“Been getting a lot of quid pro quo kinda ideas, have we?”
“A fair number. None actually actionable, I don’t think.” She leaned back against the counter and crossed her legs. “How are the numbers looking?”
“Overall good. We picked up eleven at No Sweat. Fifteen more at Brides and Belles. Only six at Sanderson’s. But it’s slowing down to dribs and drabs. Everybody’s reporting the same kind of thing. They keep running into people who’ve already been hit up. I’m not sure how to get beyond that crowd without going door to door.”
Tyler pursed her lips. “I heard you spent a fair chunk of time talking to Rosanna Sanderson this morning.”
Cam sent her a flat stare. “And who exactly is keeping tabs on how long I’m spending in local businesses?”
“You know perfectly well Cassie can see the door to Sanderson’s from The Grind.”
“So? She was on my list, same as you and Cassie and more than a dozen other businesse
s.”
“Half an hour just seems like a long time to spend checking on six signatures in a jewelry store.”
“Any angler knows you’ve gotta put out better bait if you wanna catch bigger fish.”
Tyler grinned at him. “Does that mean there’s a bigger fish to catch?”
“If there was, do you think I’d be dumb enough to confirm it? I’m well aware of the state of gossip in this town. Cassie’s looking for something to scoop Mama Pearl on, and I am not gonna be it.”
“I’m not hearing denials.”
“You’re not hearing squat.” Cam shoved open the door. “I’ll keep you posted about the signature total. As soon as Avery notifies us we’ve got enough, I’ll be back by to pick up the pages for signature verification.”
“I’ll be here. And Cam?”
He paused, looking back at his lifelong friend.
“I’m glad she’s back.”
“So am I.”
Cam made quick stops at Lickety Split and Inglenook before finally working around to Dinner Belles, where Norah had turned a corner booth into an impromptu command center. Against one wall was a markerboard showing the running tally of signatures. Norah herself hunched over a map of the city that showed the individual Council wards, with two others in street team gear. She, too, wore a YES cap, and with the braid in her hair, she looked about eighteen. At least until she started giving out orders like a five star general.
“Mamie, you hit up the senior center. They’re all of a generation where voting actually meant something, so they’re probably registered. They just aren’t necessarily super mobile and coming into town.”
Mamie saluted. “That’s a fabulous idea. Autumn, you should come with me.” She turned back to Norah. “Autumn’s the head librarian. She volunteers at the center once a week. The seniors just love her.”
“Do it. We need every asset we’ve got.”
The pair of them headed for the door, flashing cheerful smiles at Cam on their way out.
Cam joined Norah at her booth. “Where’s your walkie talkie?”
“Don’t tempt me. I’ll make you hunt some down for me. You know Cassie would be all over that.”
Thinking about what else Cassie was all over, Cam shot a quick glance at Mama Pearl. Yep. She was giving him a Look.
Jesus.
As if he’d be stupid enough to buy the ring here where anybody and their brother could see and talk about it. Rosanna had just wanted to tell him about her daughter Rory’s decision to pursue landscape architecture in college and ask about graduate school suggestions. But that didn’t make for good gossip.
“Are those the updated totals?” He nodded to the board behind her.
“Yeah, Avery already copied me on the numbers you sent. We’re two hundred signatures in the hole. I’d like to get at least another hundred for padding, just in case we had a fair chunk of non-registered voters signing.”