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Martin Graham took his seat in the thickly padded desk chair and swiveled around to face Preston. He was an impressive middle-aged man with the charisma of a seasoned politician. Time had been kind to his handsome features and firm body, giving him a look of distinction. Martin’s thick silver eyebrows furled as he scanned the proposed guidelines for tonight’s city council agenda item on property code changes. It was clear from the frown on his face, Graham wasn’t pleased with what he read.
Sitting on a corner of the desk, folding his black leathery wings behind his back, Ciro took his place at the meeting. Red eyes beamed with delight as he watched and listen. His foe Arthur was dealing with a mess one of Ciro’s evil apprentices had caused. The heavenly influence of Adrian was no longer present in the house, which gave Ciro free rein to do as he wished.
Leaning over the massive oak desk, Graham made discouraging moans and hums reading the details. There were some items in the proposed changes that would not suit his benefactor and biggest supporter, Jonas. It also stopped his plans for making money off this deal from under the table with Beckett.
Preston sat across the desk in a winged back chair and sipped his coffee from a fine china cup. He didn’t like the scowling looks Martin was making.
“Is there a problem, Mr. Graham?” Preston sat his cup down and leaned forward. He was hoping not.
“Well... there are some owners who don’t want to sell and under the newly proposed guidelines, I can’t make them. It seems they’re grandfathered in. They’re stopping the ones who want to sell. This just won’t work. We can’t lose that prime location across from the new City Center. Those shitty little stores don’t deserve such luck.”
Preston was on the edge of his chair. “Seriously? I thought you fixed that?”
Martin glared at Preston from under his eyebrows. How dare this stupid kid talk to me like that.
“Are you questioning my part in this matter? Do you think I fucked up? Do you think you know more than me?”
Preston backed down. “No sir, not at all. But you told my father this was a done deal. He’s counting on your influence with the city council.”
Martin’s stern voice fired back at Preston. “It was a done deal! But now, thanks to the fucking historical society butting in, they want to make some old casino bar in the center of the property a landmark Las Vegas site. It seems it’s from the early days of the first casinos. Some radical preacher changed it into a church and half-way house. He’s turned down every offer the city has made. Someone got the historical society involved and now we’re stuck.”
Ciro cringed. “Damn those goody angels! They did that.”
“What’s so special about this parcel of land?” Preston asked. “We have a good share of that corner.”
Martin slammed the papers down on the desk, disgusted at Preston’s naïve words. He had no problem bullying the young man when his father wasn’t around. Martin would never act like this in front of Jonas.
“Didn’t your father explain this to you, sonny boy? You can’t build that condo tower on just the one parcel of land. You gotta have both. I need to find a way to push those businesses out. Then the preacher will be standing alone. He’ll cave in then.”
Preston cowered back into his chair, meekly offering another question. “So, what’s stopping you and city council from just taking it under eminent domain?”
Martin heaved a deep sigh. “Because, just like the other half of this parcel of land, the area has owners, a rundown apartment building and some shitty Ma and Pa stores. The difference this time is they’ve banded together and got themselves some legal aid lawyer to serve the city with an injunction to stop any further harassment.”
“Harassment? That’s ridiculous. Beckett Realty is just trying to negotiate for the city on the best of terms.” Preston defended his father’s business.
Martin’s eyes glared at him. “Well, they say your company has been threatening the owners to sell. Strong-arming and vandalism seem to be the Beckett way of negotiating.”
Preston faked surprise. He knew it was what his father would do if he could not buy people out. “Of course not! We offered a fair market price for those shithole properties, much more than they’re worth. Those people are just surviving on the edge of crime and poverty. It’s a fucking eyesore to the downtown area and the Strip. It needs to go. You’d think they would be grateful to my father and his generous offers.”
Martin chuckled. “Oh, please Preston. It’s me you’re talking to. I’ve known your father since you were in preschool. Jonas Beckett gets what he wants, or else people get hurt. He knows how to rape and pillage like an invading horde. I couldn’t care less. All I want is for it to look legit. Whether it is, ain’t my problem. It’s yours! I do my part and get the land condemned and you buy it from the city for back taxes. The businesses have no choice but to sell. That’s where your real estate company takes over. Everyone gets their cut when your father sells the land to one of his high roller buyers. It’s worked before. I’m not sure why things are so difficult now.”
Ciro frowned. These setbacks had the look of divine intervention. Maybe that’s why Arthur is here.
“Why do we care about a bunch of old stores? Everyone knows nothing ever grows old in this town. We tear it down to build bigger and better,” Preston said, putting in his own opinion, trying to appear shrewd about the process. “All those casinos of the past are gone. Look at this city now. It’s an amazing place because we keep up with the times. People can save history someplace else. That dumpy casino should have been torn down years ago, not made into a freaking church. And no one wants some shelter in their neighborhood. Can’t you get it zoned out of there?”
Ciro was so happy with Preston’s response he could have kissed him. He danced around the desk, laughing and clapping his hands. “Aw, poor little church... too bad, so sad.”
Martin threw his pen across the room in a fit of outrage. “Are you so stupid you can’t see what that would do to me? That’s all I need. My chances to become governor one day would go right down the toilet. I don’t want to be known as the guy who shut down a church and turned homeless veterans out on the street. Give me a fucking break here. I need all the votes I can get.”
Ciro gave Martin a dismissive gesture with his hand. “Seriously, you don’t give a rat’s ass about anyone. You have no conscience otherwise you wouldn’t cheat on your wifey. You tossed your lot in with Jonas and now you must do as he says. Jonas can buy you all the votes you need.”
Preston gritted his teeth at the insult. He wanted so much to punch Martin in the face but didn’t move. Remembering his father’s instruction, Preston tried to assert himself as the one calling all the shots in this deal. He mustered his courage and fired back with words, not punches.
“Mr. Graham, my father can fix that. He can fix anything! Just say the word. You do your part and the Becketts will do the rest. You won’t get your hands dirty. We need you in Carson City as governor. So, just chill out and let us handle things.”
“Damn those lawyers!” Martin shouted and slammed his fist down on the desk. He was so irate he couldn’t sit still. Martin stomped across the room to a decanter of whiskey and poured himself a double shot. Preston followed him with his eyes.
“What lawyers? I don’t understand.”
Martin took a mouthful of whiskey, swallowing hard before answering.
“Let me put it in simple terms for you, sonny boy so even you can understand. Besides the legal aid lawyer, the historical society got involved and filed a joint action suit to keep the city from declaring their dumpy old casino an eyesore. We can’t do a thing until they finish an investigation of the casino-church before designating it as a historical site. If they find in favor of the preacher, that bunch of store owners wins, and we can’t touch them. Once the area has the status of a historical district, the city is bound by strict codes and regulations. If I can’t get that one spot where the church sits, I can’t get the rest of it. Your father can’t buy it and then sell it to DeMarco to build a mega condo tower with the other parcel of the land off limits. Understand now?”
“So, when is this supposed investigation going to happen?” Preston asked. “Can’t we stop it?”
Finishing the drink, Martin sat back down and crossed his arms over his suited chest, ignoring Preston. He needed a plan. Ciro strolled around Martin. He leaned over the chair, put his hand on the human’s shoulder and whispered in his ear.
“Don’t let a few people block you. You rule this town, not those chumps,” the demon encouraged. “Declare the stupid church and shelter condemned before the historical society idiots make their irrevocable decision.” Ciro’s hand balled up into a fist and he shook it at Martin. “It’s you or them. Think of the money you’ll make from the sale. Take what’s yours!”
Ciro’s idea sunk in. Martin’s sneer was almost scary. Preston leaned away from the councilman and melted into the chair as if it would protect him.
“What is it, Mr. Graham?” Preston asked but was afraid to know.
Now sure of what to do, Martin entwined his fingers and sat them on the desk; satisfied it was the right course of action. Ciro was pleased.
“I must get the city to condemn the property for back taxes and hazardous conditions. I bet there are a lot of code violations we could find. That shelter and church using an old casino have got to be breaking all kinds of regulations. Nothing but scumbags go there like druggies and hookers. The owner is some preacher who used to be in the Army. How he ever got the money to buy that old casino is beyond me. Probably stole it. I heard he was a drug addict once.”
“Really? We could use that,” Preston said, smiling too.
Ciro was furious when Hank was able to buy the property for back taxes. It was that insufferable intervention by angels doing their Father’s business again. Curse them! Ciro hated Hank with a passion. A redeemed sinner spreading the gospel of hope and rebirth was Ciro’s worse nightmare.
Martin had another idea. He pointed a demanding finger at Preston, emphasizing his point. “I’ll just bet if you dig into this preacher’s past, you’ll find lots of dirt to blackmail him. I heard he suffers from PTSD; probably not fit to be running anything. Why I wouldn’t be surprised he’s dealing drugs out of there too. You know about those guys who have PTSD. Not all there, crazy; could start shooting up the place. Not to be trusted. I’m sure your father can use that to start all kinds of rumors.”
Feeling good about the plan, Preston crossed one leg over the other and smugly replied. “I’ll have our people check into his past.”
“One thing I know is this preacher is stubborn; won’t sell. He doesn’t care about money. He expressed to city council in no uncertain terms, God wanted him to plant that... what does he call it? Oh, yeah... Church on the Strip, right there. He said an angel told him this is what God wanted. Everyone on the council thought he was nuts, but there was nothing they could do about him or his church and shelter.”
Preston laughed. “So, that’s why he can’t be bought? No shit? That’s crazy! What fool doesn’t like money? Maybe we can get this nutty preacher committed for being insane and talking to... angels! Wow, that’s too much, even for Vegas.”
Pondering another idea, Martin went silent. Preston waited. The new idea wasn’t coming as fast as Ciro wanted. Martin needed some help.
“C’mon, human think! Use that puny brain of yours,” Ciro encouraged Martin. “How do you get rid of that church? Think ruthlessly!”
Martin heard the fallen angel’s suggestion in his mind. He had opened it up to his own selfish desires and evil had moved in. That’s what happens when sin gets a foothold in a person’s heart.
“I could have code enforcement do inspections and serve fines until we break that preacher. The police could conduct raids for drugs and pushers. I’ll bring so much shit down on his head that preacher’s gotta cave. Then once we condemn those stores and that apartment building, the preacher’s done for. He’ll be standing alone; back against the wall. The other businesses and that low-rent apartment building will give in. Jonas can put pressure on that sleazeball who owns it. Then he can swoop in and buy all those properties for a song from the city.”
“No one can make it a historical site if it’s nothing but a pile of rubble once the wrecking ball and bulldozers get to it,” Preston jumped in, almost giggling like a schoolgirl. “It’s like taking candy from a baby.”
Martin leaned back in his chair, satisfied. “True, my boy, so true. Bye, bye casino church and shelter. Hello money-making condo tower.”
Ciro slapped his hand on Martin’s back. He was so proud of his sin slave. Graham felt a twinge as a cold, sick feeling hit his gut. He dismissed it as indigestion.
“I expect your father and his associates to follow up on their agreement and put me in the governor’s mansion. I can do a lot more for you as Governor Graham.” With a flick of his hand nonchalantly, Martin added another condition. “I’ll need a substantial ‘contribution’ to get elected.”
“Sounds good sir. We can do that,” Preston said, smiling. “Where do you get your ideas? This is a brilliant plan.”
Ciro laughed with delight, but no one heard. “From me, stupid human. I swear you tailless monkeys are as dumb as a stump. Where else do brilliant ideas come from? Immortals, of course. We were here before you pathetic worms and this world is ours. My gift of greed is a powerful love potion to those who think only of themselves. How well you accept it without thinking of its consequences.”
Martin grinned, condescendingly mocking the immature young man. “You have much to learn, sonny boy. Now run home and tell your Daddy, I’ve got this. I’ll make a motion tonight to table this proposal until further study can be done. That’ll delay the historical society. It’s a lot of mumbo-jumbo and double talk, but I promise you the rest of the council will go along. I know who’s arm to twist and where the bodies are buried.”
Preston frowned at yet another insult. He knew it would not please his father to know Martin Graham belittled his son. My Dad will know what to do if you fail, Councilman. Then I’ll have the last laugh while I watch you squirm. You aren’t the first big shot who thought he could outsmart my father.
Ciro chuckled again. He loved it when humans deceived and plotted against each other. Greed can do that to them. “Nice going, Preston. You will be mine soon, just like your father.”