It's not a question of who's right. It's a question of what's right.
As Matt made his way with Marshall Guyer to the courthouse, his mind turned to the current situation with the town council. With the death of Richard Orr, he was now temporary chair and would remain so until the mayoral elections which were scheduled for early October. The current mayor, Scott Cory, for reasons unknown had tended his resignation only two days ago. Coupled with the events at the last town meeting and the resignation, Matt was now contemplating running for mayor himself. Taking on more civic duties meant that his job with the Secret Service would have to go but thankfully there was someone else in the area who had recently arrived in the region that could take over from him. This would all be dependent on him winning the election...if he decided to run.
There was little talk between him and the Marshall until they reached the door of Robertson's office. Before he knocked on the door, he turned to Guyer, "Marshall, I would like to know how you want this handled? What I mean to say is that would you like to ask the Judge about the delay first before I say something?"
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Hadn't given that much thought, really. It's not like I've decided to accuse him of anything. Frankly, Matt, I just want to get this project underway. I guess the fact that Miss Steelgrave has yet to fully confront the situation, or leave, as she has suggested has me here on her behalf." Speed explained.
"Clearly, she does not want conflict, not that she would back down from a fight if presented with one, but this seems to be a delay tactic for whatever reason. Be it the Judge or others, it really doesn't matter much. I have no qualms at all asking about this delay." He added. "After you Matt. let's see how this goes."
We may think we leave the past behind but it has a habit of catching up with us
Judge Ben Robertson was reading through a contract that a local businessman wanted him to go over. The knock on the door wasn't unusual as people came to see him about all sorts of things. Even though he was semi-retired there will still enough civil law matters to keep him busy. He was thankful that he had Harland Bryant looking after the criminal matters which was few and far between in Kalispell.
He got up and opened the door. The look of surprise was evident on his face. It wasn't seeing Matt Wentworth that surprised him but that the Marshall was with him. He showed both men and directed them to the two chairs that were near his desk. Taking his own seat, he smiled, "Gentlemen, it's a pleasure to see you both. What brings you here today?"
Matt turned to the Marshall first before looking at the judge, "Ben, I don't how to say this but the Marshall came to see me on behalf of Miss Steelgrave. There seems to be a problem."
Yes, there was a problem, Ben thought but he wasn't ready to go into it. What he needed was some time to think about his answer, "Well, if the Marshall would be so kind to tell me about it, I might be able to help in some way."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Actually Judge, it's a simple question that I have. Yes, I am here in support of Miss Steelgrave, but not at here request." Speed began, making sure he cleared the air. "Now I sure you don't know that Miss Steelgrave has been invited to move to Columbia Falls and build the hospital there since she can't seem to get the promised land here. So my question is a simple one, why?"
The news that Leah would consider the move to Columbia Falls, and to build the hospital there would not be without ramifications for Kalispell. County seat or not, losing the hospital could well change things, regardless that the railroad would stop there. The town had the right of ways, her gift to them, and that word would spread throughout the state.
"As I said, Judge, it's a simple question, and it requires a simple answer, which I am sure there is." He concluded.
We may think we leave the past behind but it has a habit of catching up with us
Judge Robertson nodded, "I wish I had a simple answer for you. The fact is that I've sent the draft agreement between the town of Kalispell and Miss Steelgrave to Helena."
Knowing that there would be a protest or at least confusion about why he did so, the Judge went on, "I know that Miss Steelgrave has very good intentions and her relationship with the town is pleasant at the moment. However, I want to be sure of the future. That is, I want to make sure that if Miss Steelgrave changes her mind or hands her interests to another party that there will no legal litigation or disputes about any aspects of this."
He paused for a moment to work out what to say next. There was one major reason why he had to delay the hospital project for as long as he could and he couldn't tell anyone why. Elias Steelgrave had made that clear.
"What I mean to say is that as a lawyer and judge, I've seen a few good intentions turn bad and those involved suffered greatly. Something that I do not wish for Kalispell or the people in it. You probably think I'm being over cautious, and I reserve the right to be. So, I wanted some legal representatives who have no vested interest in Kalispell to go over the agreement to make sure that we are covered for any eventuality."
As he waited for a response, the Judge thought about why he had no choice but to do Elias' bidding. If word got out of what happened all those years ago, both he and his wife would pay the price. Besides, no-one would trust a judge that had a murder charge hanging over his head.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Then I suppose since the entire situation is tied up in Helena, and likely to be for the foreseeable future, I can let Miss Steelgrave know that perhaps Columbia Falls is well worth considering. You know the woman went to considerable lengths to obtain the right of ways, which she presented to Kalispell, through you I might mention, only to be thwarted at every turn in a bid to erect a hospital here. A hospital to serve the people of not only Kalispell, but most all of Flathead county and the surrounding area."
He paused a long moment as he was beginning lose control. "There is something more here. Some reason beyond this legal mumbo-jumbo and shenanigans that have been mounted to defeat her, and why, Judge? Why would this town turn on a benefactor? You say it's because of her father, and the fear of his involvement in the project, when it feels more like Elias Steelgrave is orchestrating this entire affair from the Evergreen. How do you explain that?"
It's not a question of who's right. It's a question of what's right.
Matt frowned as he listened to the Judge. This was totally unexpected...as far as he knew there would be no legal worries about the handover of the rights or with land the town council was going to give for the project. A part of him suspected the reason behind this delaying tactic had nothing to do with the legalities of the transaction. Years of working in the Secret Service had taught him that sometimes the least likely cause was in fact the most likely. The most likely in this case would be that Elias Steelgrave had somehow gotten to the Judge but that meant the Judge had something to hide. As far as Matt, knew Judge Ben Robertson was an upright and honest man. If there was something that Elias could use, then it must be big to make the Judge do his bidding.
"Ben, I have to agree with the Marshall. I'm also inclined to think that Elias Steelgrave's mark is very much on this. Are you sure that there is no way to proceed with this project while we wait for the papers to come back from Helena?"
The judge looked solemnly at both men. "I'm afraid not. The main reason I'm doing this is because of Elias Steelgrave. We must make sure that this deal is airtight just in case he tries to something. We all know that the man is can do a lot of things and he has the resources to do a lot of damage if he sets his mind to it. We all know that there is no love lost between Elias and his daughter."
Ben sighed. What he just said was the truth but what they didn't know was the real reason why he was delaying the project for as long as he could. Elias had used the resources he had to dig up the truth about that duel he was in all those years ago. If what happened back then came out, it would cast a lot of doubt on his whole career and the backlash would be bad.
Knowing that he had no choice but to do Elias' bidding, Ben continued, "So, as you see gentlemen, my main concern is to protect Kalispell from any future plans that Elias Steelgrave may have."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at." Speed confessed, "Elias Steelgrave, to my knowledge, has no holdings here in town, therefor I have a hard time with the idea he would interfere in such a simple matter as the transfer of plot of land to Miss Steelgrave." He paused, but did not take his eyes from the Judge.
"I have a difficult time justifying Elias Steelgrave can hold sway in the affairs of this town and what it does with property he has no control over, or ownership rights to. I might agree that there is some unknown reasoning for his involvement with this project that requires Helena's involvement. The Governor said nothing about that when he was here."
We may think we leave the past behind but it has a habit of catching up with us
"I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at." Speed confessed, "Elias Steelgrave, to my knowledge, has no holdings here in town, therefore I have a hard time with the idea he would interfere in such a simple matter as the transfer of plot of land to Miss Steelgrave." He paused, but did not take his eyes from the Judge.
Judge Robertson nodded, "Yes, he has no holdings in Kalispell but he has other ways and means of getting what he wants when he wants to. If there is a legal loophole, he'll find it. That's why I want this agreement between the town and Leah to be as airtight as it can be. As I said there is no love lost between Elias and his daughter. If he wants to ruin her plans he will."
"I have a difficult time justifying Elias Steelgrave can hold sway in the affairs of this town and what it does with property he has no control over, or ownership rights to. I might agree that there is some unknown reasoning for his involvement with this project that requires Helena's involvement. The Governor said nothing about that when he was here."
"Of course the Governor would say nothing. He has to show impartiality in these things and he certainly isn't privy to what Elias does do or is going to do...unless you know something we don't. As for Elias or anybody else for that matter want to interfere in the affairs of this town, they can, especially if they have good reason to do so. People can be swayed quite easily given the right motivation whether it be financially or something else."
Ben sighed. What he had just said about the closest he could to get to telling the real reason why he was delaying the project. He looked at both men intensely, "In all of my years as a lawyer and judge, I've seen a lot of men do things you would never expect them to do. I, for one, do not want to underestimate what Elias Steelgrave can do given the right motivation and I suggest that you two shouldn't either."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Probably the last thing that I would be guilty of is underestimating Elias Steelgrave, or Case for that matter." Speed said in response. "I agree that whatever the man has in mind, whatever it is he wants, within reason, he will acquire. He falls short of outright criminality so far as I can tell, in his dealings here, I can't speak to his past. But his lackeys, the men that ride for him, they are apt to do just about anything for him."
But something just didn't sit right with this conversation for Henry S. Guyer. There was just something, a nagging feeling he was not getting the truth. The idea that sending off this draft of the agreement to Helena smacked of a delaying tactic more than review by legal minds to ensure that is was, as the Judge said, 'air tight.'
"I have to tell you Judge, I'm just not buying the need for state intervention on this agreement matter. The Governor did come here in support of this matter, granted, at Dutton Peabody's behest, and he left two Marshals behind as a result. So why don't we get down to brass tacks on this deal?" He looked to Matthew, and then back to the Judge. Something had to give.