Darius pressed harder. “Dad . . .”
Still Simon hesitated. His troubled gaze moved from Darius to Peyton, lingering on Doreen before returning to his son. “Nessa came to me last summer.” He sighed. “It was her idea that I run for mayor against Doreen.”
CHAPTER 4
Simon Knight wasn’t above lying. Darius knew that. But as far-fetched as his father’s claim sounded, Darius believed he was telling the truth.
Still, Darius pinned Simon with a skeptical stare. “Why would Nessa ask you to run for mayor of Trinity Falls?”
“She thought I’d do a good job.” Simon seemed to believe his own words. “She said I was a strong candidate to challenge Doreen in the election.”
Darius shook his head. “Nessa may have told you that, but those can’t be the real reasons she wanted you in the campaign.” In his peripheral vision, he caught Peyton’s surprised expression. “What is it?”
Peyton’s gaze slid from Simon back to Darius. “I’m just surprised at how blunt you are.”
Darius frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Never mind.” Peyton shook her head. “Why else would Nessa encourage your father to run for mayor if she didn’t think he was qualified?”
“That’s what we’re trying to understand.” Doreen studied Simon as though trying to determine what Nessa saw in him. “Simon doesn’t get involved in civic issues. Everyone who knows him knows that. No offense, Simon, but it’s the truth.”
“None taken.” Simon threw back his shoulders. “But, if everyone in town believes that, why did two hundred people sign my petition to have my name added to the ballot?”
“Two hundred people signed your petition, but there are fifteen hundred residents in town.” Darius cocked his head. “What did Nessa say when you told her you were pulling out of the campaign?”
“Not much.” Simon pinned him with a hard stare. “Just that I wasn’t a viable candidate anymore because you’d introduced Noah.” Simon said that as though it had been a bad thing.
“Maybe Nessa just wanted a competitive election.” Peyton’s comment claimed Darius’s attention.
Darius snorted. “Then she would have chosen a stronger candidate than my father.”
“I’m standing right here, Darius.” Simon’s tone was dry.
Peyton spread her arms. “Maybe people you’d have considered stronger candidates weren’t interested in challenging Doreen for office.”
“Then why propose a candidate at all?” Darius shoved his hands into the front pockets of his Dockers.
It took all of his concentration to have this debate with Peyton while she wore that smoking-hot Catwoman costume. The outfit was better suited to a completely different line of conversation.
Darius’s gaze sought refuge at the front of the store. He found Noah and June standing with Ean, Megan, Ramona, Audra, and Jackson on the perimeter of the story time crowd. According to his silver Timex Batman watch—and the smells of apple cider and fresh-baked cookies—story time was almost over. Judging by Stan’s grin and the expressions on the children’s faces, the reading was a huge success. Screams and shrill gasps periodically rent asunder the bookstore’s usual quiet. Some of those sound effects came from the parents who’d brought their children.
Megan and Ramona were all but bouncing with joy. They didn’t do their Halloween or Christmas events for the money. They did special celebrations for the children. Right now, both women seemed like big kids themselves.
Peyton continued. “Perhaps you should just ask Nessa what she’s up to.”
A look of horror settled on Simon’s sepia features. “I wasn’t supposed to let anyone know that she supported my campaign.”
“Don’t worry. I understand the need to protect a source.” Darius looked around the group. “I’ll find another way to learn what Nessa’s up to.”
“I appreciate your letting me join you for the town meeting.” Peyton followed Vaughn Brooks, Trinity Falls University’s concert director, into the town hall Tuesday evening.
They snaked their way through the crowd swelling the antechamber of the building’s largest conference room. Vaughn’s six-foot, broad
-shouldered frame paved a path where Peyton was certain her five-foot-plus stature would not.
“You’re a Trinity Falls resident now,” Vaughn spoke over his shoulder. The hall’s light shone on the smooth nutmeg-hued skin of his clean-shaven head. “You should witness firsthand how your new government works.”
Peyton surveyed the crush of bodies around her as she unbuttoned her double-breasted burgundy wool coat. She’d thought Ohio would be colder in late October. She’d been wrong. “Are all of these people here for the council meeting?”