"She can try," Garrett said, tapping on his tablet. "I think I have a solution to our McKenna problem."
"Tell me!" Archer demanded. Garrett ignored him.
"Lieutenant Mayor," Garrett said, a triumphant smirk on his face. "Why don't you call a meeting with McKenna? I think we should discuss some property acquisition."
68
Archer
We walked into one of the conference rooms in the town hall the next day. McKenna was already there. She seemed unhappy to see me walking in with Hazel and my brothers.
"You didn't bring Merla Vee with you? Pity," I said. "I was looking forward to telling her to get lost."
"She's out of town," McKenna said, nose in the air.
"Good. She better stay out."
McKenna flipped her hair. "You know my terms," she said. "I tried to make this easy for you and give you an out. I really did. If you think I'm selling my land to you, you're sorely mistaken. Not only that, I'm going to fight your development every step of the way. As a neighboring property owner, I have rights. Our properties share a boundary line. I will not make this easy for you."
Garrett smirked. "But we're going to make it easy for you." Garrett sat down in front of McKenna and slid three pieces of paper across the table. "This is a painting you have in your gallery. Hazel, as our resident art expert, could you tell us what these paintings are?"
"This is a Gergiev painting that is hanging in the Museum of Modern Art," Hazel said. "This is a painting you have hanging in your gallery. The card says it's a Gergiev. This is a Gergiev you sold a year ago for eight hundred thousand dollars."
McKenna crossed her arms.
"You know I studied her paintings in college," Hazel continued. "I am very familiar with her style. The brushstrokes, the use of color—they don't match. See here? These brushstrokes are dissimilar. She would also never use yellow in this manner."
"You can't prove anything," McKenna said. "And if you go around spreading vicious rumors, I'll sue."
"Oh, but I do have proof," Garrett said. "I did some digging into the history of this painting. The previous owner you bought it from? Died a full month before you claim to have bought the painting. He did have an extensive art collection, yes. However, his estate has no record of the painting."
McKenna's nostrils flared.
"Now," Garrett said, writing a number on one of the printouts that seemed far too generous for what McKenna had put us through. "I'm not an art person. If Hazel hadn't brought this to my attention, I don't think anyone would have noticed. And I certainly don't begrudge you the sale. You sold it to one of the Holbrooks, and we here don't particularly care for them. We're willing to offer you a more-than-fair price for the strip mall. Additionally, what we discussed about the paintings stays here with us." McKenna took a few quick breaths. She looked from the number to Garrett's stony expression.
"Fine," she snapped. "Fine. I accept."
Greg handed her a stack of paperwork, and she signed where Greg pointed.
* * *
"Man!"I said as we all walked out into the sunshine. "My life is awesome! I have my girl. I have my convention center, my car, my good looks—"
"What about your family, your health?" Hazel asked.
"Right, those are important too."
"Now all we need to do is win the lawsuit," Hunter stated.
"Lawsuit?" I asked. "Are you seriously still suing?"
"Of course I'm still suing," Hunter said. "We have to go in front of the judge in two hours."
"Don't think I'm going easy on you during the hearing," Meg warned. Hazel and I looked between them.
"You know," I whispered to him, "I'm starting to wonder if they don't both actively enjoy this."
69
