Hearts in the Crosshairs by Susan Page Davis

Author:Susan Page Davis [Davis, Susan Page]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2009-11-13T20:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

Dave arrived at the Blaine House after dinner on Friday evening, almost three hours later than usual. Bob Caruthers met him on the stairs and directed him to the den next to Jillian’s office. Dave stopped in the doorway, surveying Jillian curled up in a recliner. Naomi sat on the sofa with a large bowl of popcorn on her lap. Both were watching television.

“Oh, hello, Dave.” Jillian lowered the footrest of her chair.

“Hello, ladies. Please don’t get up. It wasn’t my intention to interrupt you when you’re getting a little relaxation for a change.”

Jillian shook her head and stood. “I know you’re late because you’re putting in overtime on my case.”

Naomi kept her place on the couch, but smiled a greeting. Jillian led him to the connecting door and into her office. Dave noted that it was the first time he’d seen her in casual attire—black pants and a soft, powder-blue pullover. She looked great. But Dave thought she looked great no matter what she was wearing. He hoped today’s events hadn’t upset her too badly.

They sat down and Jillian gave him a weak smile. “I’m told you’ve questioned the man who made such a ruckus at the hearing this afternoon.”

“Yes. We let him cool his heels for a few hours while we did a detailed background check, and then let him go.”

“Who is he?”

Dave pulled out his pocket notebook. “Nathan Sedge. He’s worked on the Green Party campaign for the last three elections. He’s against oil drilling, wind turbines, river dams for electrical power stations—you name it, he hates it. And nuclear power plants are anathema to this guy.”

“Okay. How does he expect us to heat our homes and get to work? I’m sure he didn’t walk to the hearing this afternoon.”

“I think he wants someone else to bring oil and coal to the Maine-New Hampshire border and sell it to us there without stepping foot over the line. He envisions a pristine Maine in our future.”

Jillian put a hand to her forehead and sighed. “Would you join me for coffee?”

“Absolutely.”

She picked up the phone and spoke into it quietly. As she hung up, her brow creased in thought. “Do you think this man is harmless?”

“I think he intended to call attention to his cause today. In fact, he may even have gone to the hearing intending to get arrested.”

Jillian gazed at him. “Stephanie thought he might have been planted by the anti-oil lobbyists.”

“Sure. Anything’s possible. But you’re not really opposed to his cause. He tried to paint you as an out-and-out industrialist, but you’re not. My opinion is, he just wanted to stir up some media coverage.”

Coffee and dessert arrived. As Beth set out plates of cheesecake, Jillian rose and moved to a chair near the small table.

“I wonder if Naomi would like to join us.”

“I believe she’s retired, ma’am,” Beth said.

Jillian looked at the clock. “It’s later than I thought. After nine already.”

Beth left the room a moment later, and Dave studied Jillian as she poured their coffee.

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