Excerpt from Murder by the Acre

Excerpt from the infamous Chapter Eight of Murder by the Acre. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

      "The thing about Aventura is that it's a mess," Lawrence Mattall told the chief. The two sat in Mattall's office in the Blake building off Broadway. "And it's strictly personalities."
      Mattall had been willing to meet with the chief early this morning. He seemed open and eager to talk about Aventura, a stark contrast to the other investors who either claimed to know little about the day-to-day dealings, referring to the chief to Hastings who had already made it clear the chief would need a court order to pry any more information loose, or they were openly evasive, once again reffering the chief to Hastings.
      "Lots of chiefs, no braves," Mattall continued. "Everyone wants to rule the world, so to speak. It's a nasty business. Lots of angry words and insults, imagined and real. Some of our investors don't speak to each other unless they're shouting."
       "Any particular fights recently?" the chief asked.
      "None that I would think would lead to murder," Mattall said. "If that was what you were driving to."
      "Still, I'd like hear what those fights were," the chief said.
      Mattall shrugged. "Mostly between Michael Hyatt and the Nelsons. Hyatt wants to take Henri's place. He has this whole idea about making Oakleaf into an exclusive gated community. He thinks Oakleaf can attract some of the movers and shakers of Oklahoma City who want to retire from the city life, but remain within easy driving distance. Gladys didn't want that to happen. She wanted Oakleaf to be for Ryton residents. Danny just wanted to make an easy buck and didn't want to take the time that a gated community development would need. The others lined up on one side or another." He frowned. "Hyatt wanted to use the money from Aventura's other investments to fund his dream. Since a lot of the investors count on those checks, it generated a lot of controversy."
      "I was told the corporation didn't do that much other than Oakleaf," the chief said.
      Mattall snorted. "And I can guess who told you that. They all act like we're involved in corporate espionage here, but they seem to forget we're filed with the Corporation Commission and pay taxes just like every other company. Anyone who really wants to know just has to dig a little."
      "So Aventura has other investments?" the chief asked.
      "Yes," Mattall said. "Besides Oakleaf, we hold several oil and gas leases. We're also invested in FNBLend. That's the loan company arm of First National Bank. Then, of course, Aventura owns several buildings downtown and some land scattered around Ryton."
      "I had no idea," the chief said, mentally making a list of everyone who had lied to him about Aventura or at least misled him.
      "Most people don't," Mattall said. "If Aventura had continued, it would have owned most of Ryton by now."
      "Why didn't it?" the chief asked.
      "Old man Nelson died," Mattall said. "It's as simple as that. Did you know him?"
      "No," the chief said. "I'd see him around town, but we didn't run in the same circles."
      "Henri was a circle unto himself," Mattall said. "He had an overwhelming personality. Aventura was his show from beginning to end. When he was alive, it was going and growing. Now ..." He shook his head. "I'm sure the other investors told you Oakleaf was our only project because it's the only one that's still active, and that's mostly because land prices have continued to rise around Ryton. It's certainly not because of good leadership."
      "How much money is actually tied up in Oakleaf?" the chief asked.
      "Well, originally it was going to be a fifty-six lot development," Mattall said. "About a couple of million in today's dollars, a good return on land Henri bought for pocket change. However, with Danny's land, Oakleaf is going to be worth a lot more. Probably ten or twenty million if things go smoothly and the economy doesn't go to pot."
      The chief whistled. Mattall smiled.
      "That's small money compared to the developments in Oklahoma City or Dallas," Mattall said.
      "Big enough for here," the chief said. "But what's this about Danny's land?"
      Mattall looked uncomfortable for a moment. "I guess it doesn't matter now that the deal is set. Danny inherited three hundred acres of land when Henri died that's adjacent to Oakleaf. He was going to sell it to some investors out of OKC, but now his wife is going to sell it to Aventura. Oakleaf is going to grow in a major way. It will be a money producer for many years to come if things go as planned."
      "And if people keep their mouths shut," Harold Hastings said from the doorway. "I thought you were aware, Lawrence, of the importance of keeping business dealings confidential."
      "Harold, come in, come in," Mattall said. "Don't wait to be invited. Just stick your nose in any private conversation you wish. My life is your life." He paused and stared at the attorney. "Apparently."
      Hastings flushed angrily. "Your wife said there would be no problem with me coming on back."
      "She probably figured you'd knock," Mattall said. "Deborah often thinks people have more manners than they do."
      Hastings's face tightened. "I have some papers for you to sign." He stepped into the office and handed an manila envelope to Mattall. He turned to leave, but stopped to look at the chief. "Aventura would appreciate your discretion about the Nelson land. Nothing has been approved by the zoning commission. We haven't even started on the necessary paperwork."
      "He's worried the people in that area won't like having a housing development in their backyards," Mattall said. "Not to mention that the city is going to have to annex portions of the land, and our local taxpayers might not want to pay for roads, water, and sewer out there when Ryton has so many crumbling streets in town."
      Hastings glared at Mattall. If looks could kill, Mattall would already be diced, sliced, and slabbed.
      "I'm only interested in solving the murders," the chief told Hastings. "Otherwise, y'all can just play Monopoly to your heart's content."
      "Thank you, Chief." Hastings stiffly nodded to Mattall. "Lawrence, we'll be speaking later."
      "I can't wait," Mattall said.
      After Hasting left, the chief said, "Hastings isn't known for being forgiving. As much as I enjoyed that, I'm afraid you may have made some trouble for yourself."
      "He don't worry me none. I know where all the bodies are buried." Mattall grinned. "Figuratively speaking, of course."

Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.