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"Isn't Carleton converting?" |
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"Then what was the feasibility study all about?" |
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"What feasibility study?" |
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Suddenly Terry felt stupid. "For three weeks they've been drilling holes in the streets. Jason, Woodside, Hutchinson." |
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"Some men in yellow trucks. I don't know, the Department of Public Works. They said something about trying to determine the size of the granite ledge or something." |
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"Mrs. Hazzard, we're a relatively small town with only a handful of administrators, and we all know each other's business and budget lines. A feasibility study like you're describing is not something out of petty cash. Nor can Carleton afford to even think about converting to Quabbin. Besides, we've got perfectly good wells." |
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"That's what the man said." |
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Burdick nodded with satisfaction, wide-eyed, insinuating Terry was making this up too. "Do you remember what the machines looked like?" |
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"I don't know, big, tall, pounding things." |
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The woman went over to the reception desk, picked up the phone and punched four numbers. |
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"Russ, know of any DPW crew that's been taking core samples at the west end? Jason near Magog? A resident reports a truck's been tapping streets for the last three weeks. Said the guy claimed they were doing a feasibility study on water lines to Quabbin." She laughed, then mumbled a few "uh-huhs," laughed some more at his comments, then hung up. "Nothing on the booksnot the town, state, or the feds, ma'am. And nobody drills streets without a permit." |
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"Maybe you can explain that to the taxpayers who ride the asphalt patches each day." |
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"Why the streets were torn up and town administrators are the last to know." Terry smiled sweetly and left. |
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