Live and Let Pie by Ellie Alexander

Author:Ellie Alexander
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Chapter Fourteen

As expected Ashland Springs and every other business I approached with the giveaway idea agreed. I couldn’t wait to tell Steph and Bethany that we had a package that was sure to give one lucky winner a weekend to remember. There was one more person I wanted to ask before I headed back to Torte—Lance.

I retraced my steps along Main Street and turned left on Pioneer Street. The OSF welcome center on the corner had a display of Belle’s costume from last year’s production of Beauty and the Beast in the window. The dress was a work of art with miles of yellow silk and a hand-darted bodice.

I headed up Pioneer toward the bricks, as locals refer to the outdoor brick courtyard where the green show takes place before every evening performance. The protestors had dispersed but many of their abandoned signs littered the steps above the Green Stage and had been propped up along the outside of the Elizabethan theater.

Lance, flanked by his entourage, stood with his back propped up against the Bowmer Theater. He did not look happy. The object of his anger was none other than Malcolm.

I moved closer past the stage where a couple of OSF workers were gathering the protest signs. A band, which I assumed was the evening’s headliner, was trying to unload their equipment but had to wait for the crew to clear the discarded cardboard.

“Pull a trick like that again and you’re fired,” Lance said to Malcolm, scolding him with his index finger.

Given Lance’s status with the company most staff members would have acquiesced and left with their tails tucked between their legs. Not Malcolm. He squared his shoulders. “If we want to solve the housing crisis we’re going to have to break some rules. We’re going to have to play dirty. The city isn’t going to listen unless we demand that they listen.”

Lance fumed. “Enough, Malcolm. Enough. This is not how we operate. There’s a time and a place for protests. You crossed a line and you’ve trashed the bricks.”

Malcolm started to respond.

Lance held his finger in the air. “Not another word. Go help the crew clean this mess up.”

I knew from experience that it took a lot to rattle Lance. He didn’t get angry often, but when he did, it was like a scene from Henry V. I thought about ducking back to Torte. Lance didn’t appear to be in the mood to chat about Ashland giveaways. But he spotted me.

“Well, well, to what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked with a catlike grin, strolling over to the stage.

“Do you have a minute? I want to run an idea by you, but…” I trailed off and pointed at Malcolm who had begun picking up the signs.

“For you, my darling, I have all the time in the world.” He rolled his eyes. “Malcolm is low on my list for the moment. Very low.”

He walked with me to a shaded area in front of the Tudor Guild gift shop. “Please tell me you’re here because of our latest case.

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