Page 13 of Dragon’s Golden Mate (Shifter Nation: Enchanted Over Forty #2)
Cassandra waved her hand dismissively. “It would’ve been nice if I didn’t have to deal with them, but some things can’t be avoided.
At any rate, I’m only waiting for one more permit from the city that’s going to come through any minute.
The historical society will just have to clear out of the way. ”
Kendrick looked over as two more people joined the gathering crowd. They’d brought a cooler full of cold sodas and a bag of sandwiches. They wouldn’t be going anywhere anytime soon, and he doubted a slip of paper from the city would change that.
The historical society was the least of his concerns. “Why do you have the demolition crew here already? When you and I spoke, you wanted to make sure you had a logical argument for tearing the place down.” He thought he had more time.
“That was before that little earthquake. Can you believe that? Wild stuff. Anyway, the damage in there is much worse. I took a few photos of some things I found, like some cracks in the foundation. It’s enough that no one will question my decision in the long run.”
“I really think you ought to reconsider.” There was a lot Kendrick didn’t understand about the building, but he wanted the chance to find out.
“Even if you spend money on repairs, you’d spend less than if you built something new.
Building materials have gone up steeply, but the skill of builders themselves has only dropped.
You could have a quality, one-of-a-kind building or a shoddy one that looks like everything else. ”
“I appreciate that you have an affinity for the architecture, Mr. Alexander, but there’s really no point in you, the historical society, or anyone else arguing about it. Deegan Enterprises owns the land, and that’s where the decision lies.”
He bit his lower lip and let out a breath.
His eyes lifted to the steeple, and he froze.
The lionesque gargoyle had been right there at the edge of the castellated parapet just below the spire, but it was gone.
The ones inside had moved, coming after him and Maeve, but he hadn’t seen that one.
Where was it now? For that matter, where were the others?
Had they gone back to their original positions once the coast was clear?
“I’d appreciate it if you’d let me take one last look through the building,” he said quickly, not concerned about the danger. He had to know. He had to understand. “I understand that I can’t sway you, but it’s not every day that you get to see a place like this.”
Cassandra shook her head firmly. “It isn’t safe, not even for an expert like you.”
He would’ve said the same thing in her place. He’d already tried when he’d asked Maeve to stay back. It’s just that it didn’t work on her. “I understand. Since you did pay my consultation fee, maybe I can talk with the historical society for you.”
“Have at it.” She waved her hand at them. “They’ll have to leave eventually. If you can persuade them so I don’t have to call the police, then that’s all the better.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” He hurried to the crowd in front of the church, making a beeline for Lucille.
“Hey, now.” A scrawny man of about fifty stepped in front of him. “This is a peaceful demonstration. We’re not breaking any laws, and you can’t kick us off this property.”
“It’s all right, James.” Lucille stepped up next to the skinny man. “I know him.”
James gave Kendrick a doubtful look. “But he was talking to her.”
“Think of him as a double agent.” Lucille gestured with her head and brought Kendrick over by the cooler. “Soda? Bottled water? Bologna sandwich?”
“No, thank you. Why did he refer to Cassandra Deegan that way?”
“She’s the enemy,” Lucille said with a casual shrug. “She wants to destroy something old, and she’s not giving people a chance to make any grievances or even to say goodbye to the place.”
Kendrick understood what she meant, but something told him there was more to it than that. “How long do you think you can hold her off?”
At this, Lucille’s typical carefree attitude faltered a little. “We’re going to do our best, of course, but I can’t say. If she actually gets her last permit from the city, our hands might be tied. Or else cuffed, if she follows through on her threat with the police.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Did Maeve tell you what we found here? Or I should say who?”
She gave him a grave look. “She did.”
“The one that used to be on the roof is gone. That concerns me. What’s going to happen when that excavator starts tearing this place down?
” Kendrick didn’t know if the gargoyles would come flying out to protect their property.
Just as important was why they were guarding the building in the first place.
What might be lost if the church was razed?
“I don’t know. Hopefully we can keep Deegan Enterprises tangled up in enough red tape to hold things off for a bit. We’ve got a guy who knows quite a bit about how to get all the right paperwork done. He’s at city hall right now filing for a demolition review.”
“Good,” Kendrick said with a nod. “In the meantime, I’ll try to think of something.”
“Check in with Maeve,” Lucille suggested. “She was looking through some more information that might be helpful.”
Was that a flicker of mischief in her eye?
It didn’t matter. Whatever he felt for Maeve, whatever his dragon wanted, Kendrick knew what was right.
He needed Maeve and her other coven members to help him figure out the problem of this church, but when they were done he wouldn’t have an excuse to speak to her any longer.
“All right,” he said gruffly. Kendrick bobbed his head toward the demolition crew. “And what about these guys? Are you and your friends going to be safe from them?”
“Are you kidding me?” Lucille laughed. “We go way back, and some of us are good friends! That’s Marshall there on the excavator. The Martinez brothers are on the bulldozers. They’re happy when we show up, because they get paid no matter what!”
Kendrick managed to slip away from the building without having to talk to Cassandra again. He walked back home, once again with more questions than answers.