Matty was just putting on her jacket when her cellphone rang.
Bill and Frank were at Dove's Pub, having a beer, before Frank drove home and Matty was going to join them, to have a beer with them and say goodbye to Frank.
She thought about ignoring the call but when she saw Nina's name, she accepted it.
"Hey girl."
"Go to your computer and check your email."
"Well, hello to you too," Marry laughed.
"Go. Go. Go," Nina insisted.
"Okay, okay."
Matty went to the desk in the living room and opened her laptop.
"You better not be sending me porn."
"This is better than porn," Nina laughed.
Matty laughed.
"Okay. If you say so."
Matty opened her email and saw one from Nina.
"Opening it now."
"Merry Christmas, Matty, my love."
Matty read the email and opened the attachments.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me?"
Matty sat back in the desk chair, still staring in disbelief.
"How in the fuck did you get that?"
"My girlfriend at the Deputy Premier's office. We just started talking and somewhere in the conversation, she informed me of what you are reading there.
I asked her if she had any proof and she said she could find it, but it will cost me.
The poor girl is going through some hard times. Her boyfriend left her, cleaned out their bank account and so on."
"What did it cost you?"
"Five grand," Nina said, timidly. "I transfered her the money and she sent me that file. I will pay half if you ..."
"I will deposit the five grand back in your account," Matty cut her off.
"You sure?"
"Nina, this puts a whole new spin on all of this shit."
"Yea, that's what I thought."
"What about the call with the Premier?"
"My girlfriend, Jenny, is going to talk to the Deputy Premier, Christine Young and get back to me. She wasn't in her office today, but Jenny has her cell number and she will call her and let her know that you want to talk to her.
That is, if you still want to talk to her, after reading what I sent you."
"Fuck," Matty sighed, as she stood up.
"Let me think."
"What do we do now?"
"Give me a few minutes, Nina and I will call you back. I need to talk to Bill."
"Okay, call me back."
Matty ended the call and started taking off her coat, calling Bill at the same time.
"Hey beautiful. You on your way?"
"Sorry, baby, but something has come up. We need to talk, right now."
"This sounds serious," Bill quipped.
"You okay?"
"Oh fuck, yea. Actually I am great, but we need to get some shit together, really fast. Apologize to Frank and get home here. Have Frank send us everything he has at home with anything to do with the Bay.
Anything."
"Just a sec, baby."
Matty waited, opening a beer as she did so, beaming ear to ear.
Bill came back on.
"Frank is going to go home right now and get all his stuff together and he and Julie are going to drive up again in the morning. I told them they could stay at our place."
"Actually hun, that's perfect. Give Frank my love and you get your ass home."
Bill ended the call and Matty laid her cellphone on the desk.
She started pacing the living room.
"What's youse tinkin' Matty?"
"I need to get hold of Daniel Best."
"Whose bes 'e?"
"The Premier of the province."
Matty looked up at the clock on the wall.
"There is no chance that he is in the office. Especially on a Friday."
"den calls 'e at 'ome."
Matty stared at Nanny Dove.
"Right, old lady. Like you can just pick up the phone and call the Premier."
"Did youse try?"
"Of course I didn't try," Matty snapped, sarcastically, "he's the fucking Premier."
Nanny Dove shrugged.
"Big deal. Ise jest call 'e."
Matty stared at Nanny Dove for what seemed like an eternity.
"Is youse asleep? Matty, wake up."
Matty slowly shook her head.
"You are either insane, old lady, or a fucking genius."
"Ise prefers genius, tho ise been called worse den fuckin' insane."
Matty sat at the computer and brought up the St. John's white pages.
"Two Daniel Bests."
"Its bes da second one."
"Fuck it," Matty said, as she picked up the cordless telephone and dialled the number.
She expected it to go to voicemail, but after three rings, a woman answered.
"Hello."
"Hi. Hello.
Ah, I know this is going to be an unusual question, but, by some chance, is this the residence of the Premier, Daniel Best."
"Yes it is," the woman answered, politely.
"Really?"
The woman laughed.
"Really. Would you like to talk to Daniel?"
"Really?"
Again the woman laughed.
"Who will I say is calling?"
"Ah, my name is Matty Dove. I am a resident of Tuckamore Bay and I have some concerns that I would like to talk over with Mr. Best."
"Tuckamore Bay?"
"Yes, ma'am. We are a small community on the Great Northern Peninsula."
The woman laughed.
"I know where it is, young lady. I am from Corner Brook myself. Sometimes in the summer, my family would drive to Tuckamore Bay to get fresh fish or have a picnic at that beautiful little cove. I can't remember the name."
"Sandy Cove, ma'am."
"Please, call me Wendy."
"Well, Wendy, right now we are building a small hotel near the Sandy Cove, to attract tourists to the Bay."
"Well, I would love to see that."
"I will send you an official invitation to the opening of the motel next spring, Wendy. Perhaps you and Daniel can come and stay here together."
"That actually sounds beautiful, Matty. I look forward to it.
Just give me a moment and I will get Daniel for you."
While Matty waited, Bill came into the living room.
"Who you talking to?"
"Hopefully the Premier."
Bill poured a drink.
"He is in the office?"
"No," Matty laughed.
"Nanny suggested I call him at home."
Matty pressed the speaker phone button.
"We shall see."
A moment later, a man's voice came through the speaker.
"Hello. Miss Dove?"
"Ah, yes Sir. Is this really Daniel Best, Premier of the province?"
The man laughed.
"It is, Miss Dove."
"Well, I'll be damned."
"How can I help you Miss Dove?"
"Please call me Matty."
"Okay Matty and you call me Daniel."
"Okay, Daniel. I am here with my husband, Bill Williams."
"Nice to meet you Bill."
"You too Mr. Premier. Ah, Daniel."
"So how can I be of service."
"Well, Daniel, I don't know if Wendy told you, but we are calling from Tuckamore Bay."
"Yes my wife informed me of that, but she didn't mention why you have called."
"Well Daniel, I am not sure if you are aware of it, but we have upgraded and updated Tuckamore Bay into a self sufficient community."
"I don't understand," Daniel questioned.
"I have been kept under the impression that Tuckamore Bay is still on the list of communities to be relocated."
Bill spoke up.
"You have been misinformed, Sir. I have invested millions of dollars into Tuckamore Bay and as it stands right now, we are a 100% self sufficient community, with no strain on the government coffers what so ever.
It is a matter of fact, I have made the Bay an Incorporated Company, with me and my wife, Matty, as the two major shareholders and all residents of the community are listed as employees of the company."
The phone was silent.
"Mr. Premier? Are you still there?"
"Yes, Matty. I am here, but I am more than confused. My last briefing on the relocation program shows Tuckamore Bay as a priority."
"Why would that be?" Bill wanted to know.
"Well, as you know, communities, such as Tuckamore Bay, have to maintain certain standards in sewerage treatment and potable and drinkable water. I don't have the papers here in front of me, but if memory serves me right, the reading from Tuckamore Bay were well below acceptable standards."
Bill let out a long sigh.
"I assure you Daniel that you have been misinformed. We have spent almost six million dollars in upgrades and additions to our sewer treatment and water treatment plants. Our sewerage is 98% pure, which is far above the standards set by the Environment Department."
Matty joined in.
"Mr. Premier? I know you are a busy man, but might I suggest that you find some time to come and visit us here in Tuckamore Bay and see for yourself what we have done."
"I have meetings in Corner Brook next week with some perspective investors, who want to open businesses on the West Coast. Perhaps I can add an extra day to come up and see Tuckamore Bay for myself."
Matty and Bill both high fived each other.
"That would be amazing Sir," Bill sighed.
"But could I ask one favor, Daniel?" Matty asked.
"And what would that be?"
"Could you come alone and not let others know of your plans?"
"That is a strange request."
Matty took a deep breath.
"If you will allow us that favor, Daniel, I am sure that we will be more than able to explain ourselves."
"I tell you what, Matty. I will bring Wendy out at the end of the meetings and I will send the rest of our entourage back to St. John's and we will come to the Bay together."
"Thank you so much, Daniel."
"Give me your email, Matty and I will send you my private cellphone number and my itinerary for the Corner Brook visit."
Matty did so and thanked the Premier again.
Bill and Matty heard Daniel heave a long sigh.
"I do not like being lied to, especially by those I have entrusted with the running of our beautiful province.
From the little you have told me, I feel like I am being kept in the dark for some reason."
"Well, Daniel, let's just hope that our instincts are wrong and that those in power are not abusing it."
"Well, Matty. If that does be the case, they shall be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
Daniel took a deep breath.
"I am sending you an email now, with my personal information and my wife is insisting that I tell you that she is so looking forward to meeting you and seeing your beautiful community.
You and your husband have a good night."
"Goodnight Daniel."
Matty hung up the telephone and jumped into Bill's arm.
"Can you fucking believe this?"
"You did amazing sweetie."
Nanny Dove grunted loudly.
"Isn't youse two forgettin' someone."
Matty walked to the rocking chair and knelt by it.
"You are the biggest pain in the ass I have ever known, but I love you with all my heart.
Thank you Nanny."
Nanny Dove looked at Bill.
"Well?"
Bill laughed.
"I just think you are a pain in the ass."
Nanny Dove blew him a kiss.
"Ise loves youse too, mainlander."