Free Resurgence by M. M. Mayle Page B

is.
    “Subject to hearing direct from Chris, what I recently told you would never happen is apparently gonna happen,” Colin answers.
    “Oh thank god , because that means my next proposal’s got a chance,” Amanda says and goes a bit round-eyed with excitement as she spells out a plan that would see Verge fulfilling the twenty-three date European tour Rayce was set to embark on in a month’s time.
    “Bloody hell, Amanda, where are you gettin’ these big ideas?” Colin says.
    “That’d be my thought,” Jesse says. “Where is Nate, anyway? He must be lurkin’ round here someplace.”
    “If you mean Nate Isaacs, I can assure you he has nothing whatsoever to do with these proposals.” To everyone’s surprise, it’s Laurel who answers Jesse, and by the look on her face it would be easy to believe that Amanda engaged her as counsel whilst they were out of the room. “Perhaps no one’s told you and Lane that Nate Isaacs no longer serves as Colin’s manager. Or advisor,” Laurel goes on. “And I think you all should be made aware that while Amanda Hobbs is acquainted with the gentleman in question and has consulted with him on the practical aspects of her assignment here in London, her ideas are entirely her own and are being exercised independently.”
    “What do you mean independently? Are you sayin’ not even David’s in on any of this?” Colin says.
    “That’s correct,” Amanda says. “Although I’m working under his auspices and expecting his full endorsement of these projects, I see no point in adding anything else to his already overflowing plate until I’m confident I have something positive to offer. Now, if I may continue, I’d like to present my second proposal—”
    “I dunno,” Jesse says. “A onetime-only reunion for a good cause is one thing but a twenty-three date tour’s another. Got my doubts. Serious ones, they are.”
    “At least hear her out,” Lane says.
    Colin concurs and motions Amanda to get on with it.
    She then gives a breathless account of David’s present whereabouts and his activities that include refining refund arrangements for Rayce’s cancelled tour. “Those refunds don’t have to happen and those thousands of fans don’t have to be disappointed if we act quickly to retain those dates and venues,” she concludes.
    “If you’re sayin’ you want us to be some sort of Rayce Vaughn tribute band, I’ll have no part of it,” Jesse says. “And I can’t imagine Colin’s willing to front any outfit covering someone else’s greatest hits. Even if they are Rayce’s.”
    “That was the reasoning of the now defunct band Rayce would have been fronting. Bringing in another lead singer was never a consideration because that automatically categorized them as what you describe—as nothing more than a cover band.”
    Amanda pauses for breath and resumes: “But that’s not the role you’re being asked to take on. You’re being asked to celebrate Rayce Vaughn’s life and give his fans something to cheer about by being yourselves. No true fan of either Rayce Vaughn or Verge is unaware of the influence he had on you as a group, or of the inspiration you provided him, both as a group and as individuals. You could almost look on this as taking up the torch dropped when Rayce was so tragically struck down.”
    With that, Amanda gets absolute pindrop silence; no one is breathing very deeply or moving a muscle beyond the occasional blink when she goes on.
    “Given enough time and resources, I dare say we could fill Wembly Stadium for a memorial concert and thousands would still be left out. Those thousands have the same need as you. They need to pay homage and reconcile themselves to the loss. By giving them what they need—at twenty-three concerts throughout Europe—you’ll be accomplishing the same for yourselves. You’ll be getting back everything you give them.”
    Jesse, who has scowled throughout her pitch, brings out a butane lighter that he ignites and