occasionally decorated for the jazz festival or Christmas.
But this was a political ad. I couldn’t believe the town had okayed it.
How had it happened? I hadn’t asked for it to be done, certainly hadn’t paid for it. I felt sure the town hadn’t meant it as an endorsement. I needed to ask a few discreet questions of the right people.
I stopped to pick up coffee and a cinnamon roll at the Coffee House and Bookstore in the parking lot of the Duck Shoppes. Jamie and Chris Slayton—they were married last spring—asked me about finding the race car. Duck had a fast-acting grapevine.
I couldn’t tell them everything about finding the car or who the police thought might be in it, since Chief Michaels and Luke had asked us not to. They’d probably find out anyway, but it wouldn’t be from me.
I sort of explained that I had been looking for something historical at the town hall site. I didn’t go into detail. I didn’t have to since people knew I was always looking around for something, usually inspired by my “gift.”
Chris was our brilliant town manager. He wasn’t happy about the news. “This will cost us another few months getting the town hall built. What artifact was so important, Mayor? I know you’ve been as excited as I have about finishing this project. We’ve had so many setbacks. Couldn’t it have waited? I wish you’d come to me first.”
“I didn’t want you to be involved. I know you’ve tried to help me before and it didn’t end well for you. I couldn’t risk your job to find—the thing. It was better if it was all on me.”
“I had to fine Kevin Brickman for operating that equipment on town property without a permit. There could even be legal ramifications. Councilman Wilson already contacted the town’s lawyer to look into it. Kevin’s my friend, Mayor. Or at least he
was
my friend.”
I bit my lip, not happy about Kevin being fined. “If it had been the easy in-and-out project I’d imagined, none of this would’ve happened. But at least you weren’t out there, Chris, and you didn’t lose your job. We can’t afford to lose you.”
He continued scowling at me while Jamie held his hand. They were such a great couple.
“I guess you’re right. I hated to send the fine out to Kevin. I know it’s part of my job, but he’s been so much help around town and he’s a volunteer on almost every committee, not to mention working with the volunteer fire department.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll reimburse him. He’ll be fine.”
“It’s five thousand dollars. That’s kind of hefty.”
“Five thousand dollars?” I had no idea. I’d probably sat through that part of the lengthy ordinance creation—there were so many ordinances. I never expected to break any of them.
I’d thought it might be a few hundred and I could trade some labor at the Blue Whale for it. Five thousand was too much. I couldn’t let that stand. There had to be a way to make some quick cash to repay him. I might have to sell something from Missing Pieces that I didn’t want to get rid of.
“Maybe when the election is over, you could give him the money you’ve been spending on ads.” Jamie smiled sweetly but her words were sharp. “That one on the water tower and the one that goes by on the charter boat twice a day must’ve been expensive.”
“I don’t know about the charter boat.” Chris grinned. “But I charged your campaign agent enough to add some playground equipment to the park. Nothing personal, Mayor. You know you have my vote. I think an ad on the water tower should go for a premium price.”
What in the world was going on?
“That’s okay. Who paid for the water tower ad?”
“Your campaign agent. I have his card back at town hall. I have an email from him with the ad specifications too. I can look that up and email you, if you like.”
“That’s okay.” I didn’t want to tell him that I didn’t have a campaign agent. I wasn’t sure who would have made that
But this was a political ad. I couldn’t believe the town had okayed it.
How had it happened? I hadn’t asked for it to be done, certainly hadn’t paid for it. I felt sure the town hadn’t meant it as an endorsement. I needed to ask a few discreet questions of the right people.
I stopped to pick up coffee and a cinnamon roll at the Coffee House and Bookstore in the parking lot of the Duck Shoppes. Jamie and Chris Slayton—they were married last spring—asked me about finding the race car. Duck had a fast-acting grapevine.
I couldn’t tell them everything about finding the car or who the police thought might be in it, since Chief Michaels and Luke had asked us not to. They’d probably find out anyway, but it wouldn’t be from me.
I sort of explained that I had been looking for something historical at the town hall site. I didn’t go into detail. I didn’t have to since people knew I was always looking around for something, usually inspired by my “gift.”
Chris was our brilliant town manager. He wasn’t happy about the news. “This will cost us another few months getting the town hall built. What artifact was so important, Mayor? I know you’ve been as excited as I have about finishing this project. We’ve had so many setbacks. Couldn’t it have waited? I wish you’d come to me first.”
“I didn’t want you to be involved. I know you’ve tried to help me before and it didn’t end well for you. I couldn’t risk your job to find—the thing. It was better if it was all on me.”
“I had to fine Kevin Brickman for operating that equipment on town property without a permit. There could even be legal ramifications. Councilman Wilson already contacted the town’s lawyer to look into it. Kevin’s my friend, Mayor. Or at least he
was
my friend.”
I bit my lip, not happy about Kevin being fined. “If it had been the easy in-and-out project I’d imagined, none of this would’ve happened. But at least you weren’t out there, Chris, and you didn’t lose your job. We can’t afford to lose you.”
He continued scowling at me while Jamie held his hand. They were such a great couple.
“I guess you’re right. I hated to send the fine out to Kevin. I know it’s part of my job, but he’s been so much help around town and he’s a volunteer on almost every committee, not to mention working with the volunteer fire department.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll reimburse him. He’ll be fine.”
“It’s five thousand dollars. That’s kind of hefty.”
“Five thousand dollars?” I had no idea. I’d probably sat through that part of the lengthy ordinance creation—there were so many ordinances. I never expected to break any of them.
I’d thought it might be a few hundred and I could trade some labor at the Blue Whale for it. Five thousand was too much. I couldn’t let that stand. There had to be a way to make some quick cash to repay him. I might have to sell something from Missing Pieces that I didn’t want to get rid of.
“Maybe when the election is over, you could give him the money you’ve been spending on ads.” Jamie smiled sweetly but her words were sharp. “That one on the water tower and the one that goes by on the charter boat twice a day must’ve been expensive.”
“I don’t know about the charter boat.” Chris grinned. “But I charged your campaign agent enough to add some playground equipment to the park. Nothing personal, Mayor. You know you have my vote. I think an ad on the water tower should go for a premium price.”
What in the world was going on?
“That’s okay. Who paid for the water tower ad?”
“Your campaign agent. I have his card back at town hall. I have an email from him with the ad specifications too. I can look that up and email you, if you like.”
“That’s okay.” I didn’t want to tell him that I didn’t have a campaign agent. I wasn’t sure who would have made that
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