order from top restaurants for working lunches, offices with executives who’ll tell their wives and give them your card after they’ve had a piece of pie, so you’ll be contacted for the next big party.”
Dana watched Wanda think this over. “You think that will do some good?”
“It sure won’t hurt.”
“You think it’s legal?”
“I don’t think there’s a PG cop who would arrest you.”
Wanda smiled a little at that. “I guess it’s worth a try. In for a carton, in for a case.”
“That means yes?”
Wanda began to untie her apron. “It does.”
Wanda narrowed the choice down to two three-story buildings, both just a short drive from the shop. She wanted to stay nearby to increase the likelihood her targets could easily find her. She and Dana parked between the possibilities and scouted a little more. In the end, the building without a security guard in the lobby was the logical choice.
Now they stood by the elevator and read the names of businesses on a marble plaque so shiny they could see their own reflections. Each of them had six pies in two triple-decker carriers.
“Creative Development and Investment,” Wanda read out loud. “Why does that sound familiar? That where you keep your millions?”
Dana pulled out a notepad. Wanda admired how organized her new manager was. Besides helping with prep work in the kitchen, she’d already set up an easy accounting system, a procedure to keep track of inventory, a work calendar, and this morning she’d called the local high school to see if the guidance counselor had any thoughts on a responsible teen with computer skills to develop a simple Web site. Next she planned to see if Tracy had any recommendations for someone to work behind the counter.
She began to jot notes, then she glanced up. “Investment groups are a no-brainer. Attorneys, too, and accounting firms. For now we won’t try doctor’s offices. More patients than staff, and short on space for conference and break rooms. Realtors might not be too bad, except these days they’re broke.”
Wanda admired her logic. Dana finally held up her pad. “We’ll start with these. I think we want to be forthright. We’ll tell them that bringing pies right to them is part of our opening week strategy, and we’re hoping they’ll enjoy the pies and recommend us.”
“I never had a problem pushing a special at the Dancing Shrimp, but this feels personal.”
“You believe in your pies, right? They’re delicious, and they’re a bargain. Right?”
Wanda nodded. “Let’s go.”
Thirty minutes later, Wanda had to admit that giving away pie wasn’t all that challenging or ego bruising. The receptionist at the first law firm had immediately opened the doors to the inner sanctum, and before Wanda and Dana could set two pies on the conference room table, three attorneys and a paralegal had gathered to argue over the selection. Better yet the paralegal and receptionist had promised if they liked the pies, they would stop by to purchase a selection for their next bimonthly staff meeting.
They were welcomed at the next three stops, as well, and departed with the feeling those pies might reap benefits in the future. One accounting firm had a dour receptionist who refused their offer, and another had closed early for the afternoon. But they stopped by an insurance firm that hadn’t been on Dana’s list when they realized it took up more than half a hallway. They left pies with an enthusiastic audience.
“Let’s try Creative Investment and Development,” Dana said. They had reached the top floor and were down to three pies. Creative Investment appeared to be the only tenant on the floor, and Wanda hoped she and Dana could dispense with the rest and call it a day.
“You’re good at this. You ever done this kind of thing before?” she asked Dana.
“You saw my résumé. I’ve done just about everything else, but never door-to-door sales.”
“Moving so much must have been a trial.”
“It’s not the best way to raise a child, but Lizzie has asthma, so we’ve been looking for the right climate. We’re hoping the warm weather and gulf air will keep it at bay. So far she’s done well here.”
“We’re all hoping you stay. We like having you at Happiness Key.”
“You’re like one big family, aren’t you?”
“We get along okay. And family’s a good thing when you have a child with health problems. Yours helps when they can?”
“It’s just me and Lizzie. But we manage fine.”
Privately Wanda thought that was a shame, but they were already at the door to Creative