Turn Over

I pointed my car toward City Hall, and parked near the entrance.

I raced up the front steps after looking at my watch. Most of the City Hall staff would still be at lunch.

I retrieved my press pass. “Hi, I’m Sydney Paige with the News & Record. I was wondering if any applications are in for the Beach Combers Cove development.”

The woman behind the reception desk pulled the glasses from her nose. “That’s in the development office. Down the hall on the right.”

“Thank you.” I hurried to the office a few doors down.

I was met by a guy who looked as if he were my age, maybe younger. They apparently staffed City Hall with college interns for the summer. He was typing on his phone.

“Excuse me?”

I startled him. “Oh, hey. Yeah.”

“I’m Sydney Paige with the News & Record.” I showed him my press badge. “Have any applications been submitted for the Beach Combers Cove project?”

He stared at me blankly.

“Don’t the applications come through this office?” I asked impatiently.

“I guess so. I don’t know. They hand me stuff and then I file it.”

I realized I had stumbled upon an unusual opportunity. The development office was empty except for this inexperienced intern.

“Oh, that’s cool. I guess they give you a lot of responsibility.”

He straightened his back slightly. I noticed his polo shirt was wrinkled from his chest to his waist. This kid didn’t take much seriously.

“Yeah, it’s an important gig.”

I peeked over the front of his desk. “Would you mind checking for me then on the applications? It would be really great if you could help me out.”

His desk was littered with stacks of folders and pap

er. I didn’t know if he could find anything there.

He lifted a manila packet on top. “This one just came in.” He handed it to me.

I peeled back the seal. It was all here. The Lachlan Corporation had a completed application to develop Beach Combers Cove. I read through the description of the proposed project. They wanted to build a resort. Impressive.

I pulled my phone out to take a few pictures of the pages so I could read through the details later.

“What’s this for?” the intern asked.

I tucked the papers inside the envelope and placed it back on his desk. “A business article I’m writing.”

“Cool.” He bobbed his head. “I’m Matt.”

“Thanks for your help, Matt.” Finally, I had a story to break for Alice.

The intern reached on the floor and revealed five more packets just like the one I had read. “These came in first, though.”

Shit. So much for the scoop on who had won the auction. Apparently, they all had their proposals submitted in case they won. Or at least they were all as confident as Mason Lachlan that they would outbid the other.

I shuffled through each package, jotting down the relevant information on my pad. I knew most of the names, and there were two I assumed were shell companies. No surprises or breaking news here.

I meekly handed back the last envelop. “Any more?”