"Just have free bikes," Archer said, "like those scooter companies. It's easier to manage than an actual bike share. Paint them cool colors or weld interesting metalwork on them, and boom, it's an Instagram moment. Then it won't look so corporate. We can also have individuals or businesses sponsor a bike."
I hated to admit it, but it did sound like a better plan.
"The next idea is murals," I said.
"You need to be careful with the murals," Archer warned. "They need to be nice murals not sucky ones. Either go basic with text and color blocking, or go for abstract murals."
"We should keep the color palette similar as well," I added.
Archer grinned at me. "You and I are on the same wavelength."
McKenna jumped in. "Someone withtalentneeds to paint them."
"I have several friends from art school who are muralists," I said. "They would be willing."
"I went to school with you too," McKenna snapped. "There's no one in our class who is worthy of painting the murals."
"Then you find someone," Jemma cut in.
"We also need to have a big moment, like an art trail or something," I said, hoping to avoid a fight. "New York City has the High Line. Atlanta has the BeltLine. Harrogate needs something similar that is a big public moment to showcase art."
Archer was nodding along.
"Maybe we could tie it in as part of Archer's conference center?" I said sweetly. Jemma pulled up the map we had made of the potential route on her tablet. "We could have the art trail run from the conference center through the train park and connect to the green space by Svensson PharmaTech."
Archer looked thoughtful. I held my breath, wondering if he would go for it.
"We need it built by the time the Art Zurich team arrives," McKenna scoffed. "It will never work."
"No, we don't," I said. "The search committee is trying to find up-and-coming places. We only need a part of the trail built with plans for the rest. Surely we can build a little bit, maybe on Svensson PharmaTech's property?"
"Done," Archer said.
"Are you sure?" I asked. "Don't you want to ask Mace?"
"It's a great idea."
"Don't you need a permit?" McKenna countered.
"Hazel's great-uncle is the mayor. We can push something through quickly. It's a sidewalk and some gravel," Archer said. "How hard can it be? The big thing is, we need some art on the art trail."
"I've already reached out to sculptors I know from art school," I told him.
McKenna made a face. She stroked Archer's hand, and I resisted the urge to throw my pen at her. "Archer, you have your own sculpture collection. Why don't we use those?"
"They're investment pieces," Archer said, frowning.
* * *
After the restof the meeting, in which McKenna would slyly touch Archer whenever possible, Olivia and Jemma followed me to the Art Café.
Bouncing on the balls of her feet, Olivia asked, "How did it go yesterday at the gallery?"
I sighed and ushered them inside. "I made a sale."
"Which painting did the gallery buy?" Olivia asked nonchalantly.
"The one that you put in there."
