Just Business

Chapter Nineteen: Marcia

After the interview, they were instructed to go and open the shop as usual. It would be a little late, but not so much that anybody would care. They were told that at some point the judges would come through wearing disguises. It would probably be obvious, especially when both David and Marcia had intimate knowledge of their regulars, but they were to act as if they were fooled. David called Amanda in (it was her day off, but she wanted to be there for filming) and Marcia sent home one of her bookshop girls who wasn't comfortable on camera. Then, the waiting started.

Due to the early hour, the bookshop was busier than the bar. David left Amanda to deal with the few coffees that had been ordered, loitering in the bookshop.

"I kind of want to put a do not disturb sign on the display," Marcia sigh as a customer wandered off with a bee book, leaving the display unbalanced. David grabbed another copy from behind the counter, replacing it and tidying the piles.

"People taking from it just means it's a good display," David pointed out. "Are you really going to do a reality TV display?"

Marcia shrugged.

"I was playing around with the idea last night. There's enough books. Loads of memoirs, plus maybe The Selection and Here For The Right Reasons. Maybe 1984 if people get the big brother reference."

"I'm sure people will get it. Have faith in the good people of Challyton."

"I just don't know what I'd do for the centrepiece," she confided. Marcia did not like it when she had no ideas. She lent on the counter, propping up her chin with her hand. All her displays had a focal centerpoint. For the bee display, it was a large bouquet of origami flowers, small pom-pom bees attached with wire so they bobbed lazily. Three were connected to a small motor that spun them around the display, flying them round and round.

"You could put a camera in the middle," David suggested. "If you make it one of those old-timey ones, you can use the motor to make the film spin. Then, put out a book in front of it, like it's being interviewed. Change that book up, advertise a different one every few days."

Marcia smiled up at him.

"That's a super cute idea," she said. "Oh! We could attach some casting call sheets to the display, use them to suggest books."

David considered.

"So like a casting call saying: looking for a dystopian, female led, YA book and then list like Divergent, Hunger Games and stuff like that?"

"Exactly," Marcia said. "Actually, I've been meaning to talk to you about the display. Normally I change it roughly every month or so, but for the show I think it would give us an edge if we did it weekly."

David raised an eyebrow, straightening another stack of books as a customer's tote bag brushed into it.

"That'll be a lot of work, but I'm sure you can do it. And I'll help wherever I can. . . Hang on, if I cut the specials menu down to like four or five drinks, then I can change them as you do the displays."

"Really? That would be amazing."

"It's nothing compared to the work you put into those displays," David replied. He had come back to the counter now, and was standing so close Marcia had to crane her neck to see his face. She stood up, meeting him on an equal level. "Do I need to make a Fashionista Detective cocktail?"

"God, no," Marcia pulled a face, "Those books will be at the back of the display, hopefully buried under something better."

"What's your beef with Fashionista Detective?" David asked. Marcia gave him a deadpan look.