Chapter 9: Madison's Meteor, Part 9

"Deer." The man barked what Frank thought was laughter and handed him a card. "Get a move on Greg," he called, and went out the door. The young man glared at his father's back then stalked out after him.

Frank looked at the card for a minute then went out of the library. He headed down the street to the bank.

He found Jenkins in his office doing paperwork.

"What can I do for you Frank? I only have a minute though, so if it is complicated I will have to book an appointment for you."

"That old acreage with the gravel pit," Frank said, "How much would it be worth if it was developed?"

"You aren't thinking of selling to that shark in a business suit are you?"

"Nope, but if that land is worth a chunk of money as a potential development, doesn't that give me some more leverage to raise some money?"

"Hmm, you might be right, but you would need a hard offer or re-zoning to make it work. I'd go for the re-zoning though. Once that man talks offers he isn't going to let it go."

"I'll ask Herb, he's on the Council. He'd know what I need to do." Jenkins shrugged and went back to his papers and Frank went to find Herb.

Herb dragged him over to the town office and had the clerk look up the acreage.

"It looks like DeLorne has been doing his research. That is in an area that is already allotted for future growth, so a zoning change won't be hard. The biggest problem is going to be dealing with how ticked off he will be that you didn't sell to him."

"He does seem eager."

"Whatever he is offering you isn't enough. There are lots of other considerations, but acreage like that is worth a small fortune."

"Thanks Herb." Frank looked at the papers. "How about I ask for preliminary approval for the zone change. That might be enough to leverage the bank, but not so rushed that it will raise eyebrows."

"Good idea."

Frank left them the filled-out forms and walked back to his truck. He drove out to the old pit and parked. He got out of the truck and walked back off the road. There were deer tracks, raccoon too.

"Sorry folks, but you may have to move."

The crunch of gravel announced another person arriving.

"Glad you see it my way," DeLorne came up behind Frank. "I'll put some two acre lots around the center here. Maybe a pond. Put some smaller places farther back. Make this a real draw for the up and coming. Come by the office. I'll have the girls do up the papers." He looked at his watch and walked back to his car. With spinning tires and flying gravel he sped off down the road.

"You know," Frank said to the gravel pit, "I really don't like him."

***

The trickle of changes in Madison became a flood. Stores that had been closed for years were suddenly opening as antique shops or boutiques selling very expensive items useless for anything but decoration. Frank no longer knew every person he met on Main St. When he did meet someone, they had to stand to one side to let the flow of strangers pass.

Frank walked into the newly expanded Alice's Coffee shop.

"I don't know my own town anymore," Jim said as Frank sat signing papers. "Even Alice's is changing." The table where they sat was in the store next door to the Coffee Shop. Alice had bought it and moved most of the furniture there while her husband tore out and redecorated the original shop. Alixxa served coffee from a make-shift counter at the back.

"I know, Jim." Frank pushed the papers over to his friend. "It's like the gravel pit, get the council to say it is one thing instead of another and suddenly it's worth more than a winning lottery ticket."

"I hope this is enough. Jenkins told me there's an off-shore group trying to buy the plant. If they get it, who knows what they will do with it?" He waved his mug at Alixxa.

"You know I tell all the other customers they have to come to the counter," she said as she filled his cup. "I'd never have thought chaos would be so good for business. Sergio loaned me a cappuccino maker to try out, and all these folks pour in the door." She waved at someone standing by the counter and went back to work.

The door crashed open and Greg, who had started the trouble at the library walked in with his friends.

"What do I need to do to get some service here?" he shouted.

"Wait in line like everyone else," Alixxa said.

He walked up to the counter and sneered at her.

"Do you know what I do to little girls like you?"

"You pay me for your coffee, just like everyone else."

"My Dad could buy a dozen places like this."

"Well run home and ask him for one, then you won't need to bother me."

He reached over and grabbed her arm. In seconds Frank stood on one side of him while Jim loomed over him on the other.

"Time to leave," Frank said. The young man looked at him and sneered some more. His friends watched from their seats.

"What are you going to do? If my father doesn't own you yet, he will soon enough."

"Your father can't own anybody that won't sell himself."

"You're selling that land to him aren't you? He owns you."

"You're not only a very rude young man, but you're pretty stupid too," Frank looked him in the eye and stepped closer. "If I am indeed one of your father's associates, he wouldn't appreciate you insulting me. If I'm not one of his associates, he'll be angry that you are discussing his business with me."

"So?"