“What?” Shane hissed.
Jack glared at him. “You’re making fucking noises. Stop watching him. Turn around and pay attention, they’re getting ready to discuss the office park.”
Shane looked up at the podium and saw one of the city council members for the zoning committee was up at the front.
“We’re proud to announce that Smith’s Construction will begin work on the new office park next week.” There was some clapping around the room, and Shane got a couple claps on the back from people sitting close by. “This building will house several medical offices, legal offices and various other office spaces for lease. There will be a few eateries on the bottom levels, as well.”
“Like what?” Jim Sr. interrupted.
“Whoever leases the space,” Councilman Thomas responded quickly, then moved on. “Smith Jr. asked that if possible, townsfolk avoid taking Sykes Ave; using Baldwin as an alternative to avoid traffic jams while construction is under way. That’s for your safety and that of his crew. If you have any questions, Smith Jr. and his foreman are here to answer them.
Shane and Jack both stood and waited to see if there would be any questions. One of Jim Sr.’s guys stood on the other side of the room and faced them.
“You have a question, James?” Jack asked.
“Are you guys hiring some temporary crew for the new job?” the slender man asked. He looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him up right where he stood. Asking that question while his current boss was only a few seats away had to be nerve-wracking, but James had a family to take care of and with Jim Sr.’s workload decreasing, he understood where the man was coming from.
“I’ll be damned,” Shane whispered for only Jack to hear. “Tell him come on by.”
“We are James. We could use good, experienced men like yourself,” Jack said in his strong “foreman voice.” “Come on by the office. We’ve posted an ad in the paper for Sunday’s listing, but you can all pass the word around.” They stood for a few more seconds, but when no one else spoke, they sat down, and Councilman Thomas took over the mic.
“Okay folks. Remember the construction zoning and the detour. This concludes the—”
“Well how long are we supposed to use the detour? Some of us have work out of town, and taking Baldwin will take us five minutes out of our way.” Jim Sr. stood with one hand angrily clutching his ball cap.
Councilman Thomas glared right back at him. “Well, hopefully not too long. Knowing Smith Jr., I’m sure the construction will be done quickly and efficiently.” Thomas smirked at a seething Jim Sr., and hit the wood with his gavel.
“This concludes the business of the planning and zoning committee.” Thomas took his seat in one of the chairs behind the podium. Jack smirked at Shane, surely catching the dig at Jim Sr. and his inability to ever finish a job on time.
Representatives of different departments of city hall took their turns at the podium. Some addressed mundane issues that had Shane playing a few rounds of Diner Dash on his cell phone, and some dealt with more interesting topics, like the city’s annual spring jamboree. The high school kids were there to ask if they could put together a committee for the entertainment this year, which was quickly voted on and approved, so long as the high school principal agreed to oversee it.
The mayor finally took to the podium to bring the hour-long meeting to a close. Just when he was about to dismiss them, Mrs. Potts; the sheriff’s wife stood and interrupted his closing remarks.
“Mayor Johnson, I’m sure you’re not going to dismiss these good townspeople without alerting them to the new threat that has come to Henderson.”
The mayor turned to her, his bald spot glistening with sweat as he pulled at his already loose necktie. “I’m not aware of any threat, Mrs. Potts.”
“So your office has not been notified of the newly registered sex offender right here in your own county?”
The room exploded into gasps and harshly whispered chatter. Women clutched at their throats while the men turned and grumbled to whoever was closest to them. One of the seniors of the community stood up, his wife pulling at his jacket. “What the heck is going on, Mayor Johnson?”
“Everyone please settle down. There is no threat in Henderson. I assure you.” The mayor held his hands up in a placating manner, trying to gain back control of the room.
“Well is there a sex offender here or not?” the man asked with more authority in his voice.
The mayor looked like he was ready to run, but luckily Sheriff Potts stood, and approached the podium to take over. The mayor could have kissed him for cutting him off the hook.
“Everyone quiet down so I can speak.” The sheriff’s deep voice cut off the ruckus and everyone quieted down. His hand was in the air waiting for complete silence. Sheriff Potts had gone to school with Shane’s father. He knew the man was honest and fair, so Shane was eager to hear what he had to say.