I’m waiting in here.”
“Lucky you with your cushy reporter’s assignment.” She marched toward him, pausing to deliver her scorn. “I had to get shots of the voters arriving, up close and personal. Do you expect me to shoot that shit through the glass doors?” She nodded toward the entrance behind her.
“No, I don’t.” Darius struggled to keep the laughter from his voice. He was used to the surly artist. “We’re lucky to have your expertise.”
“Damn right.” Pleasantries exchanged, Lei stomped back into the gym.
Darius crossed the corridor to lean against the wall opposite the gym’s entrance. He glanced toward the rear doors leading to the dark parking lot. During the May primary, he’d waited outside to interview voters. Not today, though. Lei was right. It was too cold.
But the cold clime didn’t have a negative impact on voter turnout. The midterm ballot issues were enough to lure people to the polls. In addition to the mayoral election, there were several county, state, and federal considerations, including U.S. Senate and Congressional races.
Darius straightened from the wall as Jackson and Audra emerged from the gym. “A few words for the press?”
Jackson wrapped an arm around Audra’s waist. “I don’t think the newspaper’s publisher should be quoted in one of its articles.”
“Then don’t speak as the publisher,” Darius offered him a solution. “Speak as a member of the town’s founding family.”
“Nice try but we can’t separate the two.”
Darius shrugged. “I can. I’m sure other residents can, too.”
“I don’t want to influence anyone.” Jackson glanced at Audra.
“Go on.” The songwriter nudged Jackson in his ribs with her elbow. “You’re not going to influence anyone. The article won’t appear in the paper until tomorrow morning.”
Jackson shook his head. “It’ll appear online this afternoon—along with the hundreds of photos Lei seems determined to take.”
“Just give Darius a quote.” Audra smiled up at Jackson. “Don’t make his job harder than it already is.”
“Thank you, Audra.” Darius gave Jackson a pointed look. “Listen to your better half.”
Jackson sighed. “OK. As a member of the town’s founding family, I’d like to say that Trinity Falls is fortunate the candidate who chose to run for mayor is as dedicated to the town as Doreen Fever has always been.”
Darius’s pen raced across his notebook. “Thanks, Jack. Anything you’d like to add, Audra?”
“Me? I wasn’t expecting to be interviewed.” Taken aback, Audra looked from Jackson to Darius in surprise.
“You’ve just moved from L.A. to Trinity Falls. From the perspective of a new resident, what do you think of our ballot issues?”
Audra considered the question. “Los Angeles has a much greater population, but the issues are similar—funding for education and other necessary community services.”
Darius transcribed Audra’s quote as she and Jackson left the high school.
It was a while before Nessa emerged from the room. Her expression was pensive. Darius approached her, pen and reporter’s notebook at the ready. “Congratulations on being elected council president.”
“Thanks.” Nessa looked at him as though she was emerging from deep thought. What was on her mind?
“What are your plans for the second half of your term?”
“I’m going to continue the good work the council already has done to get the town back in shape, fiscally as well as physically.”
Darius wrote down her response. It hadn’t escaped his notice that Nessa had given the council credit for the town improvements Doreen had claimed Ramona had accomplished as mayor. He kept those thoughts to himself. “Do you have any comments on the ballot issues?”
“I wish the town had options.” Nessa straightened as though preparing for battle—or a mayoral run. “The residents of Trinity Falls deserve to have a choice of mayoral candidates. For too many years, our
“Lucky you with your cushy reporter’s assignment.” She marched toward him, pausing to deliver her scorn. “I had to get shots of the voters arriving, up close and personal. Do you expect me to shoot that shit through the glass doors?” She nodded toward the entrance behind her.
“No, I don’t.” Darius struggled to keep the laughter from his voice. He was used to the surly artist. “We’re lucky to have your expertise.”
“Damn right.” Pleasantries exchanged, Lei stomped back into the gym.
Darius crossed the corridor to lean against the wall opposite the gym’s entrance. He glanced toward the rear doors leading to the dark parking lot. During the May primary, he’d waited outside to interview voters. Not today, though. Lei was right. It was too cold.
But the cold clime didn’t have a negative impact on voter turnout. The midterm ballot issues were enough to lure people to the polls. In addition to the mayoral election, there were several county, state, and federal considerations, including U.S. Senate and Congressional races.
Darius straightened from the wall as Jackson and Audra emerged from the gym. “A few words for the press?”
Jackson wrapped an arm around Audra’s waist. “I don’t think the newspaper’s publisher should be quoted in one of its articles.”
“Then don’t speak as the publisher,” Darius offered him a solution. “Speak as a member of the town’s founding family.”
“Nice try but we can’t separate the two.”
Darius shrugged. “I can. I’m sure other residents can, too.”
“I don’t want to influence anyone.” Jackson glanced at Audra.
“Go on.” The songwriter nudged Jackson in his ribs with her elbow. “You’re not going to influence anyone. The article won’t appear in the paper until tomorrow morning.”
Jackson shook his head. “It’ll appear online this afternoon—along with the hundreds of photos Lei seems determined to take.”
“Just give Darius a quote.” Audra smiled up at Jackson. “Don’t make his job harder than it already is.”
“Thank you, Audra.” Darius gave Jackson a pointed look. “Listen to your better half.”
Jackson sighed. “OK. As a member of the town’s founding family, I’d like to say that Trinity Falls is fortunate the candidate who chose to run for mayor is as dedicated to the town as Doreen Fever has always been.”
Darius’s pen raced across his notebook. “Thanks, Jack. Anything you’d like to add, Audra?”
“Me? I wasn’t expecting to be interviewed.” Taken aback, Audra looked from Jackson to Darius in surprise.
“You’ve just moved from L.A. to Trinity Falls. From the perspective of a new resident, what do you think of our ballot issues?”
Audra considered the question. “Los Angeles has a much greater population, but the issues are similar—funding for education and other necessary community services.”
Darius transcribed Audra’s quote as she and Jackson left the high school.
It was a while before Nessa emerged from the room. Her expression was pensive. Darius approached her, pen and reporter’s notebook at the ready. “Congratulations on being elected council president.”
“Thanks.” Nessa looked at him as though she was emerging from deep thought. What was on her mind?
“What are your plans for the second half of your term?”
“I’m going to continue the good work the council already has done to get the town back in shape, fiscally as well as physically.”
Darius wrote down her response. It hadn’t escaped his notice that Nessa had given the council credit for the town improvements Doreen had claimed Ramona had accomplished as mayor. He kept those thoughts to himself. “Do you have any comments on the ballot issues?”
“I wish the town had options.” Nessa straightened as though preparing for battle—or a mayoral run. “The residents of Trinity Falls deserve to have a choice of mayoral candidates. For too many years, our
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