“That snake,” Bunce hissed. His pasty complexion had turned purple. “Darrell’s only trying to force a sale at the lowest price, so he can snap up the property himself. If it weren’t for Mr. and Mrs. Oriel, who are signing the papers in a few days, Darrell would sink his teeth into it.”
“But a week ago, before the Oriels showed up, you were going to sell to Darrell,” Kris said.
“I’d rather the ceiling collapsed on me than sell to that viper.”
Having seen the state of the bookstore, Alice wondered whether Bunce meant that literally. “What does all this mean? What will happen to the bookstore?”
“Don’t worry,” Kris said. “The Oriels will do a great job of running the bookstore.”
“Better than Darrell Townsend,” Becca agreed, and Alice was surprised to see her screw up her nose, as if she smelled something nasty. Apparently not everyone loved Darrell Townsend.
“What is this visionary plan he has for Blithedale?” Alice asked. “What would he do if he got the bookstore?”
“Knock it down and build a parking lot,” Becca said. “Blithedale doesn’t even need a parking lot, but it’s all part of Darrell’s vision. First the parking lot. Then the strip malls, fast food restaurants, and big box stores.”
“Build a parking lot? But can he even do that?”
“He already got permission from Mayor MacDonald.” Becca leaned closer to Alice, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Some of us suspect the mayor’s been promised exclusivity on the properties Darrell plans to build and sell.”
“Those are rumors,” Kris said, but her protest sounded weak, and when Alice looked at her, she stared down at her cup of coffee.
“Listen up,” someone called out from across the diner. It was Todd Townsend, getting everyone’s attention.
Alice leaned out of the booth. Down at the end of the counter, Darrell and Todd Townsend stood on either side of Chief Jimbo. Darrell slapped Jimbo on the back and grinned. Jimbo nodded eagerly, and Alice couldn’t help but think of a puppy wagging its tail. Even at this distance, she could hear Darrell say, “Go ahead, Jimbo, tell them.”
Chief Jimbo slipped off his stool. Holding his police chief manual in his hands, wringing the paperback nervously, he spoke. Only his voice was so low, Alice couldn’t hear a word.
“Speak up, Jimbo,” one of the men at the counter said. “You can do it, buddy.”
A smile on Chief Jimbo’s face flickered and faltered, and he tugged at the collar of his shirt.
“As I was saying…”
He cleared his throat. Todd Townsend gave him a shove, which sent him stumbling forward. A few people chuckled.
“Clumsy me,” Chief Jimbo said, and then pretended to stumble again. That got a laugh from a few people, which seemed to give him confidence.
My God, Alice thought. He’s the class clown.
A range of emotions ran through her: horror, frustration, but also deep sympathy for a man who was clearly not the master of his own destiny.
“I, uh. I want to make an announcement,” Chief Jimbo said. “Pending the investigation into Blithedale Books, uh—” He glanced back at Darrell, who gave him a nod. “—and its safety and structural integrity—” Checking with Darrell again. “—the bookstore will be closed to the public.”
Alice gasped. It was as if someone had punched her in the gut.
“No, he can’t,” she said.
Becca sighed and shook her head. “He just did. He just did.”