Where There's Smoke

“Once you’ve had time to think about it, I’m sure all of you will come to the same conclusion. If you don’t, I’ll have to reconsider my own plans.”

“What plans?” one of the board members asked.

“My son Clark loved every day he spent in the Eden Pass school system and often credited it for preparing him for his political career. He would have liked having his name on a school facility. Something like the Clark Tackett the Third Gymnasium. It’s getting to where I’m scared to go to the basketball games anymore, afraid I’ll break my neck climbing into those rickety bleachers. Those computerized scoreboards are nice, too, aren’t they? Wouldn’t it be something if Eden Pass were the first school in the area to have one? We’d put the bigger schools to shame, wouldn’t we?”

Lara lowered her head. In her mind she could hear the tap-tap of a hammer nailing the coffin shut on her proposal.

Jody let their greedy minds devour the bait before continuing. “I was born in Eden Pass. Lived here all my life. Went through twelve grades of public school here, and so did my three children. I’ve always boasted that our school system is one of the best in the state.”

She leaned on the table and thumped it with the knuckles of her blunt, freckled hand. “I’ll change my opinion in a New York minute if you let this woman speak one word under the schoolhouse roof. Why in God’s name would you even consider it, knowing what everybody in the country knows about her? Do you want a woman like her having any influence over your kids?” Her face had turned red. She was laboring to breathe.

“I would rather die than let her lay a hand on me. And I’m not just throwing words around. Ask anybody who was in the Sak’n’Save last Tuesday morning.”

“You’ve made your point, Mrs. Tackett.” Lara was afraid that Jody was building up to another stroke. She didn’t want to be blamed for bringing on the fatal one. “I’m sure everyone here knows that you resented my efforts to save your life. I’m not going to fight you on this because engaging in a contest like that is beneath my dignity. Secondly, I know I can’t win. I don’t have the resources to bribe the school board with new gymnasiums and state-of-the-art scoreboards.”

“Now see here,” the minister blustered, “I resent that implication.”

Lara ignored him. “Primarily, I’m backing down because I’m afraid the fight might kill you.”

Jody focused on her for the first time since entering the room. “Well you’re wrong. I won’t die until I see you on your way out of town. My town. Clark’s town. I won’t rest until you’re gone and the air is fit to breathe again.”

Lara calmly stacked the typed pages of her presentation and zipped them into a black leather portfolio, tucking it and her handbag under her arm. “Thank you, gentlemen, for giving me your attention this morning. Unless I hear from you otherwise, I’ll assume that my proposal was rejected.”

None of them had the guts to look her in the eye. She derived some satisfaction from that as she turned and walked from the room.

Darcy followed her out. Lara didn’t stop until she had reached the main entrance of the building. There, she turned to confront Darcy. “I know why Jody Tackett hates me,” she said. “But why do you? What have I ever done to you?”

“Maybe I just think people ought to stay where they belong. You had no business coming to Eden Pass. You don’t fit in. You never will.”

“What do you care whether I fit in? How am I a threat to you, Mrs. Winston?”

Darcy made a scoffing sound.

“That’s it, I’m sure,” Lara said. “For some unfathomable reason, you regard me as a threat.” Could Darcy’s hatred for her relate to Key Tackett? It was an uncomfortable thought, which she kept at arm’s length. “Believe me, Mrs. Winston, you’ve got nothing that I want.”

Darcy licked her lips like a cat over a bowl of cream. “Not even a daughter?”

Lara reeled, unable to grasp the extent of the other woman’s cruelty. “I didn’t give you enough credit,” Lara said. “You’re not only selfish and spiteful, you’re deadly.”

“Fucking-A, Dr. Mallory. When it comes to getting what I want, I pull no punches. I have absolutely no scruples, and for that reason I’m dangerous. You can pack up that bit of information and take it with you when you leave town.”

Lara shook her head. “I’m not leaving. In spite of what you or Jody Tackett or anybody else says about me, no matter how vicious your threats become, you can’t drive me out.”

Darcy’s lips broke into a beautiful smile. “This is going to be fun.”

Laughing, she turned and retraced her steps to the administrative offices. Her laughter echoed eerily in the cavernous foyer.

Darcy blew her nose into a monogrammed handkerchief. “I can’t stand having you mad at me, Fergus.”

After seeing Jody Tackett home, she returned to her house to find Fergus lying in wait for her. She’d seen him this angry with other people, but never with her. It alarmed her. Fergus was her safety net. He was always there to fall back on if things went wrong.

“Please don’t yell at me anymore,” she begged tremulously.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice.”

Darcy sniffed, then blotted her running mascara. “What I did, I did for you.”

“I fail to see that, Darcy.”