I thought about it. A plague of McMansions along the lakeshore notwithstanding, Pemkowet wasn’t about big development. We had zoning laws in place to preserve the character of the place. Hell, we were the only small town in the Midwest that had managed to keep McDonald’s at bay. “Any idea who’s behind this Dufreyne?”

The chief shook his head. “Nope. Why?”

“Hel’s expressed concern.”

“Huh.” His gaze sharpened. “I wonder what would concern a goddess, exactly?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “But I’ll tell you one thing—that lawyer’s not human. He’s, um, a hell-spawn.”

“Like you?”

“No.” I couldn’t blame him for saying it when I’d said the same thing myself. “I think he might have some kind of power of persuasion. I think he’s claimed his, um, demonic birthright.”

Chief Bryant glanced upward involuntarily, as though the Inviolate Wall were a visible sphere around us. “Isn’t that supposed to be capable of unleashing you-know-what?”

“Yeah,” I said. “At least that’s what I was always told. I don’t know. There’s something weird about the whole thing.”

“You’re right.” He unfolded his arms. “I don’t know why I hadn’t noticed it myself. I’ll poke around and let you know what I find out.”

“Thanks,” I said. “And if you hear Dufreyne’s been talking to anyone else, tell me. I know he was talking to Amanda Brooks about the Cavannaugh property.”

“Are you kidding?” The chief snorted. “That property’s been in her family forever. She wouldn’t sell in a million years. The Cavannaughs are one of the founding families, don’t you know? They’ve been here since before the sand swallowed Singapore. Hell, if the legends are true, it was a Cavannaugh that took down Talman Brannigan in the middle of his rampage. I’m surprised Amanda didn’t refuse to take her husband’s name when she got married.”

“She was thinking about it. Selling, I mean,” I clarified. I had no idea what Amanda Brooks thought about taking her husband’s name.

He blinked. “You’re sure?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure. I came in just as he was leaving. She looked . . . unfocused. When I asked about it, she said she couldn’t imagine why she even entertained the idea. I told her not to trust the guy, that I had a bad feeling about him.”

“And she listened to you?”

“She seemed to.” I shrugged. “It seemed to clear away the cobwebs, anyway.”

“But you don’t have powers of persuasion, right?” Chief Bryant asked. “No offense, Daisy. I just mean . . .” His voice trailed off, sounding embarrassed.