Desperate Lovers by Adam Carpenter (good beach reads TXT) 📕

of this man’s evasive behavior. He had come to Wonderland, threatening them, wanting to take away their homes and their lives, and now suddenly he was the victim and showing vulnerability for the first time. Damn if Marc wasn’t going to fall for this act.

“Look, Parker, whatever the gunman wanted, I’m sorry…but you brought it upon yourself. All your threats, your actions at the zoning board meeting. Your insistence that you’re somehow related to the Saunders family and as such are the rightful heir to Eldon Court, you clearly pissed the wrong person off. I don’t really think you’re as evil as you’ve been trying to come across, I think you’re just looking for something…what, acceptance? Admittance into the family whose blood you share? Trouble is, you reap what you sow. Spill it, what information did he want?”

“He demanded to know where old man Saunders is living.”

Marc let out a sharp breath. “Did you tell him?”

“It was that or get shot,” Parker said, and then he finished with:

“And now I’m afraid.”

“Afraid of what?”

“Revenge.”

Marc stole a look around the room, at the bare walls and the empty bureaus, remembering how the house had creaked with age, with neglect. There was an echo of the past in this house, a stench of violent death, of nothingness. No one had lived here since some horrible incident transpired ten years ago, and now the man seemingly responsible for whatever happened was old, withering away, and suddenly in grave danger.

Was he alone in that? Or were all the residents of Eldon Court at risk?

What next?

PART TWO

Hidden Agendas

by Curtis C. Comer 

On his drive from Eldon Court to the town center known as Down Wonder, Edgar Newcastle marveled at the beautiful scenery that surrounded him. There was simply no way in hell that he was giving up this place without a fight. But what could he say to halt Danvers

Converse’s plans? His partner, Jack, ever the health conscious, “green” guy, had long ago eschewed the use of pesticides and industrial cleaners, explaining to his amused partner that there were safer, more natural ways to do things without risking various cancers in the process. Ketchup, for instance, was a safer alternative to brass cleaner; the venerable Coca Cola might taste good but was better for removing rust. Despite his initial skepticism, Edgar finally had to admit to the efficacy of these safe alternatives. Maybe, he thought as he turned off the coastal highway and into Down Wonder, it was a new approach that he needed to take with Converse. There was always an alternative; he just needed to find it.

Jack was waiting for him in front of the Wonderland Municipal

Building. He kissed him on the cheek, and the two men walked into the building. Slowly, their neighbors trickled into the room and took seats.

Edgar turned toward a commotion at the back of the room and spied Danvers Converse entering the room, followed by a younger man that Edgar didn’t recognize. Converse, bald and pale, looked to Edgar like some sort of crazed, gay turtle. After a moment, Parker St. John entered, looking horribly good in jeans and a white shirt. He took a seat with Converse. And then there was Rich; he entered the room and stopped just inside the door.

Minutes were read from the previous meeting and new topics were announced. Edgar recognized LeeAnn Lehman. One of her colleagues was a fellow professor at the college where Edgar taught literature. Edgar hoped that the fact that he was friendly with two of the three committee members would work in favor of the current homeowners. Danvers Converse and his party extolled their proposed project as an economic boon for the area, something that Wonderland would be foolish to pass up.

Speaking for the residents of Eldon Court, Edgar and Jack made the impassioned plea that to accept Converse’s offer would mean not only the loss of their homes—historic homes, Edgar stressed—but also the beginning of the end of the autonomy that Wonderland had always prided itself on.

To the great surprise of everyone in the room, the board ruled in the favor of the Eldon Court residents and the room erupted into chaos.

Once LeeAnn had managed to quiet the room, Edgar felt his heart pound when Parker St. John approached the council members with what he called “information that he had been holding back.” From a tattered envelope, his co-worker produced a copy of the original deed to the land on which Eldon Court sat.

Edgar bristled at this revelation. If he had a copy of the deed then that meant that he had been in contact with George Saunders. Either that, or it was a fake.

Rich, who had remained standing at the back room throughout the proceedings, suddenly confronted Parker, vowing to fight for the rest of Eldon Court.

In the end, with this sudden new information, the council decided to put the matter on hold, pending further investigation. Although their future remained uncertain, Edgar was happy for the temporary reprieve. As the room emptied, he caught Parker St. John by the arm. Startled by the firm grasp, the younger man turned to face a visibly angry Edgar Newcastle.

“Where the hell did you get that?” hissed Edgar, his voice low.

“Edgar,” he replied, showing surprise at the older man’s strength.

“You’re hurting me.”

“You’ve been to see old man Saunders,” said Edgar, relinquishing his grip. “Where is he?”

“I really appreciated your speech,” replied Parker, ignoring

Edgar’s question. “Well done. That’s why we came prepared.”

“Where is George Saunders?” Edgar pressed.

“Why do you want to know?”

“I told you,” Edgar lied, “I’m working on a biography. If I can talk to him, I can finish the manuscript.”

“Or convince him to save Eldon Court.”

“Where is he?” repeated Edgar.

Before Parker could reply, however, Danvers Converse bellowed for him from the door of the chambers, and he scurried to catch up to his master.

Back in his study on Eldon Court, Edgar closed the door and sat down in front of his computer.

A click of his mouse opened the document that he was looking for, his unfinished manuscript regarding corrupt politics in California. Tentatively titled Fools Gold: Political Corruption in San Francisco,