A Climate for Death: A Sam MacDonald Mystery by R. T. Lund

Author:R. T. Lund [Lund, R. T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shovel Point Books, LLC
Published: 2023-12-07T00:00:00+00:00

136

A CLIMATE FOR DEATH

his right hand. “First, since you’re going to be county attorney for everyone in the county, I thought it would be good for a girl from Chicago to mingle with some fine folks you may not see very often.

Second, I thought about taking you to some fancy place in Duluth but figured that might remind you too much of your deceased ex-husband. I mean, RIP Ricky, but tonight’s about us. Third, I just thought it would be something different, something fun.”

Hallie leaned over and was about to kiss the big man when a shouting match broke out at the other end of the bar. Two heavyset men in snowmobile suits were yelling at a man and woman seated in captain’s chairs.

“No copper mining in the BWCA? No fossil fuels in ten years?

Are you fucking nuts, pal? Why not just tell all the workers and families on the Iron Range to pack up their shit and move out now?

Because if we follow your plan, there will be no jobs up here, and the Chinese will be eating our lunch!”

“I know that guy,” said MacDonald, getting out of his chair to make sure the yelling didn’t escalate into something worse. “It’s Mark Petrich.”

Petrich grew up in Eveleth. His dad worked in the mines for forty years. He played high school football against MacDonald in the late 1980s and went on to play backup center for a couple of championship teams at UMD before graduating with a degree in labor relations. He’d been a labor organizer and negotiator with the steelworkers’ union for years. MacDonald had run into him at a few demonstrations against CopperPlus near Isabella, but their interactions had always been cordial.

After riding down the Tomahawk in their sleds, Petrich and one of his union buddies had stopped at the Trestle for a few beers and a burger. He recognized both Alex Jeronimus and Liz Vandenberg sitting next to each other at the bar, trying hard to keep their cool.

The local union was solidly behind the Republican incumbent, and Petrich was determined to keep him in office. But neither the

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candidate nor his rich girlfriend were taking the bait. As MacDonald approached, Petrich’s face was within spitting distance of the former Army officer.

“I suppose you want to take our guns, too. People like you two are ruining the Democratic Party. Before the last election, I never voted Republican. Now rich tree huggers and pussies like you have hijacked my old party.”

Liz turned back to the bar, choosing to ignore the rube. It was clear to MacDonald that Petrich had been drinking heavily on the trail, but he was taken aback by Jeronimus’s response.

“Listen, fellas, I’m sorry that you haven’t accepted the science of climate change and the value of protecting our wilderness areas, but there’s never a good excuse for being rude or using vulgar language.

How about I go outside with you two gentlemen and we can continue this conversation without bothering anyone in this fine establishment.”

Jeronimus stood.

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