“BW wants me to cover the election, from the inside, as it were.”
“He would,” Lenore said with a huff. She ruffled her glossy feathers. “I sometimes wonder if that skunk has ever heard of ethics.”
“All he cares about is selling papers, and he is good at that.”
“Still, you can’t compromise your integrity to help BW. That will hurt your career, and no one will trust what you write again, even if it’s a review of the Bamboo Patch’s fall menu.”
“But how do I explain that to BW? And what do I say to Orville? And what am I permitted to do? I want to help Orville if I can. You sure you don’t have a self-help book for foxes who are dating aspiring politicians?”
“Quite sure. What you need is a legal guide.” Lenore took a sip of the coffee, and then said, “Oh, I know! Why not pay a visit to Mr. Fallow? He’ll know what you’re legally obligated to do, and more than that, he’ll tell you just what to say to keep BW off your back.” Walter Fallow lived in the Mirror Lake neighborhood, and he was one of the most respected lawyers in the area.
Vera smiled. “Now that’s thinking, Lenore! I’ll stop by his office tomorrow morning. I’ll have plenty of time to talk things over with Mr. Fallow then.”
Looking over at her friend, she finally noticed the suppressed excitement in the raven’s eyes. Vera had been so consumed with her own news, she hadn’t even thought to ask Lenore what was happening.
“Hold on,” Vera said now. “You’re about to burst! What’s going on?”
It was most likely something about her store. The raven worked there tirelessly, and the business was a bright spot in the village, where creatures gathered to chat and look over the latest novels and political thrillers that were well stocked. Lenore was usually reserved, especially in public, so Vera was certain that something major was in the wind.
“I just got a message from Bradley Marvel’s publicist,” Lenore said excitedly. “They added us to his new tour at the last minute, and he will be appearing here next week!”
Bradley Marvel was a hugely popular author who wrote thrillers. They weren’t exactly to Vera’s taste, but many creatures liked them, and this event was a coup for the small bookstore. The author had canceled his appearance last year due to some kind of illness. Lenore had been keenly disappointed, since she’d been forced to substitute a local author named Wilbur Montague who wrote dull tomes about shipwrecks, and it just wasn’t the same thing at all.
Vera let out an unladylike squeal at this news and gave Lenore a hug.
She was extremely happy for her friend, who worked so hard and asked for so little. If the star writer actually showed up this time, it would be a very lucrative evening for Lenore and Nevermore.
“Let me help you get ready for the event,” said Vera. “That’s short notice! But at least after the festival, everything will be quiet around town.” This was an eminently logical assumption on Vera’s part. It was, however, not correct.
Chapter 2
The next morning, Vera woke in her comfy, den-like home, relishing the early calm. She’d stayed up rather late the night before, talking with Orville about what he needed to do over the next few days and weeks to give his campaign a fighting chance. Vera figured that giving him a few basic pointers was fine. But it reminded her that a visit to Mr. Fallow was first on her list today.
She strolled through the quiet streets of Shady Hollow. After the festival, most creatures were taking a day off to relax and recover, especially those who enjoyed the more potent beverages later in the evening. Sun Li’s mulled plum wine had been a hit, the Cold Clay Spiked Cider ran out every year, and Timothy Leveritt’s special aged applejack was always a favorite.
The air was decidedly snappish, with a frosty edge to it. In a few hours, the sun would warm things up, but for now, Vera was glad she possessed not only her thick natural coat, but also her jade green hat and scarf—which nicely complemented her reddish coloring.
Mirror Lake was a fairly long walk from the center of Shady Hollow, but it was a delightful stroll through a patch of woodland, and Vera enjoyed the sunlight hitting the amber and yellow leaves of birches and aspen, lighting up the whole scene with a special glow.
In the distance, the bright blue surface of Mirror Lake shimmered in the morning sun. A community of homes and businesses were clustered on a few streets along the lakeshore. Mirror Lake was not properly a town, yet neither was it a mere ancillary to Shady Hollow. It had its own feeling—quiet, peaceful, and serene. Much of that was due to the lake itself. Larger than the millpond in Shady Hollow, the spring-fed lake was a haven in the hot summer days, and in the winter, it became an icy playground. At all times, creatures fished in the waters, or boated, or strolled along the shoreline.
Many rats called Mirror Lake home. Among them was Mr. Fallow. Vera walked up the pathway to the attorney’s office, noting the bright blooms of chrysanthemum and the late roses climbing up the fence. It was difficult to believe that winter was on its way in a matter of weeks.
Suddenly, someone emerged from Mr. Fallow’s office, the bright red door swinging shut behind them. Vera recognized the figure of Edward Springfield, a rat of an exceptionally polite disposition who always doffed his hat in the street and had a greeting for every creature.
Except on this morning, when Mr. Springfield ignored Vera’s friendly smile, seeming to stare past her blankly. Then he abruptly turned the opposite way down the street and hurried in the direction
