Four
Victoria watched as Mayor Diller glanced around at the ruined city without emotion and twisted the dark mustache that curved like a pigeon’s wing over his upper lip. His mouth was a tight line.
As they drove into town, she saw Mr. Smart strolling down the street toward them. The mayor quickly jumped to the ground, then rounded the horses to slap Smart on his broad back with a whoop of joy. “Mr. Smart, my good man, how fortunate for you that your land was recently cleared. Your fine palace survived this morning’s unfortunate events.”
Hank Smart, a new resident and owner of Vancouver’s recently completed Brighton Hotel, looked at the mayor, confusion etched in his furrowed brow.
The mayor is the perfect politician, quick to heap praise and very likely to take credit in the next brea
