“That’s going to be the challenge,” Emilio says. “A lot of people in this town are struggling. They see this investment as a lifeline.”
“Which is exactly what HelixGen are counting on,” I say. “They prey on communities that are vulnerable.”
David, the coffee shop owner, comes over to our table.
“I couldn’t help but overhear,” he says, pulling up a chair. “And I need to tell you something.”
“What do you know?” Mrs. Field asks.
“The mayor and that man from HelixGen Corp—Richard Musgrove—they were in here the other day.” David sits down, his voice low and serious. “I got a real bad feel about them. The way they were talking, the way Musgrove was looking at the mayor … it wasn’t about community investment. It was predatory. Like he was sizing up his prey.”
I feel Vaughn tense slightly beside me.
“What do you mean?” Atlas asks.
“I mean the mayor was eating out of his hand,” David says. “Musgrove was flattering him, talking about how visionary he was, how Pine Ridge was lucky to have a leader like him. And the mayor just … ate it up. He was like a kid being told he was special.”
“That’s manipulation,” Mrs. Field says.
“Exactly,” David says. “And I’ve seen enough of the world to recognize it when I see it. Whatever this company is planning, it’s not good for this town. And I’m not going to stand by and let it happen. We need a plan, because if we’re going up against the mayor and HelixGen Corp, we’re going to need community support.”
“That’s the problem,” I say. “Most of the town seems excited about the investment. They see jobs and funding, not the threat underneath.”
“Then we need to change the narrative,” Vaughn says. “We need to show them what HelixGen is. What they actually do.”
Atlas leans forward on his seat. “My friend sent me additional documentation of their practices. Lawsuits, privacy violations, a clear pattern of exploitation. If we can present that to the community in the right way?—”
“People will listen,” Mrs. Field finishes. “Especially if it comes from trusted voices. From people they know.”
David leans forward. “If you can get people to come to the community center for a vote, I’ll provide refreshments. Coffee, pastries, whatever you need.” He sits back, and I can see the emotion in his expression. “I moved to Pine Ridge to be part of a community. My husband and I were accepted in a way we hadn’t been anywhere else before. We built a good life here, and I’ll fight to preserve the spirit and heart of Pine Ridge, because that’s what makes this place special.”
The table goes quiet for a moment, his words mirroring how everyone feels.
“The question is how to get people to show up,” I say. “And how to frame this so it doesn’t seem like we’re just being alarmist.”
“We tell them the truth,” Vaughn says simply. “We show them the evidence. We let them make an informed decision.”
“But the mayor is already sold on the idea,” Emilio says, his voice heavy with concern. “He’s not going to voluntarily put it to a vote.”
“Then we force him to,” Mrs. Field says. “There are town regulations about this. Anything that affects the community needs to go through a vote to ensure transparency and prevent corruption.”
“So we call for a mandatory vote,” I say, the plan starting to take shape. “We get enough community members to request it, the mayor has to comply.”
“How many signatures do we need?” Atlas asks.
“Twenty-five percent of registered voters,” Mrs. Field says. “That’s roughly two hundred and fifty people in a town of about a thousand.”
“That’s doable,” Vaughn says. “I can reach out to the farming community. They’ll be interested in this.”
“I can talk to the business owners,” David offers. “Especially the ones who’ve been here a long time. They understand what makes Pine Ridge special.”
“And I’ll contact the library board,” Mrs. Field says. “They need to understand what’s at stake with the oral history project.”
Emilio looks at his son. “What about you?”
“I’ll work with Kai on the presentation,” Atlas says. “We need to make sure the evidence is clear and compelling. We need to give people the information they need to make the right choice.”
“We should aim for the vote to happen soon,” I say. “Before the mayor can move forward with signing anything.”
