Page 53 of Secret Silver Nights

“Spoken like a true chauvinist,” Niko finally answered. “However, I’m sure your female supporters would find this comment revealing, as do I. Someone with these dated, off-putting views has absolutely no place in public office.”

“I hear she keeps questionable company, too.”

The hairs on the back of Niko’s neck stood up. “Oh?”

“That young man she brought here…and the fire.”

“Besides the fact that he worked at the school, I don’t understand the connection.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. I don’t apologize for upholding the traditions upon which this country was founded. Men were born to lead—women, to follow their leads. Of course, this is just a personal opinion I’m sharing with a friend. My political views are completely different.”

“Dick, I’ve known you half my life. Both of our family roots run deep in Paradise soil. Yes, our families belong to the same clubs, and yes, we’ve shared lunch a time or two. But make no mistake about it. I am not your friend.”

Niko smiled before he walked away. It didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Bryce cut him off as he neared the door and followed him into the hallway. “What was that about? Most people wouldn’t notice it, but I can tell that the man under that cool veneer is about to explode.”

“It’s what I get for trying to be friendly with a determined adversary. It was clear Dick was trying to push my buttons.”

“Looks like he succeeded. What did he say?”

“Nothing important. Right now, I need to focus. How much time do we have?”

His answer came around the corner as the stage manager neared them. “Places in five minutes, gentlemen,” she said to them before going inside the door to inform the other candidates.

Bryce turned to Niko. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine. Has our marketing collateral been distributed?”

“There’s not a soul in the building who doesn’t now have a bumper sticker, Drake for Mayor pamphlet and miniature flag.”

“Great.”

Both men turned as those inside the room filed out. Niko gave Bryce a nod and fell in beside those heading to the stage.

Minutes later, after the national anthem had been sung and the welcome given, the moderator for the night’s debate went over the rules. The irony wasn’t lost on Niko that the moderator was not only a woman but a bit of a celebrity. Born and raised in Paradise Cove, she’d graduated college and was now enjoying a stellar career in journalism, most recently as a correspondent for MSNBC. So even though the town boasted just under four thousand people, there was a certain city sophistication to this small-town affair.

“The questions put before you tonight come directly from your constituents,” she continued. “They were chosen to cover a wide spectrum of topics and to get to the heart of the matter of why one of you should occupy the office of mayor for this town. I will start to my far right, and thereafter each of you will be given the opportunity to answer. Please keep your comments to two minutes.”

After a few more instructions they were ready to begin. Niko had researched and studied well. No topic caught him off guard; the questions were fairly typical regarding education, quality medical care, issues regarding city-owned properties and taxes. As expected, he and Dick came down on opposite sides. Dick basically repeated what he’d said backstage. Niko, however, hadn’t shown his hand behind the scenes and, after Monique and Buddy had commented, hit him with a full deck of accurate information.

“It’s one thing to quote something incorrectly and another altogether to be blatantly misleading. Mr. Schneider would have you believe that I want to raise everyone’s taxes when he knows this is simply not true. I have been very clear in my plans to provide this city with a top-of-the-line educational system, state-of-the-art medical facilities and continued road, sewer and other repairs and other improvements as our city requires. As my grandmother used to tell me, money doesn’t grow on trees and neither, Mr. Schneider, will the funds to improve our city. What I’ve laid out is a fair and straightforward way where every citizen can contribute their equal share, based on their financial ability. If your income falls below a certain amount, you won’t be taxed at all. For others, like Mr. Schneider, for instance, and myself, who’ve been blessed with greater incomes, we will shoulder greater responsibilities. I believe this is only right. I hold fast to that part of our Pledge of Allegiance that says ‘to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all’!”

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