Secrets of the Past 5
Chapter 5
The four men crossed the room to the table where Evie had been just a few moments ago. Scanlon pulled something out of his Briefcase that looked like a rolled-up chart or map and laid it out on the table.
"Isn't it beautiful gentlemen," he said, "Scanlon Enterprises' Willow Creek Resort and Spa. People we'll be coming from all over the world to visit this place. anyone who gets in on this at the ground level will be making money hand over fist! I tell you It'll put this little burg on the map."
"It looks good but what about the location?" asked Mr. Biggins
"Yeah," said Frank DiAngelo, "Where are you going to find that much available land around here?"
"You just leave that to me." Said Scanlon with a slight smirk.
After a few more minutes of his sales pitch Frank DiAngelo and Barry Biggins left after agreeing to meet later to draw up the terms of their investments.
"What do we do now boss," said Scheckter, "Regnery won't sell, and when we sent our convincers over that night, they were jumped and beat up!"
"Yeah, I know, I know," grumbled Scanlon, "What are the odds that we'd end up in the same town that Matt Ellison moved to. I tell you I don't like trying to do business with that kid around especially after all the trouble that he caused us last time."
"Don't remind me," muttered Scheckter, "it cost us half our bankroll to have that cohort of yours at the police station bury that State Police notice before anyone around here saw it!"
"Yeah," said Scanlon, "just our luck that we'd end up with a crooked cop who was smart enough to know what his 'help' was actually worth!"
Scheckter nodded.
"But we're still stuck." He said, "How are we suppose to get our hands on that riding school."
"The first thing we have to do is get rid of Matt Ellison," said Scanlon, "We won't be able to do anything if he's around to get in our way! We get rid of him, and we won't have to worry about anyone else having the nerve to get in our way."
Scanlon started toward the door.
"Come on," he said, "We need to go talk to those muscle-heads of yours."
Scheckter followed him out the door.
As soon as they were gone, Matt and Evie came out the closet.
"Matt, they're going to be after you now!" said Evie as they slipped out into the hallway after checking to make sure the cost was clear.
"I'm not surprised," said Matt, "and I'm not worried about myself, it's my friends and family I'm worried about! Scanlon wouldn't hesitate to use anyone I know to get to me."
Matt paused and looked up at Evie. Just after they entered a back stairwell, He smiled sadly.
"Evie if you want to warn your family and lay low for a while, I'll understand and I'm more than willing to stay away from you for as long as you say." He said.
"No!" said Evie without hesitation, "You and I are in this together no matter what, I'll warn my family but I'm not going anywhere and neither are you.
Evie gave Matt a hug to emphasize her point.
Matt smiled.
"Thanks." He said
They headed down the stairs and slipped out through the loading dock when the workers took their lunch break.
As soon as they got back to the riding trail, they split up. Evie headed back to camp and Matt went toward his home to warn his parents. Before they went their separate ways, they agreed that their next step would be to talk to the Biggins-Atherton and DiAngelo-Mucahy families.
When Evie got back to the camp, she immediately went looking for her parents and sister. She found them in the big top. She immediately told them everything that was going on and what they had heard and seen.
True to form, instead of being scared Lisa, Rafael and Risa went into full detective mode.
"Desi and Veronica have some explaining to do." Said Lisa frowning.
When the Atwood family got back to their trailer, they found Jason pacing back and forth in front of the trailer.
Evie saw him, and her face darkened to a scowl.
"Would you guys excuse us please?" she said quietly
Lisa, Rafael and Risa looked confused at Evie's reaction to the sight of her boyfriend, but they all nodded and went inside the trailer leaving Evie standing there facing Jason.
"N-Now Evie," he stammered, "I know I messed up…,"
"Jason what were you thinking?!" she snapped interrupting him
"I was mad, Gloria said the two of you walked off hand in hand!" said Jason
"And you believed her?!" retorted Evie, "Let me tell you something about Gloria. She is the biggest gossip in the camp, she once had everyone in the clan and half the town of Willow Creek believing that my parents weren't legally married! You cannot believe one word that comes out of her mouth! I grabbed Matt's hand to pull him away from Gloria when we met right here earlier, because, I was afraid of something just like this!"
"Evie," Jason started, "Im…,"
"I'm not finished." Snapped Evie before continuing, "If you really care about me, and if you really want me to go on being your girlfriend you have got to trust me! You can't go around decking my friends!"
"Evie I'm sorry," said Jason, "I lost my head!"
"Yeah, well, before I accept your apology, or go out with you again, you're going to have to prove that you will trust me from now on," said Evie seriously.
"I'm getting the feeling that our date tonight is off." Said Jason his shoulder's slumping.
Evie nodded.
"You're getting the right feeling." She said, "your going have to earn your dating privileges back. We'll start with hanging out at Pine Hollow, later."
Evie turned to go inside, and Jason, sensing he was 'dismissed' turned and headed out, mentally kicking himself for his stupidity."
TO BE CONTINUED…PLEASE REVIEW