Suburban Vampire: Redemption, Book II: Leviathan

Chapter 29

Construction crews were in full force at Bobby Starr's central Oregon ranch. They'd made a great deal of progress, with many of the cabins already having been finished. Water, electrical, gas, and septic systems were in the process of being installed, and in the center of it all, a large Mexican-style pyramid rose up from the high desert floor. Bobby drove up in his Range Rover then met the engineers, the construction foreman, and the design team. One of them spread out a map on the hood of a Dodge pickup.

"The ground here is pretty dry," the engineer said, "and my team has experience working in this environment, so it's all good."

"Good," Starr responded. "So, Mr. Delgado, do you think you'll have it done in the timeline we set forth?"

"I think so. I've got the best contractors in the state working on this. They've been working like troopers. Unfortunately, they've been eating up a bunch of overtime."

"That's not an issue. I'm willing to pay whatever it takes to keep this project on schedule."

"Right, well, the only hassles we've been getting are from the county planning department. It seems they're not too keen on the idea of a big pyramid in the middle of the county. I mean, I don't see what the big deal is; after all, it could be a tourist draw. Hell, I'd pay to visit!"

"People fear the unknown. They still remember the days of the Rajneesh around here. I know, I am a dark-skinned stranger from the middle east with some controversial religious ideas, so it's easy to see how this may bring up bad memories. Not that I'm accusing them of racism, only ignorance. Then again, I suppose racism is born of ignorance."

"Hey, I'm not exactly white myself, so I get it. I'm sure some of the hesitance is actually from bureaucracy and red tape than from anything more sinister."

"'Do not attribute to malfeasance that which can be better explained by incompetence'."

"Something like that, yeah."

"Well, bureaucracy and red tape can be managed, if you grease the right wheels."

"There's nothing wrong with a donation given to the right candidate's campaign, I suppose."

"No, indeed."

As Bobby Starr and his design team were meeting, a white Ford F150 with a canopy and a star on its front door rolled up. "Aw, shit," Delgado said. "It's Mary Rafferty from the county planning office in the company of Sheriff Seever."

"Relax," Starr said. "This is my opportunity to win hearts and minds. Stay here."

Mary Rafferty was a professionally-dressed middle aged woman with brown hair, done up in a bun. She carried both a purse and a briefcase and had a large smile. The Sheriff, on the other hand, was an older man, and wore old blue jeans, a Carhartt work jacket, and a cowboy hat. On his belt was a Sheriff's star and a 1911. "Greetings!" Starr said to them. "You must be Mrs. Rafferty, with the county commission. Am I correct?"

Rafferty extended her hand, which Starr kissed. "You are indeed. And you must be the Reverend Bobby Starr."

"Observant and beautiful. A winning combination. Yes, I am Starr. And this tall, dark man must be...?"

Seever extended his hand, which Starr shook. "Walt Seever, Sheriff of Wasco County," the Sheriff said.

"You've a powerful grip, Sheriff. So, what brings you both out today?"

"I am just here to go over some of the zoning ordinances with your engineers," Rafferty said. "There's been some discrepancies with some of your buildings."