As soon as he stepped through the door, Cassie Callister called out, “Just the man I wanted to see! Do a girl a favor and give me the scoop on this proposed store before Mama Pearl hears.”
Being one of the two major gossip hubs of town, Cassie and the staff of The Grind were in a constant competition with Mama Pearl at Dinner Belles to be the first to know anything worth knowing. Given the general consensus that Mama Pearl was somehow psychic—Violet swore to it on a stack of Bibles—Cam was pretty sure she was in a perpetual lead.
“Do I even want to know who got the gossip train moving on this?”
Cassie grinned. “You know I never reveal my sources.”
“Hook me up with a straight Americano, a white chocolate mocha, and whatever Avery’s go to is this month, and I’ll consider it.”
“I’m on it. All to go?”
“Yep.”
While she bustled behind the counter, Cam scoped out the handful of other patrons. A few familiar faces, but nobody that sent up red flags that he should keep his mouth shut, so as Cassie handed over his coffee, he said, “We’ve had a formal proposal by GrandGoods for store development.”
Cassie made a face. “Homogenized, big bulk, over processed, sweat shop supporting robots.”
“Then you’ll want to be at the Chamber of Commerce meeting later this week to get in on the ground floor of things.”
“Ooo, are we staging a protest? A picket line? A sit in?”
He chuckled, thinking Cassie was born in the wrong decade. “I think the expert helping out has some other ideas.”
“Well count me in. When and where, my friend?”
“Not sure just yet. Soon. I’ve still gotta book the community center, but I’ll let you know as soon as I do.”
“I’ll be there with bells on.”
As it was early yet, Cam made his way down Main Street without the usual stop and greet that would’ve tripled his time. The guard’s station at the front desk of City Hall was empty. Old Jerry Noble wouldn’t be on duty until the hall officially opened at eight. Cam bypassed the metal detector and headed up the stairs to his mother’s office on the second floor.
Avery looked up as he came in. “She’s been here since seven.”
“Thought she might be.” He held out the double shot espresso.
“Bless you.” She dropped her voice as she took the proffered coffee. “She’s in a mood.”
“Afraid I’m not gonna be helping that.”
“I figured as much.”
“Ah well, forewarned is forearmed.”
“For what it’s worth, we’re both on your side.”
“Thanks for that.” He rapped on the door, lifting a brow at the curt invitation before he stepped inside.
His mother looked up from the desk. “Don’t you start on me, Campbell. I’m already having a lousy morning.”
Cam revised his strategy. “Who’s starting something? I’m just here bearing legal stimulants and checking in before I head out to the nursery for the day.” He passed her the caffeine and sugar bomb he knew she loved but would never order for herself. “What’s wrong?”
“Chief Curry just submitted his resignation, pending the hire of a replacement.”
“He what?” Robert Curry had been Chief of Police in Wishful since…forever. Which, now that Cam thought about it, might be the why.
“He wants to retire, damn him. Like we need more change right now. I told him we’d take it under advisement, but we have to do a nationwide search and that takes time.”
“He doesn’t think anyone in the department is up to the task?”