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After a moment, Ed gave a grudging nod. Then one corner of his mouth lifted into the first smile he’d shown Matt for a good long while. “Deal.”
On his way into town, Matt thought about the inspector. The code violations that he knew didn’t exist. He remembered the one time he’d gone into Robert’s room at the hospital with Jolie. The man’s mouth had curled with disdain at her introduction, and then he’d turned his head away without a word.
“Please forgive him,” she’d said later. “He hates being in the hospital and is absolutely impossible with everyone.” But there had been something deeper, more personal in the old man’s eyes.
“No one dares cross Robert Maxwell,” Ed had said last March. And Matt had overheard other stories shared betweenthe old-timers sipping coffee at Grizzly’s. Maxwell used his power and connections without hesitation, in whatever way best suited his own best interests. But why would he care about Dawson Brothers Construction?
As Matt pulled up to the county courthouse, the rest of Ed’s warning came back to him.“Stay clear of his daughter.”
And suddenly everything fell into place.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
MATT TRIED CALLINGthe county building inspector’s office from his cell phone before going up. First the secretary offered to connect him, then she abruptly said the man wasn’t in.
Phil Nelson might not have been answering his phone, but he certainly was there—and he was clearly startled at seeing Matt walk in the door a few minutes later.
The man’s wary expression only confirmed Matt’s suspicions. “We need to talk about problems with my inspections and building permits,” Matt said evenly, baring his teeth in what he hoped would pass for a smile.
“And you are?”
“Matt Dawson.”As if he didn’t know.
They’d met a number of times already over remodeling projects and the plans for the Fosters’ home that was to be started in June.
Phil gestured toward the chairs flanking the front door, past the secretary’s desk. “Have a seat. I’ll be with you in a while.”
“A while” stretched into a half hour.
The secretary smiled at him every now and then. “It can’t be much longer,” she reassured him. “Would you like some coffee?”
“No, thanks.” Giving her his most winning smile, he skirted her desk and strode down the hall.
“Wait! You can’t go in—he’s busy with ameeting.”
“I should be busy, too,” Matt muttered to himself. “Instead of wasting time here.”
The lights were off in Phil’s office, the door shut. Matt retraced his steps, casually glancing in the other offices. No sign of him.
His anger rising, Matt strode out to the front office. “Do you know when he left?”
“Left?” The young secretary appeared confused. “He’s in his office.”
“No, he’s not. Tell him I’ll be back. It’s important.”
“Yes, sir!”
Matt took the main stairs down, taking two steps at a time. At the first floor, a sixth sense made him turn away from the entrance and head down the hallway leading to the back staircase.
And sure enough, he managed to run into Phil. “Leaving?” he asked softly.
Short, with a gleaming bald spot at the top of his head, Phil looked about as dangerous as Santa Claus, yet he had the power to destroy Matt’s career in Garrett Bluff. “No—not at all. In just a few minutes, I’m due at a meeting with the county attorney.”
“You told me to wait upstairs. You implied that you’d be available.”
“If you’d like to wait...”
“Maybe I should drop by your house this evening?”
