First in a series

It may be comparable to roam about a mammoth space that is completely dark.

Two months after Sentinel Peak Resources dramatically ducked out of a debate with the City Council over new rules for the Inglewood Oil Field, their sudden disappearance remains a mystery.

One reason: The company has ducked interviews.

To make their point with maximum theatricality, Sentinel dispatched a notice to City Hall at dawn on the July day of the scheduled confrontation.

Ever since, the company has been hunkering down at its various locations.

Former Mayor Andy Weissman is as astute as anyone who has walked through City Hall, and he has no idea why Sentinel played magic and stuffed the rabbit back into the hat.

“I have no insights into this,” Mr. Weissman said.

Could Sentinel Peak Resources have held this last-hour vanquishment in mind all along?

“I don’t see anything the oil company gains by, in effect, saying ‘let’s work things out,’ and then pulling out.

“They have not issued statements saying the city is unreasonable or is exceeding its authority.”

Then Mr. Weissman invoked the dreaded L word:

“The oil company use that language in a lawsuit.”

(To be continued)