Room for Murder - Tim Myers [33]
Shantara laughed. “He does, but all I really need is the way my commission says thanks.”
Alex said, “Come on, you were laying it on a little thick, weren’t you? Bill Yadkin’s good, but in demand all over the country?”
Shantara said, “Hey, it’s true. A man came in the store from Foggy Bottom yesterday and bought a hook. If that’s not out in the country, I don’t know what is.”
Their conversation was interrupted as the woman came back in. After gathering up the last of her purchases, she handed Shantara a business card. “Give this to the artisan,
would you? I’d like to commission a matching piece for that sculpture.”
Shantara said. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
“A complementary piece to the wall hanging, of course.” It was all the woman could do to keep from rolling her eyes.
After she was gone. Shantara said. “And here I thought it was just a gate. Bill made it for Trinity Sloane, but when it came time to pay, the old coot stiffed him I convinced Bill to let me sell it for him, but he swore up and down I was wasting my time.”
“Hey, it looked like art to me.” Alex said
“So what brings you out here when you have an inn full of guests? I know you don’t have time for social calls.”
Alex said, “I’m worried about Tracy. How is the campaign going?”
Shantara said, “Oxford Hitchcock was bad enough, but running against Conner is turning out to be a real nightmare. Have you seen his latest stunt?”
When Alex said he hadn’t, Shantara reached behind the counter and pulled out a poster. All it said was shook in bold white letters with a green background.
“So? That’s one of Tracy’s, isn’t it?”
Shantara said, “Don’t I wish. No, we used red on our first run. He went to the same printer over in Hickory, used everything we did, but he changed the color. Folks around here are going to be voting for the Red Shook or the Green one.”
“I don’t see how it can help him, since it doesn’t say which Shook to vote for.”
“Alex, he’s been telling everybody that Green means Go for Connor, and Red means stop Tracy from ruining Elkton Falls.”
A sudden thought struck Alex. “Okay, here’s a way to turn it around on him. Green also means untried and inexperienced. Use that against Conner.”
Shantara smiled. “I knew there was a reason I kept you around. We’ll do just that Maybe we’ll switch to a gold background for Tracy and throw his whole attack plan off.”
Alex asked, “Whatever happened to the issues, or to a candidate’s qualifications? Doesn’t anybody even have a platform anymore?”
“Alex, they still do, but that’s not what gets the voters excited. We’re trying to come up with some flair to get their attention. Once they know we’re out there, then they’ll listen to what we stand for.”
“If you say so,” he said.
Shantara said, “Just leave it to me, Alex. I’ll teach Conner Shook not to come after us.”
As Alex drove back to the inn, he marveled at the different hues of Shook posters around town.
No matter what color the poster was, there was no doubt in his mind; Tracy was the only Shook he’d be voting for come Election Day.
Chapter 10
Alex found Lenora MacLeod waiting for him in the lobby when he got back to Hatteras West. She had her sketch pad tucked under one arm and an expectant expression on her face.
Up until that moment, he’d forgotten completely about their earlier discussion. “Hi, Lenora. Is there something I can help you with?”
“Alex, I hope your answer is yes. I would love for you to pose for me. It shan’t take long, I promise.”
Alex said, “I’m kind of busy right now. Why don’t you get Corki and Jan to pose for you? I bet they’d love to do it.”
Lenora said, “It’s you I’m interested in, Alex.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Elise said as she came up behind him.
“You’re not interrupting anything,” Alex said hastily. “If you’ll excuse me,” he added to Lenora as he followed Elise to the laundry area.
She said, “Alex, you don’t have to curtail your conversations around here on my account.”
Alex said with a smile, “She just wants me for my