Opera House Ops

Chapter 2 – Developer Shmeleper’

Chapter 2 – Developer Shmeleper’7:35 PM, Friday, June 5th

Sheriff Mel Crane’s Home

Morelville, Ohio

Marco pushed his plate forward, picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth. “Dana, he said, you’re really coming along – no offense – that was really good.”

Dana smiled at him but shook her head. “None taken but, frankly, I can’t take all the credit. Our resident chef here,” she held a hand toward Hannah, “put some of it together this morning and left me detailed instructions for the rest.”

“Ah, but you did the work, and all while taking care of an infant,” he reminded her.

Hannah laughed at their exchange as she spoon fed mashed rice to her son Jef. “I learn stuff at school and then I come home and practice on these guys a lot and Dana helps. She’s more involved than she’s saying.”

Jef beat his little hand down on the highchair tray to get his mother’s attention and everyone chuckled. The five month old was already becoming a real eating machine.

Jesse Crane looked across the big dining table at his own daughter. Never a man to mince words, he asked Mel, “What’s up with you?”

“What? Nothing.” She half shrugged a shoulder in her dad’s direction.

“You’ve hardly said a word.”

“If that ain’t the pot calling the kettle,” Faye admonished him.

He ignored her as Mel finished chewing the bite she’d taken in the meantime and responded, “Now that the weather’s finally broke, it’s just really busy, is all. Seems like everybody’s trying to pull some kind of con right now. We’re being overrun with petty crimes.”

“That reminds me,” Faye interrupted her daughter, “Marco found a window propped open at the old opera house this morning. We thought you out to know.”

“Probably just kids messing around,” Mel said as she pushed her own plate away. She missed her nephew Cole’s furtive glance her way before he dropped his eyes and feigned more intense interest in his own plate than he already had shown.

“Mrs. Stroud called us earlier in the week about seeing a couple of boys trying to get into that old, wooden Baptist church that’s mostly all boarded up. I’ll check it out in the morning before I head to the station.”

“Thanks sweetie.”

Mel nodded to her mother. “No problem.” She looked hopefully back and forth between Dana and Hannah and then back to Dana. “Is there any dessert or do I have to haunt the bakery tonight while they all throw down in there?” Both of the other women laughed.

“Your dad,” Dana said, “brought homemade ice cream.”

“Really?” Mel shot Jesse a look and, when he nodded, she rubbed her hands together with glee.

“Cole and Beth helped me churn. Ain’t up to cranking that old thing the way I used to be.”

“One of you two,” Faye pointed at her grandchildren, “need to run a plate up to your mom at the station. She needs to eat too.”

“Aww, Grandma, and miss the ice cream?” Beth whined.

“It’ll be here when you get back.

“I’ll do it Cole volunteered. I don’t want any ice cream right now.”

“Now I can’t go and guarantee there’ll be any left ‘later’ if that’s what you’re thinking!”

“It’s okay Grandma.”

Jesse shook his head. “What’s gotten into you boy?”

Cole knew better than not to answer. “Nothing Papa. I’m just full, is all.”

Chloe stood up then from her seat next to Marco. “Why don’t you all go out to the front porch? We’ll get this cleaned up and then bring it out and visit a few more minutes, then there’s real work to be done.”

###

“Not to be nosy,” Marco asked Mel, “but do you know who actually owns that opera house building?”

She paused with her spoon in midair and looked thoughtful for several seconds. “I really think it’s held in a private trust; probably something set up by Breece Lampert, before he died years ago.”

“Lampert? That’s not a name I’ve heard around here before.”

She shook her head, “It wouldn’t be. The Lampert family is old money from out of state. Came here for the oil boom and built half the town but none of them are around anymore.”

“Passed stuff down for a coupla’ generations but sold most of what they owned right after the last Lampert, Breece III died and then they moved on,” Jesse offered.

“Your mother seems to think a guy named Brietland had a lease on it,” Marco said.

“She’s right. Papa Brietland, as he was known, was another of the original settlers of the village. He did have a lease on it while he was alive but I doubt it’s still in effect. He’s been gone a long time. There isn’t anything any of the remaining Brietlands would want it for.”

“Seems a shame,” Marco shook his head.

“You want it for something?” Jesse asked him.

Marco shot him a look. “I’d think there’d be all sorts of uses for an old concert hall.”

“Naw,” Jesse said. “We turned that old school into a community center...got an auditorium in there.”

Chloe, Faye and Hannah filed out the door and onto the porch.

“What are you all getting up to out here?” Faye asked. “How’s the ice cream?”

“It’s good,” Mel said. “We were talking more about the opera house building, is all. Marco here wants to buy it.” Mel tossed her head his way and grinned.

“Oh no you don’t Marco Rossi!” his wife stood one hand on her hip while she waved the finger of the other hand at him.

“Now Chloe,” he backpedaled as he held up one hand while he clutched his bowl with the other, “she was just kidding.”

“Wouldn’t do you any good to try, anyway. If it’s for sale,” Jesse said. “I hear told that Kent Gross wants that property. He tends to get what he wants.” Jesse left it go at that but his expression showed his distaste for the man.

“Gross? What’s he want with that old building? That’s not his style at all.” Faye’s tone was indignant.

“I imagine,” her husband replied, “he’d tear it down. He keeps talking about putting a bed and breakfast or some such thing in town.”

“All he thinks about is development! He never stops to think that some of us like things here just the way they are. We don’t want to grow any bigger and, and...and, he can’t just tear a building like that down. It’s part of our history!”

Chloe put a calming hand on her friend’s shoulder. “I’ve really grown to like this little village over the last several months and I wouldn’t want to see that happen either. That building is historical. If it comes to that, I’m sure we can do something to make sure it’s preserved.” She drew in a breath. “Unfortunately, we have work to do for now and we best get to it.”

Faye nodded.

“Is Dana going over to help?” Mel asked the little knot of women still standing where they’d all stopped.

Hannah responded, “No. She’s giving Jef a bath for me and she’s going to put him down for the night.”

“If you don’t need my help, I think I’ll go and relieve her then.”

“No; you have to work early in the morning and that would be nice, give her a little break...you both have been so good to us.” Hannah gave Mel a small smile.

“He’s a good baby and no trouble at all. You just get yourself over there and bake some good stuff for your opening. I’m only pulling a half shift tomorrow. One of my Lieutenant’s is covering the rest. I’ll be by to buy up whatever’s left when I get off duty.”