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The crowd was outnumbering the seating provided. Tag was looking around and wondering what to do about it when Emily materialized by his side. “Don’t worry. We’re setting up more chairs. I was kind of hoping this would happen. It makes it look like you’re even more popular than we anticipated.”
Tag shook his head. “You’re incredible. You know that?”
“Yes. But remember, I used to do this type of stuff for a living. My work with Cam-Field was a lot like organizing one campaign rally after another.”
A tinny rasp bellowed from a nearby speaker. Emily frowned in the direction of the stage. “Uh-oh. That does not sound good.” Without waiting for a response, she hustled off.
“Tag?” A voice called behind him, and he turned to find Maura, Senator Marsh’s assistant, striding toward him.
“Hi, Maura. It’s nice to see you. I didn’t know you were coming.”
She smiled. “Wouldn’t have missed it. This is fantastic. Better than I could have imagined.”
“Bering’s wife, Emily, and my sister Hannah deserve most of the credit. With the rest of my vast and industrious family providing supporting roles.”
“I can assure you that with support like this, the road you’re embarking on here is going to be a whole lot smoother. Senator Marsh wanted me to clear a point with you before he goes onstage. He’s planning to make an announcement, and I wanted to make sure—”
“There you are!” An anxious Shay appeared next to him with a grinning Laurel by her side. “Sorry to interrupt, but Kip Patton is here.”
“Are you kidding me?” a wide-eyed Maura asked.
“Who?” Tag asked at the same time.
“Kip Patton, the billionaire computer app guy,” Shay explained. “Laurel has interviewed him, and he’s a regular guest at the inn. He lives in Glacier City, and he wants to meet you.”
“Oliver Patton,” Maura explained. “Kip to his friends. He’s on your endorsement list. A contribution would be a huge bonus. Go! Go and charm his socks off.”
Oliver Patton—that name Tag recalled. Shay and Laurel set off. Tag had followed a few steps before he remembered Maura had a question, but when he turned, she was already gone. He rejoined the women, and Laurel performed the introduction.
“Hey, Tag. Thrilled to meet you.” The hand extended in his direction belonged to a tall, skinny guy wearing worn blue jeans and sneakers with a hole in one toe where a snippet of yellow-plaid sock was visible. His uncombed hair looked too long, and he had a stain on his Star Wars T-shirt. Tag wanted to ask if he was trying to cement the computer geek stereotype or if it came naturally.
“Hi, Kip. Pleasure’s mine. Thanks for coming today.”
“You bet. I believe we have a mutual friend.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, Robert, um, Dr. Boyd? My company is working on some medical apps, and he’s applied to do consulting for us. We’ve been conducting interviews. He and Laurel both encouraged me to come today.”
They continued chatting, and Tag soon discovered that the questionable social skills portion of the computer geek stereotype did not extend to Kip Patton. Tag found they had a lot in common and he genuinely liked the guy.
Dr. Boyd joined them. “Ah, wonderful, I see you two have met.”
“We have. Thank you, Dr. Boyd.”
“I suspected you’d hit it off, with the piloting and all.”
“Tag has about a gazillion more hours than me, and he’s offered to teach me about gliders. We also share a love of basketball, and I think I might have him on that one.”
Shay laughed. “He’s not going to argue with you there. Last time he underestimated a basketball opponent, Ally took him to the cleaners.”
“Ally, your wife?” Kip asked.
“No, girlfriend,” Tag said, wondering if it could still be true.
“Ally Mowak,” Shay explained. “She’s our brilliant new hospital liaison here in Rankins.”
“Any relation to Abe Mowak?” Kip asked.
Beside him, Tag felt Dr. Boyd tense. He stole a glance and was a little startled by the expression on his face. Murderous was the word that came to mind, and every fine hair on the back of Tag’s neck stood up in agreement. Maybe Ally hadn’t been exaggerating the man’s opinion of her.
