“It’s a really important vote today. We’ve got volunteer-driven Pollmobiles running in every voting precinct in town until the polls close tonight at nine, so we’re expecting unprecedented turnout.”
Cam did his best to keep his eyes on the reporter interviewing him rather than letting them stray to the enemy camp set up at the other end of the green, but it was a tough thing. The bright orange tents emblazoned with the GrandGoods logo screamed look at us! So did the steady stream of people circulating through them.
“Tell us what the store size cap would mean for Wishful.”
He explained the proposed statute as simply and briefly as he could, thinking Norah would’ve done it with more flare. But the reporter wanted someone from city government and his mother was MIA at the moment.
When he finished, the reporter turned to her cameraman. “Nearly every business in town is displaying posters in support of the size cap, and as you can see from the sea of red YES caps behind me, the proposed law has a lot of supporters. We’ll be back this evening with an update on this important referendum. WTVA News. Deanna Fossett reporting.”
Cam didn’t get to drop his public face once the camera stopped rolling. They needed the press on their side, so he added a layer of charm to go with the serious. “We appreciate y’all coming out to cover this. Can we offer you some coffee? It’s fresh from The Daily Grind.”
“Love some,” Deanna said.
He directed them into the command center tent the Chamber of Commerce had set up at the fountain end of the green. Inside, Norah was running things with her usual efficiency. Behind her, a markerboard held a running tally of total number of voters going through each polling station. It was being updated on the hour. A few hundred so far, but it was early yet. The real rush would be during the lunch hour and after five.
“How did the interview go?”
“Fine. You’d have been better.”
Norah waved that off. “They’ll probably do an update for the noon news, the five o’clock slot, and preliminary results for the ten. We’ll see if we can’t slot your mom in for at least one of those. Maybe Molly for another.”
“What are we going to do about GrandGoods?”
“I’ve sent spies to find out exactly what they’re up to.”
“Spies? I’m afraid to ask.”
“Who do you think volunteered for that task?”
“Cassie. She’s not what you call subtle.”
“Neither is Mamie, who went with her. But this isn’t full scale espionage. It’s just two members of the public cruising through some public event they’ve got going on.”
Those same two members came into the command center at a hustle, not a pace Cam generally associated with Mamie. Cassie was practically bouncing, and Mamie’s bouffant trembled with her agitation.
While the older woman caught her breath, Cassie saluted. “Agents Callister and Landon reporting.”
“I’ve really got to get you walkie talkies.” Norah laughed. “Report in.”
“They’re giving away free stuff.”
“Like koozies, pens, hats?”
“And t-shirts, yeah. But they’re also giving away store memberships and discounts that can be used at any existing store.”
Norah frowned. “Are they asking for anything in return?”
“Just that people hit up the polls, same as us. They’re not even asking for proof in advance.”
“Did they indicate there’s some limit to the number of memberships? Like the first fifty people or whatever?”
“No limit,” Mamie said. “They said they want to support the community and are willing to give out free memberships to back that up. The only thing they’re having people do is show they have a Wishful address. I got a membership myself. Don’t have a clue what I’ll do with it when they don’t come, but I didn’t figure it’d hurt anything.”
“They’re also giving out free pastries,” Cassie added. “Store bought, of course.”
“Oh, hell no.” Carolanne joined the conversation from where she’d been helping coordinate Pollmobile service. “We can do better than that. Give me a team, and I’ll bring my entire inventory out for the cause.”
“Do it.” Norah called in half a dozen volunteers and dispatched them to Sweet Magnolias.
Once they’d gone, Cam did the math. “At, what, fifty bucks a membership, with a potential for up to maybe a couple thousand people. That’s a hundred grand loss right there. Plus whatever they’ve put into their branded merchandise.”
“A hundred thousand dollars is a drop in the bucket for a company like that. They’d make exponentially more than that if they secured a place in the region. Plus, if they don’t end up coming, they haven’t truly lost that much because many of those people won’t ever go to one of the other GrandGoods stores before the annual membership expires. It’s a smart tactic.”
The whole thing had Cam worried.
As usual, Norah read him like a book. She moved in, slipping her arms around his waist. “It will be all right. You just—”
“Have to have a little faith. I know. I’ve got all the faith in the world in you.”
“Then it’s time you put your faith in them.” She nodded toward the masses.
That feat would’ve been considerably easier to accomplish had his nemesis not chosen that moment to stroll into the tent. Vick flashed his too white teeth like a shark. “Well good morning to you Councilman, Miss Burke.”
“Burgess,” Cam said.
“We’re having a fine turnout to the polls and an exceptional response to our promotion. Why, everybody’s jumping at the chance for a free year’s membership to GrandGoods. We’ve given away six hundred memberships already today.”
A number almost equal to the last hour’s tally at the polls. It didn’t mean anything. Logically, Cam knew that. There’d be people who’d take the deal and vote for the size cap anyway. There would likely even be people who’d take the membership and not vote at all. But some would feel that psychological contract and vote in favor of the store. The question was how many would be wooed.
“It’s still early. There are nearly three thousand more people who can vote in this town. And I promise you, the majority won’t care about GrandGoods’ empty promises.”
Vick shook his head in pity. “When are you going to get it through your head, Crawford? GrandGoods is going to be good for this town.”
“They’ve certainly been good to you, haven’t they, Vick?” Sandra stepped into the tent, trailed by a handful of other people. Leigh Billingsly, the City Comptroller, looked pissed. Jay Quimby, the resident tech guru, looked smug. Officer Judd Hamilton looked deceptively at ease, but beneath the calm exterior, Cam recognized the same coiled readiness for action he’d displayed on the defensive line of the Wishful Stars football team back in high school. Not until the appearance of Chief Curry, bringing up the rear, did Vick’s confident expression falter.
“I beg your pardon?” he asked, innocence with a layer of affront.
“Well, you know how we’ve been doing system upgrades at City Hall the last couple of weeks?” Sandra asked. “Jay, here, found some…concerning emails on your computer.”
“Email is private.”
“In fact, it’s not. Everything you do on your work computer is technically the business of the city since your business is to help run the city. So imagine our surprise when Jay brought to our attention a string of emails between you and Bill Sutto, making it clear that you’ve been taking kickbacks from GrandGoods.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Vick began to tug at his collar.
Cam was dimly aware that everyone in the tent had fallen silent, watching the show.
“Turns out, that was plenty of evidence for Judge Carpenter to let us subpoena your bank records,” Chief Curry said. “You’ve been a bad bad boy, Vick. Our forensic accountant is still going through it to determine the total amount, but at first pass, it looks like, in addition to getting all cozy with GrandGoods, you’ve embezzled over a hundred thousand dollars from the city.”
“This is ludicrous!”
“What’s ludicrous is the fact that you are sworn to work in the best interests of this town and its people and instead you’ve been abusing your position to line your own pockets.” Sandra’s voice crackled with temper.
“Victor Burgess, you’re under arrest.” Chief Curry nodded to Judd, who grabbed Vick’s arm, twisting it with a little more force than necessary as he cuffed the older man.
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say, can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney…” Chief Curry finished reading Vick his rights, then he and Judd marched him out of the command center.
That was when Cam realized the camera was rolling and WTVA News had caught the whole thing.
“This is Deanna Fossett, live with a WTVA News exclusive. In a shocking turn of events here in the tiny town of Wishful, where a David versus Goliath battle is being waged over store size caps at the polls today, City Planner Victor Burgess, local champion of GrandGoods and the big box store movement, has just been arrested. Burgess stands accused of taking kickbacks from GrandGoods and embezzling more than a hundred thousand dollars from the city. Mayor Crawford, what do you have to say?”
Deanna tipped her microphone to Sandra, who blinked at the camera. Cam recognized the look on her face as she choked down the more profane remarks that weren’t appropriate for addressing the public.
“We are deeply disappointed in the actions of the City Planner. His greed has impacted this city in ways we’re only beginning to understand. He has been removed from his position, effective immediately.”
“Does this impact the vote today?”
Cam stepped in to take that one. “The vote will continue. The legislation on the ballot today is not specific to GrandGoods, but will impact all future commercial development in the area. We still encourage everyone to make it to the polls today. And we hope that they’ll all look at this situation and recognize the cost of doing business with big box stores before they cast their vote for the future of our town.”
“There you have it, folks. The vote continues. This reporter will certainly be interested to see how this battle shakes out in the end.” She made a slashing motion, and the camera stopped rolling “Well, nobody can say y’all are dull!”
Norah slipped her hand into his. “Nice save. I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“I’ve been paying attention.”
“If we could’ve tailor made a blow to GrandGoods and their position, I’m not sure we could’ve done better than this.”
“That was all you. We wouldn’t have known to look if you hadn’t noted those discrepancies in the city financial records.”
Sandra laid a hand on her shoulder. “Wishful owes you a debt. For so many things.”
Norah smiled. “Just doing what I can to help. Speaking of—” She turned to the still silent crowd gathered in the command center. “Okay people, that was news. I know some of you were snapping pictures and taking video. Pull out your phones and share it! Facebook. Twitter. Text. Somebody get over to Dinner Belles and get Mama Pearl on it. And find Cassie and get things moving over at The Grind. I want every gossip tree in this town singing!”
~*~
The polls were closed. The command center had been broken down and packed up. GrandGoods and their tents were gone. In the wake of allegations about offering kickbacks, Bill Sutto hadn’t been available for comment to the press, which had swarmed downtown after footage of Vick’s arrest had aired. The remaining GrandGoods employees had looked shell shocked, with nothing more to say than “No comment.” Norah and Molly had jumped into the void, talking and talking to get the coalition’s message out. And if Norah had used every skill and resource she had to make certain that the news of GrandGoods’ less than above board tactics was spread far and wide, she felt not a shred of remorse.
But it was Vick’s arrest that remained the hot topic of conversation among the locals. According to the gossip mill, his wife Rebecca was filing for divorce. Judge Carpenter had set bail. Some folks thought it was unnecessarily high, but his wife was one of Rebecca’s best friends. Given that Vick’s assets were frozen, pending the findings of the forensic accountant, he was still cooling his heels in a cell. Rumor had it there was collusion to make sure he stayed there until all his stuff could be packed up and his ass kicked out of the house. Small town justice at its finest.
Everybody but the die-hards had gone home after the exceptionally long day. Three months of almost non-stop action came down to the results of this night. Those remaining had camped out at the Mudcat Tavern to wait for the referendum results.
Norah hated waiting. Too keyed up to sit, she’d been pacing for the last forty-five minutes. The City Council had gone into an emergency closed session to discuss the ramifications of Vick’s actions, so she hadn’t seen Cam in hours. It felt wrong that he shouldn’t be by her side for the announcement of the results, when they’d been in this together from the beginning.
Miranda stepped into her path, a long neck bottle held out.
“I don’t want a drink.”
“It’s either this or I’m finding a tranquilizer dart. You’re wearing a hole in the floor.”
Norah took the beer.
“It’s going to be fine. Even if the store cap didn’t pass, the City Council isn’t going to do further business with GrandGoods after what they pulled.”
Norah shook her head. “If the store cap didn’t pass, GrandGoods will disavow all knowledge of the kickbacks and put it all on Sutto, claiming he acted on his own. He’ll get fired as collateral damage, and they’ll send some Honest Abe type with a list of concessions a mile long. We need this legislation.”
“Disavow all knowledge?” Miranda snorted. “Are you an expert in corporate espionage now?”
“No, but if I ran their PR division, it’s what I’d advise.”
“If I were in their shoes, I’d cut my loses and get the hell out.” Tipping back her beer, she studied Norah. “Speaking of running PR divisions. What was that whole deal at your presentation last night about being an authorized representative of Peyton Consolidated? I thought you weren’t going to work for him.”
“I’m not going to run his marketing department. But he needs someone local to liaise with the city, so he hired me on a freelance basis. Between that and the settlement from the lawsuit, I should be in okay shape until I sort out exactly what I’m really going to do for a living.”
“Well you know I’m entirely in favor of keeping you as a roommate, if that’s what you want. But you might have other plans on that front. It hasn’t escaped my notice that you’ve been spending most nights at Cam’s place.”
In the wake of Chicago, they’d been reluctant to spend much time apart. “We haven’t talked about what comes next.”
Mitch swung an arm around Norah’s shoulders. “Pretty sure the next steps are marriage and baby carriage. Isn’t that how the rhyme goes?”
Norah laughed, figuring it was a sign of how far she’d come that neither idea sent her into a blind panic. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“I was pretty sure he was going to with that crack he made at Grammy’s,” Miranda said. “‘How’s Saturday?’ my ass. What would he have done if you’d said yes? You’re probably the only woman in America who could legitimately plan a wedding in four days.”
She’d have done it, too, if she’d thought he was serious. And wasn’t that a surprise? But much as he loved his family, an offhand, casual question in front of all of them wasn’t his style. If she’d felt just a little pang of regret, she chalked it up to impatience. They were totally fine where they were.
“Who’s planning a wedding?” Cecily demanded.
Christoff made a show of picking up and staring at Norah’s naked left hand.
Norah freed her hand. “Nobody’s planning a wedding.”
“Yet,” sang Tyler as she strode by.
“You’re all completely incorrigible. Regardless of the likelihood of those events—”
“Guaranteed,” Miranda and Mitch chorused.
“—in the pretty immediate future, I need to go back to Chicago to finish closing out my apartment and get the rest of my stuff down here. It’s a fact that there isn’t room for all my stuff at his place. Or yours, for that matter. A lot of it is probably going into storage either way.”
“Dibs on that tufted sofa with the scroll legs, if you’re getting rid of it,” Christoff announced.
“It would be a nightmare with dog hair, so it’s all yours.”
“Maybe you and Cam need to be thinking about y’all’s place. You know I’d design you anything you want. And Lord knows, between the acreage he owns and your land out at Hope Springs, there’s no end of pretty places to build a house.”
“I hadn’t thought about keeping any of it. You know, it’s sad, but I’ve been so damned busy since I got back, I haven’t even seen all of it yet.”
“Well I reckon you ought to do that before you go donating every last square inch to the city. You could keep a fair chunk for yourself and still give over plenty for the park.”
She wanted that, she realized—to walk her land with Cam and Hush and choose a piece to keep. It seemed like a good way to begin putting down those roots she so desperately wanted. Maybe they could manage a picnic over the weekend.
“The news is starting!”
Norah pivoted toward the nearest screen. Hissing admonishments swept the bar until the crowd quieted down. Adele turned up the TVs, all tuned to the same news station. They had to sit through reports of a string of robberies in Columbus, a warehouse fire in Tupelo, and a nasty four car pile up in Lawley before the view finally shifted to Deanna Fossett outside City Hall.
As she recounted events from earlier in the day, Norah began to bounce on her feet. “C’mon, c’mon.”
“The City Council is still in session and is not available for further comment. Elsewhere in City Hall, results are being tabulated for today’s referendum ballot about retail store size caps here in Wishful. Poll workers report the biggest voter turnout in city history, with a whopping eighty-five percent of registered voters coming out to weigh in on the issue. We’re still waiting to hear preliminary results.”
“What is taking so damned long?”
“Paper ballots, sugar,” Mitch murmured.
“It is not that hard to count to three thousand in an hour.”
“Maybe it’s really close and they wanted to double check,” Cecily suggested.
Norah hoped to hell it wasn’t that close.
“Oh, wait a second. Someone is coming out.” Deanna hurried up the steps of City Hall to meet Sandra, and Norah could see the flurry of other reporters doing the same. “Mayor Crawford, what can you tell us about the referendum results?”
Norah reached for Mitch and Miranda’s hands and found herself pulled backward against a long, hard body.
“You made it.”
“Shh,” Cam said.
“—were a lot of ballots to go through. Our team is busy recounting to verify the exact totals, but there is absolutely no question of the results. By an absolute landslide, the statute capping commercial spaces at 40,000 square feet has passed.”
The whole place burst into cheers and applause. Several members of the coalition enthusiastically trumpeted with their noisemakers. Behind the bar, Adele and Joe popped the corks on bottles of champagne. And amid all the chaos, Norah held very still, soaking in the sounds of success, her smile spread so wide, she thought her face might crack.
Cam bent to her ear. “You did it, Wonder Woman.”
She pivoted in his arms. “We did it. With a whole lot of help.”
Tucker bounced over, throwing his arms around both their shoulders. In a TV announcer’s voice he said, “You two have just saved our town from the Big Bad Box Store! What’re you gonna do now?”
Norah and Cam exchanged a look and a smile and answered together. “Sleep!”