Room for Murder - Tim Myers [58]
“Don’t forget, this is one of the highlights of the social season,” Alex said with a smile. “It’s a perfect excuse for everyone to get together.”
Up ahead of the long snaking line, Alex saw Conner on one side of the entry to the gymnasium, with Tracy right across from him. They were handing out badges, buttons, pencils, and flyers to any voter who would take them. Elkton Falls was pretty strict about letting their candidates roam around. It was a good rule, Alex thought, brought on by the year Lester Ferngate accosted nearly everyone in sight when he was trying to unseat Grady Hatch.
Grady himself was walking down the line, stopping for a word now and then and shaking a lot of hands. When he got to Alex, he faltered a step, then said, “Glad you folks could make it out. I just have one question. If you two are here, who’s watching the inn?”
Alex said, “We thought they’d be able to manage on their own long enough for us to vote.”
Elise asked, “So how does it feel with your final term as mayor winding down?”
Grady said, “You want to know the truth? I thought I’d enjoy it more without the pressure of trying to get elected, but it’s taken some of the zip out of it, I can tell you that.”
Elise smiled. “You can always run again in two years.”
He laughed at that. “No, Ma’am, my days of public service are over. It’s hard to say where I’ll be two years from now.”
Alex asked, “Is everything all right?”
Grady slapped him on the shoulder. “Everything’s just fine, Alex. All is well.”
As the mayor moved on, Elise said, “He seems preoccupied, doesn’t he?”
Alex could have shared with her the talk he’d had with the mayor, but he decided not to. “He’s most likely got a lot on his mind.”
Smiley O’Reilly came out of the polling booth with a flag sticker on his lapel. Smiley had a habit of dropping the first few words of every sentence he spoke, which could get confusing when he was pitching some of the insurance he sold.
He stopped by them and said, “Folks. Old truck still running, Alex?” The twinkle in his eye was bright
“Better than yours,” Alex said with a chuckle.
Smiley rolled his eyes, tipped his cap to Elise, and said, “Ma’am.”
After he was gone, Elise said, “I love this town. Where else are you going to meet such interesting people?”
“We’re unusual, but I’m not sure I’d go as far as saying we’re all that interesting.”
She said, “Oh, but you are.”
As they approached the two candidates’ positions, Conner struck first. “Any chance you’ve changed your mind, Alex?”
He replied, “No, I’m voting for Tracy.”
Conner still smiled brightly. “Have a pencil anyway. I’ve got a ton of them.”
Alex just shook his head, and Conner moved on to Elise. “How about you, fair lady, do you have any interest in a badge? I’d be glad to pin it on for you.”
She smiled and said, “No, thanks. I just wouldn’t feel right taking it, seeing that I’ll be voting for your ex-wife.”
Conner laughed. “Man, this is a tough crowd.”
A young woman behind them said, “I’d love a badge,” and Conner turned his charm on her.
Alex said to Tracy, “He hasn’t changed a bit, has he?”
“No, that’s always been one of his problems. He still thinks this is for junior class president.”
Elise asked, “How is it going so far?”
“I think the town’s pretty evenly split, if the way folks are acting is any indication. It’s too close to call, that’s for sure.”
Alex said, “I’m just glad those newspaper photographs didn’t hurt you.”
She smiled gently. “Hurt me? If anything, they gave me a higher profile than I had before. I’ve had several folks tell me how rotten I was treated by the press, and a few even said they changed their votes for me after seeing the way they behaved.”
Alex shook his head. “Somebody should teach them some manners. We are still in the South.”
Tracy said, “You’ll have to get in line. I think it’s absolutely hilarious it all backfired on them.”
Elise touched Tracy’s arm. “Good luck. I’m voting for you.” She smiled at that. “Thanks, Elise. Now I know I’ve got at least two in my favor.”
Alex protested, “Hey, I’m voting for you, too.”
She said, “Watch