Looking For You All My Life Part 97

Cohn. Like I said, some R and R sounds just wonderful to

me." But perhaps, she told herself, the "R and R" might

actually stand for reconnaissance and research...

5 soon as Maggie was settled into her luxurious

suite across from the clubhouse, she called the

woman she'd met at the airstrip.

"This is June," came a crisp reply.

"h.e.l.lo, this is Maggie Carpenter," she began tentatively.

"I met you today at the little airport." Suddenly she won-

dered if this woman 5 offer had been in earnest or not. And

furthermore, whether or not she could trust her. Still, what

did she have to lose?

"Oh, I was just telli~ng my daughter about you, Maggie.

What can I do for you?"

She explained a little more about the nature of her mis-

sion, how she was now stuck at the clubhouse for the

remainder of the day without a car, and how she really

wanted to see more of the community without being under

the watchful surveillance of Cohn Byers.

June laughed. "Yes, you can be certain, Cohn will only

show you what he wants you to see. And without a doubt,

he's brought you to one of his best-developed communities,

hoping to impress you, I'm sure."

"Does that mean there's nothing here that's really out of

line?"

153.

154Melody Carlson

June laughed even louder now. "Oh, don't kid yourself.

Desert Winds may be better than the other developments,

but believe me, it has its share of problems. That's exactly

why I can't stand to stick around for one more day. It's really

ironic that I ran into you Out at the airport today, but

somehow I think there's a reason for it. Anyway, my

daughter and I are sick of the greed and deception that goes

on here. I tried to convince myself when I first came out that

this place was different, and in some ways it is. But to be

honest, I know it was only the lure of big money that made

me look the other way all this time."

"So there's quite a bit to be made in these developments?"

Maggie was already taking vigorous notes.

"Oh, yeah, if you're into easy money, it's here for the

making. They say there's a new sucker born every minute,"

she made a groaning sound, "but I've had enough-I'm fed

up with the whole biz. I mean, once I realized how it was

affecting my daughter, I decided it was time to split. I'm

sorry to go on and on about this-I guess it's because I've

kept it all bottled up inside for so long. Anyway, we're all

packed up over here, and I can spare you an hour or two.

Would you like me to pick you up right now?"

"Do you mind? I mean, I know you're in the middle of

moving and everything. I hate to take your time-"