused for a moment thinking back. He had been in the Valley almost twelve years now. He had never really settled. “The offer is fine with me. In fact it’s more than enough.”
George MacDonald suddenly stood up. “I agree with Frank,” he announced. “The offer is fine as far as I’m concerned. I’m taking the money as well. It will solve all of my problems.”
“Frank, I can understand how you feel,” Clancy said. “But just think for a moment.” He looked round at the others gathered in front of him. “We know nothing about these people. Who they are, and what they are. They don’t even give a proper address, just a Post Box number. And the telephone number is only an answering service. Can you trust them?”
Several in the audience expressed comments agreeing with Clancy. “It’s obviously a scam,” declared Henry Raines. “Well they don’t fool me for a minute.”
“Oh that’s crazy,” Frank Miller responded. “Can you trust them? What kind of a question is that? You don’t have to trust them. You’re not handing anything over. There’s no money being paid over. They haven’t asked for your bank details. They are the ones offering twenty five percent up front to us, as soon as we accept the offer. They are the ones taking the risk.”
“He’s absolutely right,” said Jake Gardener, from the hardware store. “And they say that they will pay all expenses. That sounds pretty fair to me.”
“That’s as maybe,” said Dave Lennon, unconvinced. “But we still don’t know who they are, where they come from, and why do they want our property.”
“Does it matter who they are?” commented George MacDonald. “I just want the money, and I want it quick. It’s more than I could ever imagine. Good enough for me. Who cares why they want the land. It doesn’t bother me one way or the other.”
“I wonder if it is anything to do with that compound up on The Ridges?” Ben Johnson asked suddenly. “I mean, I wonder if there is any connection. It just seems too much of a coincidence to me.”
“Who knows,” replied Frank Miller. “But I understand that they are doing some mighty odd things up there.”
“I heard that too,” said Dave Lennon. “They are conducting experiments of some kind or another. Chemicals or something similar, I understand. If anything gets into our river we’ll know all about it.”
“Well I actually heard that it was the military,” said Jake Gardner. “Some kind of a secret base, testing weapons I heard. No one knows for sure.”
“Well I certainly don’t know,” said George MacDonald. “But just in case there is
something a little odd going on up there, that would be another incentive for me to move out.” He looked at his friends sitting in front of him. “I mean if there is a military base up there, or a chemical plant, or some secret installation that would be another good reason for selling out.”
Clancy continued. “Hold on, everyone, not so fast. If they are offering such sums of money, you can bet that your property is worth a whole lot more to them.” Even Frank Miller could see that he was right. “Why do they want our property so much? I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m not taking the bait. Let’s see what happens.”
“Okay, Bill,” Miller replied. “I’ll go along with you, for the time being, at least.”
“Me too,” said George MacDonald, although a little reluctantly.
“That’s great Frank,” Clancy said. “You’ll see. It’ll be for the best.”
Neither Miller, nor MacDonald was convinced, but they would give Clancy the benefit of the doubt, for a while anyway.
* * *
Exactly seven days later a second letter arrived. The offer had been increased by ten percent. Acceptance was required within fourteen days. “Someone is mighty keen to get hold of our land,” Clancy announced at the dining table. “Why do they need so much? What’s in it for them?”
“Whatever it is,” Nancy said. “We are not selling. Now help me clear up the dinner things.”
That was that solved. No need for great long discussions. Decision made, end of story. He looked at the two children. “Mum knows best.” The children laughed. Clancy stood up. He picked up the dishes, and carried them out to the kitchen, and placed them into the dishwasher.
* * *
George MacDonald wrote back immediately accepting the offer. His neighbors had persuaded him not to accept that first offer. Perhaps they had been right. He wasn’t entirely sure, but not this time. The price had increased by ten percent. He couldn’t afford to turn this one down. He had discussed the matter with his family, and they were fully in agreement. They had actually seen a small cottage that would suit them very well. It was closer to the town, and ideal for their needs. He just wanted to be sure that his animals would be all right. MacDonald readily agreed when Bill Clancy offered to take them. The neighbors would be sorry to see him leave, but wished him and his family well for the future.
Frank Miller also accepted the offer. He had never really been a successful farmer, so he wouldn’t miss it. His wife had always wanted to run a small business. They had decided that they would buy a small shop, in the town, and sell paintings.
* * *
Apart from the MacDonald family, and the Miller family, there were no other acceptances. Despite the sums being offered everyone else preferred to stay put. Weeks passed, and there were no further letters. Normality returned, once again, to Rosemont, and all talk of Latimer Holdings was put to one side, or forgotten completely. Apart from a brief letter of acknowledgement, neither the MacDonald’s, nor the Millers, heard anything further. Perhaps it had been a scam after all, Frank Miller thought. Maybe his friends and neighbors had been right all along. Although, he had to admit that if it had been a scam, Latimer, whoever he was, hadn’t actually gained anything, not so far, at least not as far as he could judge.
He read the acknowledgement letter once more. It was very brief, merely acknowledging receipt of the acceptance letter, and that a further communication would be sent in due course. Once again there was no address, or telephone number on the letter. He placed the letter inside the bureau. As he opened the drawer he saw the brochure detailing the shop they had been interested in. Well, if it’s not to be, it’s not to be. He slowly closed the drawer.
* * *
The normality was not to last and soon the calls began. The first was at the Raines household. Two men arrived late one afternoon. They were authorized to buy his property, there and then. The money was in the car. The two men were quite insistent. The whole transaction could be dealt with without delay. All Henry had to do was to sign a document. Henry took hold of the paper, and glanced at it. As he did so his wife came to the door and took the paper out of Henry’s hand, and returned it to the man standing at the door. “We’re not interested,” she said firmly. “Now please leave, before I call the police.”
The man took the paper, and laughed. The two men turned to return to their car. One man turned around. “You’ll regret this you know.”
The following day Henry Raines was involved in a serious road accident. The car brakes had failed. The car had left the road at speed, and had rolled into a ditch. Raines was still alive but had been badly hurt.
That evening two men turned up at the Raines’ home to offer their sympathy. “I hope nothing else happens to your husband,” said the elder of the two.
“If there is anything we can do,” said the other. “Please, for your own sake, do not hesitate to call.” With that the two men returned to their car, a blue Mercury Marauder, and drove away.
* * *
The blue Mercury turned off of the main road, and onto the dirt track leading down to the farmhouse. Dave Lennon could see it through the window. He knew who it was, and he knew what they wanted. Two men had been there only two days previously. They had offered to buy Dave’s land, at a very fair price. Dave had refused.
“You just think about it,” one of the men had said.
The other standing slightly behind was looking across the yard, at the barn. “Nice looking barn,” he murmured. He turned to his partner. “Don’t you think it’s a nice barn? I’d hate for that to get damaged.” Dave said nothing.
“Nothing’s going to happen to that barn, is it Mr. Lennon?” the second man said.
Dave looked towards the barn, and then back at the man. He suddenly felt very hot.
“You just think about our offer, Mr. Lennon,” the man continued. “We’ll be back in a few days.” He started to walk away, when he suddenly stopped, and turned to face Dave. “My boss doesn’t take no for an answer.” He started to laugh loudly, and quickly walked away. Somehow Dave knew that he wasn’t joking.
* * *
The car slowed down, and stopped a few yards away. The doors opened, and two men got out. They stood for a few moments just looking at the house. Dave Lennon walked to the door, opened it and went out to meet them.
“Well hello Mr. Lennon,” the older man said. “Have you thought about our offer? It’s a very fair one you know.” Lennon stopped. He was unsure, nervous. He suddenly had difficulty breathing. He started to sweat. He felt weak, his legs turned to jelly.
The younger man walked out from the side of the car. “Are you all right Mr. Lennon?” he asked, with mock concern. “You don’t look too good, Mr. Lennon. Can I get you anything?”
The first man then moved closer to Lennon. “Are you going to sell Mr. Lennon?” he asked. “My boss is very interested in buying your land, but he needs to know quite soon.” He started to walk towards Lennon, his colleague following close behind.
“No,” Lennon said quite suddenly. “The farm is not for sale.” He turned, and quickly ran back into the house, closed the door behind him and locked it. The two men were taken completely by surprise. They watched him go. They then got back into their car, and drove off, vowing to return.
* * *
That night Dave Lennon’s barn caught fire, and burned down. Across the road was a blue sedan. Inside two men watched until the fire had taken hold, they then drove away. The fire was apparently due to faulty wiring. A length of defective wiring had been discovered in the vicinity of the fuse box, at the rear of the barn.
“I was a little surprised to find it,” said the fire chief. “But there it was you couldn’t miss it.”
Dave placed the formal report in to a drawer, in his sitting room. In the same drawer was an Invoice, dated two weeks previously, from Dorkin Brothers, Electricians. The barn had just been completely re-wired. The works had not yet been certified. The insurance was not valid, and the damage sustained was not cove
red.
The insurance company had been most sympathetic, but sadly there was nothing they could do. “You should have got the electric installation certified,” the insurance agent had said. “Maybe you could make a claim on Dorkin Brothers.”
Dave knew instinctively that he would get nowhere in that direction. He knew that their work had been faultless.
In the same drawer was an Acceptance form from Latimer Holdings. Dave took the form over to the kitchen table. He sat down and glanced at the document. He then picked up a pen and signed his name at the bottom. He folded the document and placed it inside the envelope. He sealed the envelope, and took it out to the mail box for collection the next day.
* * *
The telephone rang. Clancy answered it on the third ring. It was Alice Johnson. She sounded distraught. “What is it?” Clancy asked. “What’s the trouble?”
“It’s Ben,” she answered almost in a whisper. “He collapsed. They’ve just taken him to the General.”
“Collapsed?” repeated Clancy, as he beckoned to his wife. “What happened?”
“Bill, they said he had a heart attack, brought on by stress,” she stammered. “We had another call, from those Latimer people. They were threatening this time, and Ben got angry, and upset.” She stopped speaking. Clancy could hear her sobbing. “Then he clutched his chest, and just fell to the ground.”
* * *
Chapter 15
Governor Frank Reynolds
Ian Duncan was seated at his desk. In front of him were a number of documents neatly laid out in three rows. He looked from one row to the next. The last row contained three documents. “Only three,” he murmured. “Only three have definitely accepted so far.” He swung round to face the window. “Three,” he repeated angrily.
He stood up, pushing the chair violently backwards behind him. It hit the desk hard, the vibration knocking over a silver picture frame, sending it crashing to the floor. It hit the side of a chair as it fell, the glass shattering into dozens of shards. He stood up and walked around to the front of the desk. He looked down at the frame lying on the carpet. It was covered with broken glass. He bent down and picked up the frame, carefully shaking the loose splinters of glass on to the carpet. As he did so he cut his hand on a large piece of glass that was still attached to the frame. Small droplets of blood started to fall on to the carpet. He took his handkerchief out of his pocket, and wrapped it tightly around the wound. He then carefully placed the frame back on to the desk.