The Man Who Ivented Florida

NINETEEN

Connie Dirosa gave it some time. Sat there patiently while Alex Londecker, the sneaky little brownnoser, nudged her, tapping repeatedly at the note he had scribbled. Folded her hands calmly on the table and listened to the man, Dr. Ford, speak in a scholarly monotone: "… water samples were taken from property owned, or formerly owned, by Mr. Tucker Gatrell-the legal description's in the report, which I'll leave with the panel."

Tried not to smile when Londecker, in his pompous, official way, interrupted. "These water samples-the water tested, I mean. Are you indicating that it is the same water Mr. Gatrell is selling as a sort of magic elixir?" Only to have the old man's attorney leap to his feet, calling, "I object to that, Mr. Londecker. The phrase 'magic elixir' is not only prejudicial; it is wildly inaccurate."

Heard Londecker backpedal: "I would remind Judge Flowers that this is a public hearing, not a court hearing. But because the state wants to be absolutely fair, I'll ask Mrs. Ibach to strike my remark from the record."

The man, Dr. Ford, stood quietly until the two were finished before continuing. "Even so, it's the same water. Samples were taken from the artesian well, and also from a sump-pump site near the barn"-Ford pointed, and people craned their necks to see, still listening to him-"in a procedure that is noted in the report, which, as I said, I will leave with you."

"Tampa Labs is state-accredited," Londecker said helpfully. "We've used them ourselves. I certainly don't question their procedures."

Dirosa decided to wait and make sure that the man was actually going to read from the report.

"The analyses indicate that the water is normal in terms of mineral content-that is, normal in terms of water found in the Floridan aquifer. It is significantly supersaturated with calcite, dolomite, and contains, as well, other chemicals, such as potassium and magnesium, all of which are necessary to normal human biological functioning. In fact, as electrolytes used by the brain, such trace minerals are essential."

Londecker said, "Huh-?" as Gatrell also stood and yelled, "See how healthy it is? And only ten bucks a bottle!"

Dirosa wondered, What's this guy trying to pull?

But then Ford said, "Of particular interest, though, are the results of EPA test two fifty-four, EPA test two fifty-five and EPA test six twenty-four. Tests for specific contaminants," and Dirosa began to relax again.

"The results show that the water sampled drastically and dangerously exceeds state and federal standards of five parts per billion when tested for benzene, toluene, dieldrin. A variety of pesticides, herbicides, and petroleum contaminants exceeded twenty parts per billion…"

As the man actually began to read the test results, Connie Dirosa gave Londecker a sharp nudge of her own, then left the table. She walked slowly, taking her time, heading toward the state van.

Margaret Faillo was inside, using her briefcase as a table, doing office work, when Dirosa tapped on the window. Fallio folded her bifocals, stepped out, and closed the door behind her so the other secretary, Mrs. Cullum, could not hear.

Dirosa said, "Just what we were hoping for."

Even when she was pleased, Faillo had a tough, abrupt quality. "Londecker found somebody to read the tests?"

"It's going on right now. The guy who paid for them. But I can't figure out his angle."

As Faillo got her briefcase out of the van, she said, "Does it matter?"

Margaret Faillo was thinking, A long way to come just for this, but it's worth it.

All Connie's idea, too. The girl was quick on her feet-she'd make a great department head.

Back at the table, Faillo stared blankly at Londecker's ingratiating "I've got something to tell you" grin and took the seat beside him, wanting to hear a little herself before she finally pulled the plug.

Listened to the speaker conclude the reading of what she already knew was a long list of toxins-Connie had showed the report to her before giving it to Londecker-then listened as Dr. Ford suggested, quite reasonably, that the contaminants may have been introduced into the Mango water system as a result of dredging for Cypress Gate Estates, plus the fertilization-extermination cycles of the region's scores of golf courses and tens of thousands of lawns.

"An additional source," the man said, "may be posions used in the state's own melaleuca extermination program. As you may know, the state imported the melaleuca tree back in-"

Faillo didn't like the direction of that, so she cut him off. "Excuse me, I was unable to hear the beginning of your statement."

Beside her, Londecker could hardly contain himself. "The water Mr. Gatrell is selling? Dr. Ford just read a report from a state-accredited lab certifying that the water is contaminated. Dangerously high levels of-"

"You let him read that into the record?"

Faillo could see Londecker puzzling over the tone in her voice. "Well, of course. I felt Mr. Gatrell was seeking an advantage, trying to inflate the price of his land-"

Even when Lemar Flowers yelled, "That's supposition and hearsay!" Faillo kept her eyes locked on Londecker. She said, "Do you realize what you've done?"

The man standing before the table was still speaking: "In view of these test results, I would like-as a concerned citizen-to make certain that your department already has funds set aside to restore the water to its original uncontaminated state… as it must do, by law, when condemning or annexing private property."

Londecker said, "What!"

Behind Ford, Gatrell was on his feet, poking at his attorney, yelling, "I told you he was almost smart as me! Didn't I tell you? Hot damn, Duke, kick him right in the ass!"

Faillo stood and said loudly, "I'd like to call a five-minute recess while I discuss a few things with Mr. Londecker."

Alex Londecker felt a little dizzy listening to Faillo. So dry, he couldn't make spit form in his mouth. He told her, "I know what the law is. We've done projects before where we had to clean up water."

"Ah! So you've already budgeted for it?"

"No, I'm just saying-"

"You're talking a hundred thousand dollars. Maybe a quarter million. For a project this small? Do you want to try to justify that before the legislature? I don't think they'll want to listen to you, Alex. Not after they watch tonight's news."

"But we could just plug the spring. Cement it in-"

"Like that little Dade County project? Or Warm Mineral Springs? We had the money allocated in advance. Plus, we did it quietly. Here, we'd get national headlines: 'Fountain of Youth Asphalted!' Jesus Christ, Alex!"

He had never heard Faillo swear before. "The way you say it… you're making it sound like-"

"Oh, quit stammering. You went into this thing blind. You didn't have your environmental census finished-"

"The crew disappeared!"

"Then you should have postponed the meeting! Then to allow that report to be read publicly, my God. Who do you think issued the permits for Cypress Gate Estates? The state! You didn't see the television cameras?"

"Now wait a minute! Using the water analysis was Connie's idea-"

Dirosa hadn't said a word until then; just stood their smirking. But now she jumped right in. "Hold it, Londecker. This is your project. You get all the credit. Remember?"

"I don't think I received a single memo advising me of Connie's participation, Alex." Faillo at him again.

"But she did!"

In a deadly cold voice, Faillo said, "Maybe if you had spent more time keeping me informed, and less time writing letters to my friends at Equality and Compliance, you wouldn't be in the mess your in."

Oh, God. That explained it.

In a small voice, Londecker said, "I'm sorry, Ms. Faillo. I mean it. I wasn't thinking at the time."

"You're going to be sorrier, Alex. You know what that old man did to you? Gatrell? He got you looking so hard in one direction that you never realized he was coming from the other. He blind-sided you, Alex. He pulled a switch-a switch, you dumb ass. And you fell for it. With this on your record, I don't think I'll have any problem from Equality and Compliance in Hiring. Or the personnel department, for that matter." Faillo closed her briefcase firmly, a knuckle-cracking sound. "I'll make it official when we get back to Tallahasse, Mr. Londecker, but be advised that you have two weeks' notice. You're terminated. Now"-she straightened her jacket and brushed her black hair back-"I have to go make a statement to those people. Tell them the state is withdrawing from the project." She smiled at Connie Dirosa just a little before adding, "For a year or two, anyway."