“Something to give some direction to my life, and a chance to do something good for the city. At least, I thought I could do something good.” She knew it sounded lame.
“That’s all?”
She nodded.
“Didn’t it occur to you that you’d have to make some concessions?” Had that familiar note of ridicule crept back into his tone?
“I didn’t think of it like that. He told me he’d help me when I needed it. I didn’t know it would be like this.” Why did he insist on viewing her as the villain rather than the victim?
“So you get something to occupy your time for two years at the taxpayers’ expense, and he gets to keep control while he’s waiting to get his office back.” His ability to reduce the matter to its most basic level was not unlike Meg’s, and every bit as infuriating. “Sounds like a damned fine arrangement to me. If you’re Dan Rossi, that is.”
“You make it sound like some shady backroom deal.” What was there about this man that made her feel she needed to defend herself?
“What would you call it?”
“It wasn’t like that. It just sort of … happened,” she said weakly.
He scowled. “That’s what a sixteen-year-old tells her mother when she finds out she’s pregnant.”
“I’m so tired of this,” she said wearily. “Is Dan Rossi really so bad?” Other than the fact that he slept with an underage girl. Athen swept that thought aside. Now was not the time to drop that bombshell.
“Rossi epitomizes the worst in small-town politicians.” The handsome man with the gentle blue eyes who only minutes earlier had seemed to understand the truth of the matter began to fade rapidly before her eyes. In a blink, the master of the cutting remark emerged once again to take his place. “He permitted this city to be robbed of its livelihood, now he holds it hostage while the people get tossed out onto the street. And from where I sit, you’re helping him to do it. You may think you took a stand this morning, but I’m betting that when he catches up with you he’ll manage to turn this around, and you will let him.”
“Malaka,” she muttered in Greek to the wailing storm.
“What’s that mean?”
“It means ‘jerk.’”
“I’ve been called worse.”
“There’s a surprise.”
“So we both agree that I’m not perfect. I’m not the one who’s been running this city into the ground. Woodside Heights has some serious problems and I don’t see where they’ve been addressed. The unemployment and crime issues aside, from what I understand there’s a large minority population in this city that has been virtually ignored for the past eight years.”
“Excuse me, there are two minority representatives on City Council,” she shot back.
“Oh, Christ, Athen, give me a break.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “You mean Riley Fallon and George Konstantos? Fallon is so grateful to Rossi for putting him on Council he’d publicly kiss Dan’s butt and thank him for the opportunity. And Konstantos is so senile he thinks Bush is still in the White House. That would be Bush forty-one.”
“I admit that Rossi has given me more direction than he should. And yes, it’s my own fault for letting him do it. I went along with it and did nothing to find out for myself what was going on. It was easier to just drift along.”
“And now?”
“Now I don’t want to drift anymore.”
“Well, then, maybe Dan will have a change of heart and be really happy that you took the initiative this morning.”
She didn’t answer.
“Sure, I’ll bet once you explain to Dan that what you did today really was best for the citizens of Woodside Heights, he’ll thank you for opening his eyes. I’ll bet you get a big pat on the back for doing the right thing.”
She wanted to slap that mocking half smile from his face. The fact that he was right on target made his derision all the more intolerable.
“Well, I see the rain has slowed down, and since you still have to face the music over your little display of independence this morning, I guess I’d better get you back to your office.” He shifted in his seat and turned the key in the ignition. “My guess is that Dan is trying to track you down right about now for a little heart-to-heart.”
They shared no further conversation, the animosity slipping back around them like a dark cloak. He drove slowly through the water-logged streets. A few minutes later, he turned into the parking lot behind City Hall.
“I wish you luck, Athen. I truly do,” Quentin said as he came to a stop.
“Thanks for the ride.” She could not look at him.
She started to open the door when she felt his hand on hers.
“Athen …”
She turned to him and forced herself to look into his eyes.
“I liked it better when we were friends,” he said very softly.
“So did I.”
She got out of the car and slammed the door.
ATHEN STEPPED INTO THE ELEVATOR, pondering her situation. The smart thing to do would be to go back into the office and call Dan instead of waiting for him to call her. She’d explain to him about Ms. Evelyn coming here. How could she refuse such a small request of an old friend? Maybe Dan just hadn’t had an opportunity to go through the houses with the idea of turning them into a shelter in mind. Maybe she could get him to walk through with her. Maybe Ms. Evelyn would join them, and he could see it through her eyes, as Athen had, and he’d realize what a good thing it would be. Once he saw for himself, wouldn’t he have to come around?
Buoyed by this shred of optimism, she stepped through the opening doors, surprised to find Edie at her desk during the lunch hour. The secretary gestured to Athen’s office, her expression curiously smug.
Puzzled, Athen opened the door. She crossed the carpet, unbuttoning her soggy coat, and then she looked up.
Dan Rossi sat behind her desk, in her chair, reading her mail.
“Ah, there you are.” He pushed back the chair slightly from the desk. “Just glancing over the agenda. Old habits die hard, I guess. Do forgive me.”
He rose and helped her off with her coat. Her instincts told her this was not an act of chivalry on his part, but a means of reminding her whose office this really was. She leaned against the side of the desk, waiting, all of her confidence dissolving in the wake of the chill that went through her.
“Oh, please.” He gestured gallantly to her chair. “Do sit.”
She walked slowly behind the desk, easing herself into the seat, watching his face.
“So, Athen.” He too now sat, directly across from her, his eyes smoldering, his voice taut with control.
She willed herself not to look away.
“What a little newsmaker you turned out to be. You looked wonderful on TV, by the way. The noontime news really did right by you.”
When she failed to respond, he tapped softly on the edge of the desk and said in the calmest of tones, “Would you like to tell me what prompted that little stroll down Fourth Street this morning?”
She fought the feeling of being a child caught in a forbidden deed, but the sinkhole inside her grew. She began to sweat.
“I could not refuse to talk to Ms. Evelyn, Dan.”
“Of course not. Ms. Evelyn is a pillar of the community, a very popular figure. Talking to her is one thing, showing up at that building—having a city police officer break into the house with the TV cameras running for Christ’s sake!—is something entirely different.”
His eyes narrowed. The hound cornered the fox. “Especially after I had expressly instructed you to stay out of that situation.” He paused meaningfully. “I did, did I not, expressly tell you not to become involved with any of this?”
“Yes, you did.”
“You’ve no idea of the trouble you’ve caused me, Athen. Now I will have to find a way to undo this mess you’ve made.”
“Dan, I don’t understand.”
“I believe I told you before that you don’t have to understand,
” he cut her off brusquely. “We’ll just treat this as a little delay, that’s all.”
“Delay?” She was confused. “Delay of what?”
Pointedly ignoring her question, he leaned forward, his eyes boring into hers. “You seem to forget why and how you got to sit at that big desk, young lady. Well, I’m here to remind you. You are there to do exactly what I tell you to do.”
She tried to stare him down even while watching the storm within him rise.
“And what I am telling you to do is to call a press conference on Friday and announce that you are still studying the plan. Put off any further announcements until all the hoopla you’ve stirred up dies down. Then you will announce that the city has declined to release the properties.”
“I won’t do that.”
“… because they are not up to code …”
“Those buildings are in good condition. Granted, they need some updating but …”
“… and are structurally unsound.” He sat back, arms crossed over his large chest.
“I cannot do that. I can’t renege on this, Dan.” Her words were a plea.
“You will do exactly what I tell you do to,” he repeated softly.
“Dan, I’ll look like an idiot … or worse,” she protested.
“You play with fire, you get burned.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “You had no business making any kind of commitment, particularly one that was in direct defiance of my instructions. You have been a terrible disappointment to me, Athen.” He shook his head in feigned sorrow.
Athen thought of the look on Callie’s face as she watched the crowd huddled in the rain on the TV screen and of the look in Ms. Evelyn’s eyes as she walked through the vacant house that morning. Backing down now would be no less than an act of betrayal. Even Quentin’s eyes had held a brief moment of admiration when he realized what she had done. How could she discard the self-respect she’d so recently found?
“I won’t,” she whispered.
“Are you deliberately refusing to obey me? Answer me, Athen. We both need to know where we stand,” he demanded.
“Yes.” She was surprised to find it had been easier than she’d thought.
“You know, of course, that I will go around you. I do not need you. You’ll have to bring this before Council for a vote. It will be defeated four to zero. The whole city will see you for the idealistic fool we both know you to be. So you see, my dear …” He smiled benevolently. “… I hold all the cards.”
All but one.
Mary Jo Dolan. She wanted to throw the name in his face, but her mouth would not cooperate.
“You have, as they say, bitten off more than you can chew.” He rose slowly.
Go on, she told herself. Say it. You have nothing to lose.
“… and I’m afraid you’ll find it infinitely more bitter than you can begin to imagine.”
He headed for the door.
Ma-ry Jo Dolan. It echoed inside her head like thunder.
She sneezed.
“You catching cold? Must have been that little walk in the rain,” he said with amusement. “Do take care of yourself, Athen. We certainly wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”
He walked through the door, closing it behind him quietly.
“Mary Jo Dolan,” she whispered to the empty room just before she sneezed again.
QUENTIN PARKED CLOSE TO THE back of the building that temporarily housed the Woodside Herald and willed the rain to stop. He counted to ten, then made a dash for the door.
It was locked.
Since he was already soaked, he took his time walking around to the side door, which, thankfully, was open. He trudged up the steps to the second floor and, trailing water, went into the coffee room hoping to find a pot already on.
“First break I got all day,” he muttered, seeing the dark liquid dripping down from the filter into the pot. He took off his jacket and tossed it onto the back of a chair.
“Well, don’t we look dapper.” Brenda came into the room looking dry and comfortable. “Or should that be damper. As in damper than anyone else around here. Where’d you park, downtown?”
“I parked out back, expecting the door closest to the parking lot to be unlocked. Silly me.” He found a cup on the counter and washed it out.
“Sorry. I’ll remind the building management people to unlock all the doors at seven.” She poured coffee into the mug she held in her hand. “Or I could give you a key.”
“A key would be good.”
“Maybe you should go home and change out of those wet clothes and come back.”
“I leave a sweatshirt and sweatpants in my office for nights when I want to stop at the gym on my way home. I can wear them until this stuff dries off.” He looked down at his khakis and his jacket. “I’m wet right down to my skin.”
“Suit yourself.” Brenda started out of the room, then stopped and turned. “You missed some good TV.”
“Oh?” He opened the refrigerator in search of half and half.
“Athen Moran had a cop break down a door of one of those houses on Fourth Street that the UCC wants to use for a shelter.” She leaned back against the counter. “She was awesome.”
“I was there.”
“You were?” Brenda’s interest in the story was apparent. “Was she as awesome in person as she was on that tape that the TV stations are showing over and over?”
“Yes. It was pretty cool, watching that door go down.” And pretty cool the way Athen strolled in—and later, out—with her head up.
“I’m guessing you’re here to write the story that will appear on our website by this afternoon? Maybe ratchet it up a little for tomorrow’s print version?”
“That was the idea.”
“Good.” She nodded. “So what do you suppose happened to change the city’s mind about turning over those houses for a shelter?”
“Nothing happened.” He shrugged. “And ‘the city’s’ mind-set hasn’t changed.”
“So what was Athen doing there this morning? What was that all about? Was it all a ruse?” Brenda frowned.
He thought back to the look on Athen’s face while she was confessing that she’d gone rogue on Rossi. There’d been no hint of duplicity, just honest emotion. He regretted having given her such a hard time. In retrospect, he had to acknowledge that she’d seemed to believe every word she said. He wished he hadn’t been so harsh.
“Athen says she wants to give the properties to the UCC. Says she wants the project to go through.”
“‘Athen says’? You got her to talk to you?”
“Yes, but some of it’s off the record.”
She raised an eyebrow and he nodded. “Sorry, but it is.”
Whatever Athen thought of him—what had she called him? Something that meant “jerk” in Greek?—he was a man of his word. As much as he’d enjoy scooping every other news outlet, he would never make public the things she’d admitted to him in the confines of his car that morning. Surely she must have understood that or she never would have let her guard down, even for a moment.
“But you can write about her being sincere in wanting to get the project through, right? That’s news. That’s the only movement out of City Hall since this started.”
“Not that it’ll make any difference in the long run. She’ll never get it through Council, so the whole thing was a circle jerk, as far as I’m concerned.”
“You don’t think she showed up just to make it look as if it might happen, to maybe get people to go home or to stop bugging City Hall?”
“No, I don’t. I think she would like to see the shelter built. I also think she’s thumbed her nose at Dan Rossi but good.”
“So what do you think will happen next?”
“I think Rossi will find a way to make her pay,” Quentin told her. “I think he’ll want to hurt her.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Uh-oh, what?”
“Uh-oh, you’re going to do something, aren’t you? You’re going to try to find a
way to help her.”
“Don’t be silly. What could I do?” He brushed her off. “Even if I wanted to, she wouldn’t accept any help from me. She hates me.”
Brenda laughed and headed for the door. “You keep telling yourself that, bucko. In the meantime, don’t do anything that’s going to make the paper look bad or I’m going to have to pull you off the City Hall beat, you hear me? If you can’t be objective, you’ll compromise the paper, and I can’t have that.”
“I hear you. I’ll keep it objective, I promise.” He crossed his heart with the fingers of one hand. “Anything else, boss?”
“Yes. Make sure the story’s a good one.”
“Don’t worry.” He took a sip of coffee. “It will be.”
14
Can I get you anything else, Mom?” Callie placed a cup of hot tea with honey on Athen’s bedside table.
“No thank you, sweetheart.” Athen’s voice was raspy and several octaves lower than normal. “This is fine. Though you know I don’t like you to be around the stove.”
“I made it in the microwave like Aunt Meg does. One minute on high,” Callie told her proudly. “Is it okay?”
“It’s perfect. Ahhh-choo! Thanks, sweetie.” Athen reached for a tissue and dabbed at her fiery-red nose.
“Boy, you sound awful,” Callie noted. “And you don’t look too good, either. Your eyes are all kind of weepy and your face is blotchy.”
“I get the picture. Thanks for the update.” Athen managed a smile.
“I’m going to finish my homework, but if you need anything, just call me, okay?” Eager to be helpful, Callie straightened the blankets for her mother. “And I’ll bring your aspirin at ten before I go to bed. That’s when you should take them again.”
“You’re an absolute gem, Callie,” Athen told her beaming daughter. “I do not know what I’d ever do without you.”
“I love you, Mom,” Callie said from the doorway, “and I’m really, really proud of you. I didn’t mean what I said the other night, about wishing you weren’t my mother.”
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