Page 92 of All Wrapped Up
‘I went to pick it up from the town hall and it was gone,’ he explained. ‘And no one else has moved it, because I’ve checked. It was literally there one day and gone the next.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me before?’
‘Because I knew there was nothing you’d be able to do about it and I didn’t want to disturb you unnecessarily in case the bug had landed.’
I could hardly object to his kindness and he was right, given that the box had disappeared into thin air, there wouldn’t have been anything I could do to make it magically reappear. There were limits to my powers as festival organiser.
‘According to Tom,’ Ash further said, ‘who was possibly the last person to see it, before the person who took it, of course, it was almost full to the brim with voting slips.’
‘That makes it even worse, doesn’t it?’ I groaned. I was starting to feel angry now the initial shock had worn off. ‘It was such a lovely way to make everyone feel involved and some mean-spirited sod has gone and spoilt it. Who would do something like that?’
‘I can think of one person,’ said Ash, with a nod to the far end of the bar.
I followed his gaze and was shocked to see Jason nursing a pint and looking comfortably at home.
‘I thought he’d been barred,’ I said in a low voice.
‘Me too.’
‘You know, I bet it was him,’ I grumbled. ‘He insinuated at the launch that I might not find the festival all plain sailing.’
‘Oh, did he now?’ said Ash, sitting up straighter and puffingout his chest as he pinned Jason with a look of pure loathing. ‘Well, we’ll see about that.’
‘It’s fine,’ I said, laying a hand on his arm, because he had been about to stand up. ‘There’s no need for heroics, though your gallantry is appreciated.’
‘I just don’t want everyone missing out,’ he said and I took my hand away now he’d stood down. ‘Not after so many people bothered to vote.’
‘They won’t miss out,’ I said, as a possible solution fortuitously sprang to mind. ‘I’ve got an idea that will mean it can still happen.’
‘What are you thinking?’
‘How about,’ I suggested, ‘we award our winners today as planned, then make an announcement about the ballot box being stolen and set up a new one somewhere else for safekeeping—’
‘Like in here or in the café, you mean?’
‘Yes.’ I nodded. ‘That’s it. The café would probably be best as so many families go in there and maybe we could change the vote slightly,’ I carried on, feeling further inspired to make the most of the horrible situation. ‘We could ask people to only vote for windows that haven’t been placed by us and that way, the rest of the shops will get another chance.’
‘That’s a great idea,’ Ash agreed. ‘Everyone’s bound to be disappointed about what’s happened, but this is a brilliant solution, Clemmie.’
‘As long as Jemma is happy to look after the ballot box.’
‘I’m sure she will be.’
‘In that case,’ I said, as my stomach growled, ‘let’s quickly grab some lunch and then get the new plan underway.’
‘I’m up for that,’ Ash said, picking Pixie up and readjusting her coat while I quickly finished my coffee and then put my own coat back on. ‘There’s a wood-fired pizza stand set up on the market today. Can I tempt you to something from that?’
‘You certainly can,’ I confirmed keenly. ‘It’s ages since I’ve had one of those.’
We both picked the same toppings and the pizzas were delicious. Generous amounts of mushrooms, pancetta, Gruyere and caramelised onions covered the thin, crisp bases and we ate them on one of the benches that had been arranged where the stage had been on the day of the launch.
It was the perfect spot to people-watch from and we were on the lookout for any shady characters who might know something about the case of the disappearing ballot box. Being Wynbridge though, of course, and with Jason still in the pub, there were none.
‘I didn’t expect you to eat all of that,’ said Ash, when I handed him my empty box.
‘You sound disappointed,’ I laughed.
‘I am,’ he said. ‘I was hoping for a nibbled edge at least.’
