Consequences Pt. 13B

She ignored him and, getting nowhere with that angle, her next question was "So why the selection of the students concerned?" and David explained; then wound up saying he had an overdue appointment.

She seemed to think she had entitlement to his time and tried to put in another question but Nina stepped in to relieve him and indicated for him to leave.

"Surely, your man would want the best of publicity?" suggested Emma.

Nina shrugged her shoulders, "he doesn't have any involvement in this body matter so I think you might have done rather well from him."

"Doesn't he like to build up a good reputation?"

"You don't think the things he described are worthy of a good reputation?"

"Is that why he does it?"

"Did you know anything about it before today?"

Emma shook her head.

Then it's obvious that he isn't concerned with reputation, I am afraid he is well past that stage."

"Are you telling me he is impervious to public opinion?"

"What you mean is that he can't be manipulated by the press."

"Touché" said Emma

Nina decided to try and divert the reporter suggesting they get a coffee. Emma agreed thinking there had to be an angle she could work with Nina, although not sure what. Nina had decided to work the airfield/golf course plan to their favour and shortly she received a message from David.

"Is he checking up on you?" asked Emma suspiciously.

"Just making sure I'm ok?"

"Doesn't trust you?"

"No, more likely you!" Nina gave an accompanying laugh.

David had headed for a side door and made his way to the car but Nina didn't follow. He waited for five or more minutes and then a message arrived advising that she was tied up with the reporter and she would catch up later. David thought he needed to organise some support and he texted asking where she would be. So with location in hand he contacted Jill and Olivia who were in the city office, explained the situation, and asked them to move into the place Nina was going and keep a distant eye. Always open to a new adventure they didn't need persuading, seemingly out of the door before disconnecting. He headed to the office to catch up on the latest situation from the University. He found himself talking with Mr Carlson who was essentially asking David for support in Epping, he wasn't opposed to the idea except for the delay to existing work. He also thought he needed a team with him, ideally those who worked out the deal, but he would have to discuss with them, particularly Sophia.

He asked Mr Carlson if it would be possible to meet Janine, their sponsored student, and he made promises to arrange it, then he asked for more background on her, as previously he had accepted Carlson's recommendation and Erika's approval. All he knew was that she is a mature student, used up all her savings from previous working years and that her parents had promised to provide support but the father had found himself out of work; she had been working evenings and weekends with a detrimental effect on her studies. David liked the sound of her determination and decided there and then to make the trip if the plane was available, even if he had to go alone.

In the circumstances, the only person he could convince to come at short notice was Jane. "If someone suitable would stand in for me," she insisted. Beth came to the rescue and David ignored Jane's worries and dragged her away, taking off late in the evening and tumbling onto the bed. David, in one of his more thoughtful moods beforehand, asked Honor to get champagne, flowers, and something special to eat, to make the trip special for Jane; they didn't rise until late.

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Janine very much reminded him of Sandra Bullock to look at, but when they met her she was dressed in camouflage style trousers and top which presumably she wore to give some kind of impression but he wasn't sure what. He looked at Jane for reaction but none came. Erika was there too and both embraced her strongly which produced an uncertain look from Janine, this time Jane did raise an eyebrow to him. They had met at the hotel and together went in for breakfast, Janine and Erika described how the deluge of Press and Police was preventing them from getting on with their work. Evidently the body had been taken away and the 'grave' surrounded by police crime scene tape, however the police were blocking the entrance to the entire site which together with press surrounding the area made life for the students impossible.

"Supposing we were to move to a different part of the site and had an alternative access?" asked David. Both women looked interested, so David pulled out his confidentiality papers and his employment documentation. He had worked out a form of contract for Janine that he had quickly worked up with Sophia's help when the idea was first proposed. He wasn't worried about Erika, for him she was family so didn't need a contract; she was looking at him questioningly at that moment so he gestured to her to speak privately in a moment. First of all Janine's questions had to be answered so he asked Jane to go over it with her while he and Erika talked.

When they returned to the table, Erika was looking very pleased at being considered part of his family therefore a contract was unnecessary, but he had explained that for her peace of mind he wanted to set up a trust to ensure the support kept coming even if anything should happen to him. Meanwhile, Janine's demeanour had taken a change, and she was actually smiling. Jane took up the conversation; I've been over the Retreat aims with her and the reason why total confidentiality is necessary. Evidently, the lawyers drew up a more general confidentiality agreement that all the students signed so as she will be an employee from now on she will need to sign the sponsorship and employment contract. David expected a reaction from Janine at that but obviously Jane had done the groundwork and she signed with a flourish. While she was at it David passed Erika her documents prepared by Sophia to sign when she was ready, she didn't wait, just signed, and gave them back with a silently mouthed, "Thank you" and a kiss on the cheek; fortunately Janine didn't see the the longer kiss he got later.

All done, David put forward the suggestion that the Students access via the northern land and begin work designing the bridge and access road to the airfield, then the golf course buildings and a small but imposing hotel with scope for extension. Both Janine and Erika now knew the site well and put forward some pitfalls that had to be worked through but by lunchtime they were ready with an outline plan, with David's assent, to submit to the University and the Mayor. Four hours later, they hoped they had ironed out all the wrinkles, but who should turn up but the nosey reporter with Nina.

Nina gave him a wink as they approached them at the hotel, which he thought could mean anything. "Well this is a surprise!" he tried his best to sound pleased to see them.

"Come to sign on at University Miss Hardwick?" he teased.

"I am just as surprised to see you here Mr Thurlow," she snapped back bold as brass.

"Trying to resolve the problems your colleagues are creating that are preventing the students from finishing their studies," he matched her.

She raised an eyebrow as if she didn't quite believe him, "I hope you have been successful."

"Well, let me introduce you to two of the University's finest students" and he turned to each giving their name. "We are collaborating with the Mayor and University today to establish a means by which we can carry on without interfering with the Police investigation."

"I'll just bet you have!" she retorted.

"Now what could you possibly mean by that?" he asked in as pleasant a voice as he could muster.

"Well I'm sure you're leaching money like a sieve with every passing hour" she surmised.

David thought for a moment before saying, "As it happens we aren't losing anything except the time of our staff and volunteers" he said, then could have bit his tongue off realising what he had just said. As always, she was on the ball, catching every word that escaped his lips. "Volunteers??" she almost shouted. There was nothing for it, he reached into his case and brought out a set of confidentiality papers. "If you wish to talk to me any further I am afraid you will have to sign these" he said passing them to her.

"That's no good," she all but squealed, "how can a reporter sign such documents."

"A reporter who doesn't want to see harm come to people might." Now she was intrigued, thinking fast she asked."If I sign this will it prevent me reporting on the development that the body is part of?"

"Strictly speaking no," David replied. "When you have signed the documents you will understand what is ok to report on and what is not. If you don't sign we will say goodbye and that will be that."

She was annoyed and intrigued, having a belief that being a celebrity reporter gives you the right to know everyone's business made her baulk at the idea. But she also knew that he could easily bring a court injunction against her TV Station, because she had no real grounds to question him. However, she really was intrigued; she could smell a story here.

She decided to go for it and signed with an irritable flourish but then what they told her made her regret signing because while there was no way she would want to jeopardise the Retreat program, what she'd signed prevented her from reporting on any of his business. Emma decided she wanted to follow this further if only to satisfy her own curiosity. She had a few days owing to her but decided initially to ask her station to allow her some more time to investigate the body, saying that she had a possible lead. There was also a human interest story about the two women, one given a second chance and the other a last minute reprieve. There was the body and the University's modern approach by allowing students to be proactively involved in a major development. Finally she thought there was a story about how the Council had seized upon the opportunity to provide an opportunity for their town to grow. Unfortunately most of the stories had an upbeat feel which went against her norm of running down the bad guys.

Later that day David had a meeting with the Tutor and students, the Tutor had asked David to give a talk on his vision for the site and what he was hoping the students might achieve. David talked about staying with the local style but in a grander design, calling notice to the bridge as the gateway to the runway/golf/hotel development and as a reflection of the style they would use for the site where the police were currently entrenched. He talked about how they had designed the Baltimore development to create a grand vista that opened up as the access road approached. Then moving on he talked about the way he envisaged the restaurant would embody the view of the river giving the students freedom to use their imagination to create a romantic setting for a meal. Then moving on he threw the floor open for ideas of how they might create the right environment for an artisans market and bijou shops, something that had enough flexibility to host specialist markets that would draw people from far and wide. Finally he discussed the environment and his perceived responsibility to the natural world.

David left the meeting slightly embarrassed by a stirring round of applause and a sense that these young people would throw themselves into the project wholeheartedly. The Tutor talked afterwards about breaking the students into teams who would focus on elements then privately critique the other designs. Certain elements were identified as items to be used for their individual course requirements but all had to prepare overall scheme proposals, including materials, sourcing, calculations, indicative drawings, and plans. It was probably the most complex project the University had ever undertaken and the Tutor beamed with pride. Lectures were to be programmed accordingly.

Emma had found her way to the auditorium where David was talking to the students and listened secretly. As she watched the slightly embarrassed man leave, she felt something like a respect for him that didn't fit with her self assessment as a reporter. She wasn't supposed to admire someone who was her target and she slipped away most disgruntled although now better understanding what the project was all about. What she couldn't understand was how anyone could afford to let a bunch of students onto a commercial project and suffer the delay that came with it.

Back at the hotel David sought out Emma's advice on how she judged what more the press wanted from him before he moved on to his next task. Again taken aback, Emma suggested that he and the two sponsored ladies hold a press conference perhaps with the Tutor involved. David spoke to the two women and they both found the prospect frightening, which was understandable. He decided therefore to discuss it with Mr Carlson and together they resolved that he and David would hold the conference, introduce the students but try to avoid involving them directly. It was hoped that public interest might prompt the authorities to let them get on with their project.

As it happened, their worst fears did not materialise, being a subsidiary interest to the main press interest. The big guns weren't really interested outside of 'the body' and questions were mainly from the local press who were more helpful to getting the process back on track and although the students were pulled into the questioning it was less vindictive than might have been expected. David's aim had been to try and garner public support to alleviate the students frustrations and only time would tell but he moved on to the next task feeling he had done all he could.

Nina had stuck with them, quietly observing, learning as much as she could about the whole publicity process as possible, and at David's request she was watching Emma like a hawk. Up until now Nina had not paid a great deal of attention to how one of their developments grew from start to finish, concentrating primarily on services to the customers and clients, but watching this now was filling in her gaps in a thoroughly interesting way.

The next visit was to the Agents who had brought the land to their attention and the question was 'does he discard Emma now or bring her into the mystery?' He, Jane, and Nina discussed it at length and decided to run with Emma for a while longer, otherwise she would just do her own thing and make trouble regardless. David rang the Agents, they were aware of the body being found but hadn't put two and two together. As a result they became more agitated from their usual laid back approach to the land and promised to have all the papers ready when he arrived. It took them a little over an hour by car to reach the Agents in Boston and upon arrival found themselves being treated far more cordially than the brief, careless attitude previous communications had been; although he noticed that the firm's partners hadn't thought the matter important enough for their personal attention. When David introduced Emma he thought the agent, Jenny, looked sick with excitement and he concluded that very little excitement usually occurred in this woman's life. Seated around a conference table, they heard the story and received apologies for previous lackadaisical approach to the matter. Evidently the firm had been looking after the land for many years and always considered it worthless to the client since he or she paid no interest whatsoever, merely paying their fee and outgoings during the course of each year. The apology came because the responsibility was passed to an inexperienced junior member who knew little other than to photocopy documents and post them.

The full documents to both parts of the land in Epping were handed over together with any background information they had found. The land had been in their hands for more than 30 years and it was obvious that most records had been in an archive for a long time. As they poured over the pages, Jane pulled one particular item out and asked, "What is this?"

The agent looked at the paper and blushed. "That will be another of the parcels, " she looked closer, "Yes this one is in Blackstone Valley, right on the edge of the National Park if I'm not mistaken.

Jane pulled out her laptop and began researching then let out a long breath and said quietly "David I think you should see this". It took him but a moment before turning to Jenny, "Can you arrange for us to see this land?" She smiled, "Of course, I would be glad to accompany you.

Nina recognised that David and Jane were excited by what they had seen and took a look, she let out a breath too as she viewed the scenery, meanwhile Emma was taking it all in and sensing some of the joy of discovery that the others were feeling. Emma asked if she might help and upon receiving agreement began joining the others going through the mass of documents that had begun coming in from the firm's archives. There was silence then for a while except for the turning of paper, occasionally someone would draw something to David's attention but otherwise they became lost in reading. Then somewhere in the pile of dusty documents Emma found a schedule and let out a loud "Eureka" and began to describe what she had found. From what she could see on that list there were some 7 separate large parcels of land dotted around the New England states as far west as New York State and out to the Atlantic coast.

She showed the list to the others and then the Agent, who smiled as if a long forgotten recognition and remembrance. "I think that's it but I don't think we should stop there."

"What's the Client's name?" asked David."

There was a ruffling of papers as everyone searched and eventually someone found 'NDP holdings.'

There was silence while everyone thought then David muttered "I bet that's that crazy old man's idea."

"Who, your Grandfather?"

"Who else would call his worthless holdings NDP."

"NDP?"

"No development potential!" I would imagine. "Seems like he was wrong, but it's about time he did something right by his family even if he wouldn't think of it."

Some in the room knew a little, mainly Jane but everyone else looked perplexed and he saw their questioning faces. "Well I guess there's no harm in telling you, but Jenny you will have to sign a non disclosure document for any sensitive matters that may arise."

So that formality gone through, he retold the story about how his family were early settlers and had settled a large area of land that they then rented to later settlers who established a town. Subsequent inheritors were unable to sell the lands but did benefit from the rents. His Grandfather was never satisfied with it and tried any number of bad deals that according to his Grandmother always failed spectacularly, as a result his own father never derived any benefit from his grandfather who set him loose with nothing.

"But" said Emma "your family is very prosperous, I've done my research, your father is one of the most respected men in Baltimore."

"That he is, but it is all his own doing and has taken a lifetime to achieve. Him and Mum were relatively poor when they put me through University and I owe them everything," he finished emotionally.

The group sat silently for a while digesting the implications of what he had said and the land holdings before him. Then David broke the silence, "Shall we pack this lot up for now and go see that land, might be a wild goose chase but the views could be worth it." They squashed into the hire car, and headed out, David driving with Jenny in front giving directions.

As they drove, David began to realise that the woman beside him had a sharp mind and he wondered why she was still just a clerk, a little gentle probing discovered that she hadn't had a chance of University as her Mum was an invalid and it had fallen to her to care for her; Mum had passed away but she had gotten stuck in the life she had. Sneaking occasional looks at her, he didn't think she was an unattractive woman, but obviously didn't bother to project herself. 'She needs some time in Baltimore Retreat,' he thought and then decided he would do his best to get her there for no apparent reason whatsoever.