Talking, Walking and Plotting

"So what do you think of her?" Phillip Zander asked his childhood friend, Robert Ravers. The two men were standing out on the dock near the boathouse, looking over frozen Silver Lake. They were waiting on Jeff Lockett and Damon Woodsen to rejoin them, Robert had just finished showing the three men the boathouse and bunkroom. Jeff was talking to his son, while Damon used the bathroom.

"She seems like a nice, thoughtful young woman," Robert answered.

"Yeah, yeah, she is. I mean about her looks. Pretty damn hot, right?" Phillip asked again.

"Skye is certainly an attractive young woman. I'll give you that," Robert replied giving his friend part of the answer he wanted.

"Damn right she is. I'd say she's as hot, if not hotter, than most of those prime pieces of ass you've scored," boasted the sandy brown-haired man.

"What's Peter think of her?"

"Peter? Why are you asking about him?" Phillip asked back, surprised at the question.

"I'm just curious what your son thinks of you dating a young woman not much older than him. You do know what he thinks don't you?" inquired Robert with a sigh.

"I don't need his permission for who I date. Do you ask Heather about everyone woman you screw? Or tell her afterward?" he challenged back, annoyed.

"Yes, I do. If Heather asks, then I answer. About everything. You know I don't keep secrets from her," the dark-haired man explained patiently.

"Seriously? About all those women? I didn't think you meant even them when you said you tell her everything." Phillip was bewildered at the thought of his old friend telling his young daughter about his sexual adventures. He would never discuss information like that with his son.

"I've told you many times I won't raise her like my father raised myself and Daniel," Robert reminded him.

"Your dad was an asshole."

"Yes, he was," Robert agreed as he turned back around at the sound of the boathouse door opening.

"Say when do you plan on throwing another party? Skye's not into sharing, but I plan on working on her. It would help to know a timeline," Phillip asked quickly. He knew Damon Woodsen didn't like to hear about the infamous sex parties Robert had thrown in the past and wanted to ask before the district attorney rejoined them.

"Philly, I thought you really liked this one?" Robert asked in disappointment. He loved Phillip like a brother, was probably closer to him than his very own brother, but wished the man would get his life in order when it came to women. Robert knew that was the pot calling the kettle black, but the reasons for their actions were much different. Unlike Phil, he was willing to admit the reasons for his long history of womanizing.

"I do. What's that got to do with it?"

"You say this one is different, yet here you are offering to share her when you admit she's not interested," he pointed out. "Doesn't matter anyway. I doubt I'll throw another one of those parties again."

"Wh-what? You can't be serious, Robbie?" sputtered out the elder Zander just as the other two men walked up.

"Such a great idea, that bunkhouse, Robert. Just marvelous!" Jeff Lockett boomed out.

"Thanks, my grandfather always talked about building a boathouse. He just never got around to it and used that cramped storage room under the cabin. When I sat down with the architect I knew I wanted to bring his idea to life," he recounted.

"Well, you did justice to his plan. I can't imagine his vision would've been so elaborate," the large man continued.

"I just...I wanted to make up somehow for my own stupidity in letting his cabin burn. It was a special place to him, as it was for me," Robert admitted with a sigh, as the men began walking down the path. "I know I certainly went overboard because of my guilt. Looking back, I was pretty hard on the architects. It took a solid year to design not just the cabin but the boathouse and improvements to the grounds. Another year to build all this," he added as the new cabin came back into view.

"Knowing your grandpa, Robbie, I think he would tell you to look on the bright side. You've been able to build your own dream cabin for you and Heather," Phil chimed in.

"The ironic part is that his cabin was built to replace a previous one that burned down." Robert paused seeing the surprised faces, before continuing his story. "Back more than a century ago when the Wynwicks owned all of what would become Silver Lake Park, they gave away land to four of their closest friends. Along with Wynwick Lodge, those were the other four original cabins on the lake. Where we stand was once the vacation home of the Rancourt family," he paused again to see their reactions. "I see that name doesn't ring any bells. The family went nearly bankrupt at the start of the Great Depression, the patriarch committed suicide in despair, and the cabin abandoned. In the early 1940s, it burned down, likely from careless squatters. The property became overgrown and forgotten until my grandfather was able to track down some distant Rancourt relative. The man didn't realize he owned any land here and was quite willing to sell it to him."

They had continued down the brick walkway during Robert's history lesson and now found themselves close to a small sandy beach along the lake's shoreline.

"I knew the Wynwicks once owned all this before they donated everything but the northeastern section of the lakeshore to the state, but not about the other families," Jeff admitted. "What happened to their cabins?"

"They still are here. Only the Rancourt's cabin was destroyed. The Zurbruggs still own theirs, it's on this side of the lake further east, but the family is spread out all over the country. So they are here rarely. Across the lake, you can see the old Stork home, over there," he pointed out. "It was sold several times. Archibald Wynwick's branch of the family owns it now. The Huguet family--now Volland--still own their cabin, but most of the original home is gone as it's undergone remodeling several times. Of course, down at the east end of the lake the real gem, Wynwick Lodge, sits empty and falling apart, due to family squabbles."

"I was born and raised in Azure Rocks, I'm friendly with most of these families, and I never knew all this, Robert," confessed Damon.

"There's so much interesting history at this lake. The Wynwick family turning on each other after World War I, gangsters during Prohibition and a hippie sex cult in the 1970s, but hardly anyone remembers. It's a shame. Silver Lake is a treasure that I worry people are starting to neglect, with the building boom over at Cobalt and Indigo lakes."

"Gangsters? Cool!" Phil excitedly let out, but Robert ignored him.

"The cabin burning down has motivated me to think about ways to improve the properties around the lake and hopefully the park itself. The first part of the plan is what you're standing on at the moment," he gestured down to the brick walkway under the men's feet. "It may not seem like a big deal, but most of the paths and trails around the lake can easily become muddy messes with a moderate amount of rain. In the spring, they can turn impassable in some sections. It can cause some of the cabins to feel too isolated. I've already received permission to replace the paths of several neighbors east of me with these new walkways. I'm paying for them completely, so they were open to the idea. I expect some resistance from property owners further down the lake, but the dream would be to at least reach a point near Wynwick Lodge on the north side of the lake. The half on the south side might be a little more tricky, as I expect some there to be suspicious of my intentions. That's what I've already encountered with my ideas for the park."

"Wow, I'm impressed. You've really given a lot of thought, and money, to this idea," Jeff complimented him, getting agreement from the other two men.

"Thanks. Now before I bore you too much, how about we head back inside. I'm sure the others want to decide what to do for the day," he suggested.

Walking back towards the cabin, Damon fell in step with Robert, with Jeff and Phil ahead of them. "It truly is splendid out here. I could use the peace and quiet like this to handle the hustle and bustle down at the DA's office sometimes," disclosed Damon.

"Anytime you feel the need to get away just let me know. You're perfectly welcome to use the cabin. Part of the reason I built such a larger one was so my friends could enjoy it," offered the cabin's owner.

"That's very kind of you...but I wouldn't want to impose if you have any of your...ah, extracurricular activities happening, " Damon politely said.

"Well, I wouldn't worry about any of those...events happening anymore. And I would never want to put you in a position that could harm your reputation," he assured Damon. "If I do have a young lady over that's why the master bedroom is soundproofed."

"That's the Robert we all know and love," joked Phillip, looking back over his shoulder.

"If you end up enjoying it out here, I can keep an eye out for any cabins that might go up for sale. I would love to have you as a neighbor out here. Not to mention it would be a great place for when Hannah and Ashley have their own families," Robert offered, happy at the possibility.

"The county gives me a nice salary, but I think a vacation home on Silver Lake might be a little too rich for my blood," Damon conceded.

"With Sarah moving up to a principal's pay instead of a teacher's, I thought you might be in a better position," admitted Robert.

"Oh, money's not tight or anything like that. However, most of Sarah's raise will be eaten up by having a second daughter in college next year," he explained. "Honestly, a major reason I would pass is how some people might perceive it. Dwight Dunkley is getting hammered by these unsubstantiated rumors, and nobody is sure who's behind them."

"Ahem, I may be able to provide some light on our esteemed mayor's troubles," Phil offered, to the surprise of the others. "Now this is very hush, hush talk I've heard whispered around town, so keep that in mind, okay. It appears that Wally Cole is planning to take on our old classmate this spring."

"As in Waldon Automotive?" interrupted Jeff.

"Indeed, that one. Word is that our huckster car salesman is secretly backed by one of our town's finest, and richest families. They are the financiers of the smear campaign against Dewey Dunkley. Any ideas about whom it is? I honestly don't know, but it sounds like someone wants to upend the town power structure" he asked looking at Robert and Damon.

"I haven't heard anything about this. You can't be serious?" a startled Damon asked.

"You, my friend are supposedly a major concern for Cole. He worries if he hurts Dunkley too badly, he might decide not to run, and you will make a move towards city hall. You might be next in line for some of these attacks. Or at least that's what I hear," Phil conveyed, happy to be one up on his friends for once.

"You do realize that Wally Cole's son has been dating my daughter for nearly two years? He's here at the cabin with us right now," Damon uttered in disbelief at what he was hearing.

"I know, and I know you might have a wolf in your henhouse," warned Phillip.

"Uh, Phil, I think the saying is a fox in the henhouse," Jeff pointed out.

"Whatever. You know what I mean."

"If what you're saying is true, and I have my doubts, who could be backing Cole?" Damon asked looking around at his close friends.

"Sure it's not you, Robbie? You always were kind of a dick to Dewey growing up?" Phil asked half serious.

"I would never do to that to Dwight. Despite what I did as an immature kid, I do consider him a friend. I've wholeheartedly supported his tenure as mayor," stated Robert. "And for the way I acted years ago, I've apologized to him several times. When Harry and Dwight became friends in junior high that shared similar interests, I acted out. Mal's the one who figured out why later on. She said I was jealous and threatened by Dwight, that he was going to take away one of my oldest friends. Looking back, I think she was right. I've even explained this to Dwight. It surprised him that Robert Ravers would ever feel jealous or threatened by him."

"Hey, you never gave a damn when I made new friends," Phil half-whined.

"I've still never forgiven you for repeatedly stealing my cookies during snack time back in kindergarten," joked Robert before he turned deadly serious. "Still, nobody pulls this shit on one of my friends."

Seeing the fire in Robert's eyes partially calmed down Damon. "If this is happening, then we need to know who's backing Cole."

"We could just tie up his kid and interrogate him," Phillip suggested, getting back only eye-rolls from his friends.

"I'm out of the loop living up in Mountain Falls, but I'll give any help I can," offered Jeff Lockett. "The Wynwicks are the wealthiest family in town, do you think it could be them?"

"Robbie's the richest in town," Phil insisted heatedly.

"Simmer down, buddy. I might be the wealthiest individual but combined the Wynwick family's resources dwarf even mine," he admitted.

"I don't see it being them. They helped put Dunkley in office, and he's supported most of their foundation's projects over the years," concluded Damon.

"But that was when Myles was in charge of Wynwick Foundation. Fiona's the top dog now, and she practically screams femme fatale," Phil added with a leer at the thought of the gorgeous, influential woman.

"No. Despite the bad blood between our families over the years, support for Mayor Dunkley is one area we both agree on. Fiona wouldn't do this to Dwight. If anything she has far more to lose if Cole or someone else replaces Dunkley," reiterated Robert.

"That removes the Thirlbys too. They are far too entwined with the Wynwicks. Maybe Guskova?" Damon suggested.

"Possibly. Arthur Guskova puts making money above anything else, but I've made him a great deal of it over the years. So there would have to be some big payoff for him to chance crossing me," Robert replied.

"That leaves the Laffonts and Vollands who could spend money without batting an eye," Damon pointed out.

"Unless one of the less wealthy families was willing to risk it all in a bold gamble," conjectured Phil.

"When is the deadline for candidates to file for the spring election, Damon?" Robert asked the only person experienced in elections among them.

"Next week, January 2nd," the local district attorney informed him. "So, no matter what we'll find out then if Cole is running."

"We can't do much from up here. This isn't something you can call or message around about. Everyone, think it over, and on New Year's Eve, we'll be able to ask around discreetly. But for now, with Brandon here, keep quiet on this," Robert said as they arrived back and started to climb the stairs to the deck.