planning board, the landscape department, the streets and sewers commissions, and the tree preservation subcommittee. I have provided everything that is required by all the boards and commissions.”
“And you were given permission to go ahead?”
Armstrong gazed solemnly at the camera. “That’s correct, Jessica. I presented a plan that indicates which trees are to be removed, and the quantity to be replaced after construction is completed to meet the requirements of the city ordinance.”
“How much did you pay under the table for the variance?” shouted Finnigan.
The man with the briefcase stepped forward, but Armstrong blocked him.
“I suspect my lawyer would like to explain the concept of slander, but we all need to act in a spirit of cooperation, not contentiousness. The head of the tree preservation subcommittee reviewed the plan in detail and agreed that I could reduce the canopy by an additional four percent in order to avoid problems that came to light with the grading plan and drainage calculations.”
He went on, but I stopped listening as I spotted a figure standing behind one of the elm trees that ringed the courthouse. “Luanne,” I whispered, elbowing her in the ribs for good measure, “look over there. It’s Skyler’s mother!”
Her face jerked around. “Where?”
I realized the girl must have seen me staring at her, because she had vanished in all of a few seconds. “I’m going to see if I can catch her. Wait here for me.”
I strolled to the corner, hoping I looked nonchalant, then found the place where she’d been. It was hopeless to pursue her; there were stores ringing the square, and the courthouse had an entrance twenty feet away. I could not see myself bursting into every shop, office, and restroom in a three-block radius.
“Did you find her?” Luanne asked as I rejoined her.
I shook my head. “Did I miss anything?”
“A judge is hearing a request for a temporary injunction as we speak, and will rule this afternoon. Shall we go?”
Once Skyler was strapped in the car seat, I said, “Why don’t we pick up some sandwiches and have a picnic at Phase Two? Miss Parchester might like to hear about the press conference.”
Luanne agreed, and Skyler offered no objection. We stopped at one of the sandwich shops on Thurber Street, then made our way through the noon traffic and headed east.
“Why do you think Skyler’s mother was there?” I asked. “She’s likely to have more pressing problems than the deliverance of a stand of trees.”
“Are you sure it was her?”
“I got a good look at her. She’s thin, but her clothes and hair were clean.” I thought for a moment. “If she’d figured out I wasn’t home, and then seen that the Book Depot was closed, she might have taken a chance I was at the courthouse.”
“And wanted to speak to you?”
“Most certainly not that,” I said ruefully. “She bolted like a cat confronted with a hose. If she’d wanted to ask me how Skyler was, all she would have had to do was wait where she was.”
Luanne raised her eyebrows. “So she might be a fugitive?”
“She can’t have done anything more serious than shoplifting or I’d have seen a mention in the local paper. If she’d allowed social services to take Skyler shortly after birth, and subsequently changed her mind and snatched him away from foster care…”
“It must have happened yesterday. Would it be considered kidnapping?”
“I don’t know,” I said, “and I can’t call the department and ask them without tipping my hand. I suppose it would depend on whether or not she signed papers granting custody to the state.” I twisted around to smile at Skyler. “I don’t suppose you’re going to tell us, are you?”
He had fallen asleep. When we arrived at Oakland Heights, I transferred him to the basket while Luanne juggled the sandwiches and cups of iced tea. The curtains were drawn in the Scarpos’ condo, which was of no consequence since Randy had
“And you were given permission to go ahead?”
Armstrong gazed solemnly at the camera. “That’s correct, Jessica. I presented a plan that indicates which trees are to be removed, and the quantity to be replaced after construction is completed to meet the requirements of the city ordinance.”
“How much did you pay under the table for the variance?” shouted Finnigan.
The man with the briefcase stepped forward, but Armstrong blocked him.
“I suspect my lawyer would like to explain the concept of slander, but we all need to act in a spirit of cooperation, not contentiousness. The head of the tree preservation subcommittee reviewed the plan in detail and agreed that I could reduce the canopy by an additional four percent in order to avoid problems that came to light with the grading plan and drainage calculations.”
He went on, but I stopped listening as I spotted a figure standing behind one of the elm trees that ringed the courthouse. “Luanne,” I whispered, elbowing her in the ribs for good measure, “look over there. It’s Skyler’s mother!”
Her face jerked around. “Where?”
I realized the girl must have seen me staring at her, because she had vanished in all of a few seconds. “I’m going to see if I can catch her. Wait here for me.”
I strolled to the corner, hoping I looked nonchalant, then found the place where she’d been. It was hopeless to pursue her; there were stores ringing the square, and the courthouse had an entrance twenty feet away. I could not see myself bursting into every shop, office, and restroom in a three-block radius.
“Did you find her?” Luanne asked as I rejoined her.
I shook my head. “Did I miss anything?”
“A judge is hearing a request for a temporary injunction as we speak, and will rule this afternoon. Shall we go?”
Once Skyler was strapped in the car seat, I said, “Why don’t we pick up some sandwiches and have a picnic at Phase Two? Miss Parchester might like to hear about the press conference.”
Luanne agreed, and Skyler offered no objection. We stopped at one of the sandwich shops on Thurber Street, then made our way through the noon traffic and headed east.
“Why do you think Skyler’s mother was there?” I asked. “She’s likely to have more pressing problems than the deliverance of a stand of trees.”
“Are you sure it was her?”
“I got a good look at her. She’s thin, but her clothes and hair were clean.” I thought for a moment. “If she’d figured out I wasn’t home, and then seen that the Book Depot was closed, she might have taken a chance I was at the courthouse.”
“And wanted to speak to you?”
“Most certainly not that,” I said ruefully. “She bolted like a cat confronted with a hose. If she’d wanted to ask me how Skyler was, all she would have had to do was wait where she was.”
Luanne raised her eyebrows. “So she might be a fugitive?”
“She can’t have done anything more serious than shoplifting or I’d have seen a mention in the local paper. If she’d allowed social services to take Skyler shortly after birth, and subsequently changed her mind and snatched him away from foster care…”
“It must have happened yesterday. Would it be considered kidnapping?”
“I don’t know,” I said, “and I can’t call the department and ask them without tipping my hand. I suppose it would depend on whether or not she signed papers granting custody to the state.” I twisted around to smile at Skyler. “I don’t suppose you’re going to tell us, are you?”
He had fallen asleep. When we arrived at Oakland Heights, I transferred him to the basket while Luanne juggled the sandwiches and cups of iced tea. The curtains were drawn in the Scarpos’ condo, which was of no consequence since Randy had
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