Deadly Restoration - A Douglas Lake Mystery by Dr. Eric M. Howe

Author:Dr. Eric M. Howe [Howe, Dr. Eric M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

The group waited uneasily as Charles finished speaking privately with a woman seated next to him. Heather recognized her as one of the Alliance administrators who had attended Sondra’s project update over a week ago, and unlike the confident persona she displayed then, her face now bore an expression of deep concern. Even Charles, who most regarded affectionately as a laid back leftover hippie, looked uncharacteristically distraught. Strands of silver hair had escaped his ponytail and hung in disorderly strands across his neck. He nodded gravely and then motioned to the back of the room, where Officer Bennett waited impassively near the main entry door.

The assembly watched stoically as Officer Bennett pushed the door slowly shut, turned and then walked up the side aisle to the front table.

“Right then,” said Charles, which several in the audience would otherwise have found amusing under different circumstances, as he was well known to begin his lectures and meetings with this simple greeting. “Look, I know calling a sudden meeting like this is most unusual, and I apologize for it.” He paused and slowly scanned his colleagues’ faces, before turning his eyes to the entry door. As he did so, Heather took a quick inventory of those seated in the room, and her eyes found Rick’s face staring back at her from across the row. She mouthed silently, “Where’s Peter?” receiving nothing more than a returned shrug.

Charles’ delay was interrupted as Abigail stopped beside him, clearly implying that he was to relinquish control.

“The thing is,” he continued, “we have a situation here which requires Officer Bennett’s presence, and I think it’s best now for me to turn things over to her so she can give you an update on how the County wishes to proceed.”

Again, Heather glanced at Rick and saw the same confusion as her own mirrored on his face.

“Thank you, Dr. Henderson,” Abigail began, nodding to him in a way that suggested he take a seat next to Caroline Cox. She then looked directly at Peg, who sat off to the side. “Were you able to contact everyone?”

If Peg was intimidated by the official circumstances, it didn’t show. She did a quick scan about the room to make sure someone hadn’t slipped in unnoticed, pausing as she spied Peter’s graduate student near the back. “Wasn’t able to locate Professor Cummings, but I suspect he may be out on the branch. Is that right, Elise?”

The young woman twitched as though she’d been given an electric jolt. “Um, yes. I think Peter … I mean Professor Cummings was going to be out on the river for the better part of the afternoon.”

Peg’s eyes narrowed slightly as if she was weighing the response, then she turned to face Abigail. “There’s almost zero cell reception south of Robinson Road, where Professor Cummings’ main site is located by the river. If he’s there, and I bet he is, it’s a dead zone.”

Rick saw Charles noticeably wince at her choice of words.

“Ok,” Abigail continued. “Anyone else?”

“Couple of doc assistants and our maintenance staff.

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