Thaddeus continued, every eye in the council chamber riveted to his. “You should know that this current proposal fails to address those existing concerns or provide a solution to theextra load this centre will put on the power supply. If you need more convincing, please read the information we’ve posted on our social media site, Save the Korimako River, or call us.”
That snagged my attention, and I cupped my mouth over Tap’s ear. “Did he just say he’s behind that campaign?”
Tap leaned closer. “No, I think he said that heandDeliaare behindthat campaign.”
“The council is proposing to erase an ecosystem that has been managed successfully for over a century.” Thaddeus’s voice grew louder and more insistent. “The Korimako, or Bellbird River as some of you know it, feeds into those larger rivers that you take your kids to fish and swim in. The ones you use to canoe and kayak. Do you really want to put all that at risk? The Korimako River isn’t a utility line. It’s a functioning ecosystem that supports wildlife, stabilises the land, and provides community benefits. Ignoring that is shortsighted at best.”
One red-faced councillor frowned. “And exactly who are you, again?”
“Someone who reads reports,” Thaddeus answered smoothly. “Including the environmental assessments that your office commissioned. Page forty-seven, to be exact. Flood risk, ecological impact, and soil depletion. These aren’t theoretical. They’re well-documented in similar developments, and the information has been at your fingertips for over a year.”
Ryder’s heart was bursting out of his chest. None of this was news to him, but Thaddeus was saying it so much better than Ryder ever could. He scanned the room. And people were listening.
Another council member cleared his throat. “Mr Grey. This is all very interesting, if somewhat... emotional, wouldn’t you say?”
“Caring for the land isn’t emotional,” Thaddeus said pointedly. “It’s called responsible stewardship—another termthrown around in your reports. I can give you the page numbers if you like.”
I choked on a laugh and the crowd tittered.
The council member’s face reddened. “But the centre has mitigation systems,” he insisted. “And a wealth of safety strategies.”
“True. But they are only as good as the people running them,” Thaddeus returned. “Ask me how I know, councilman? Writing software for systems such as these is my job. It’s what I do.” He flicked a glance my way. “Or used to do.”
The room once again fell silent, bar an uncomfortable exchange of awkward looks around the council table.
“May I finish?” Thaddeus checked with the council chair. “I take it these interruptions won’t come off my time?”
The woman nodded begrudgingly. “They won’t. Go ahead, Mr Grey.”
Thaddeus divided his attention between the councillors and the public gallery as he quickly ran through a list of well-documented issues with existing data storage facilities, both in New Zealand and overseas. He avoided any mention of his company’s prior interest, and as far as I could tell, all his information was traceable and above board. Something anyone on the street could acquire if they knew where to look. He emphasised the need for, at the very least, a far more comprehensive assessment of this particular development’s impact or the scrapping of the plan altogether. He finished to a wave of applause from the public, and deathly silence from the council table.
“The council thanks you for your concerned insights, Mr Grey.” The chair brought Thaddeus’s time to a close. “I’m sure our representatives will treat them with the seriousness they deserve. I call this meeting to a close.” When the gavel hit the block, the chamber erupted in loud shouting and calls for thecouncil to address the issue of power costs and water clean-up. Those demands were summarily ignored, and the council hurried from the chamber in a silent single file.
I couldn’t hear myself think above the shouting as I elbowed my way through the throng in an attempt to get to Thaddeus. But it was like running through treacle, and by the time I finally reached the front, Thaddeus was gone. I stood on the closest chair to see above the angry crowd, but there was no sign of him.
“You looking for someone in particular?”
I glanced down to find Delia beaming up at me.
“He truly is something, your Thaddeus, isn’t he?”
I got off the chair and faced her down. “He’s notmyThaddeus, as I think you well know. Exactly how long have you two been cooking this up?”
She huffed in amusement and shrugged. “Two weeks, give or take. Thaddeus contacted me with the idea of setting the cat among the pigeons, so to speak, and I thought it was brilliant. Not just the D. Cumberland Advocacy submission, but the entire social media campaign that went along with it. I might’ve allowed him to use my name, but Thaddeus did all the work.”
He did?For a moment, I couldn’t speak. Eventually, I managed a nod.
Delia grinned slyly. “You know that his old company was preparing to bid on one of Elosand’s software contracts, right?” She waggled her eyebrows. “Of course you did. Just like you’d have to know how very much he regrets that.” She shot me a pointed look, and my cheeks blew hot. “He had to do a lot of research for that contract.A. Lot.All of which came in very useful for this little venture. Not that it’s over. We’ve just lobbed a few balls. If nobody picks them up, the development could still go through. There’s some fighting to do yet.”
My mouth opened and closed but no sound came out.
“Ryder?” She rapped her knuckles against my forehead. “Anyone there?”
I took her hand in mine and returned it to her side. “I don’t know what to say. I had no idea you were an environmental activist. You kept that little nugget close to your chest.”
She laughed. “I’m not any kind of activist unless it’s for my own means, although I can’t deny that I’m enjoying pissing the council off. They put far too many roadblocks in my way over the villa renovation. Payback’s a bitch, right?” She gave a toothy grin. “But I can’t have my best landscaper losing his property because of any council fuckery, can I? If you leave the area, who would finish my grounds?”
That made me laugh. It was so like Delia.
