Stress tightened his shoulders, and he made a conscious effort to relax. Without a lick of his easy-going humor, heturned to the two men. “You two are pillars of the community. Unacceptable.”
Clem had the grace to blush. Garrett’s face reddened even more. “He started it.”
Tom raised his hand to stop Clem from answering. “I don’t care. I’m ending it. Each inside your respective businesses. I’ll handle Santa, and you two stay away from each other until you both cool off.”
Clem frowned, fiercely stuck in anger. “What would you have me do? He came at me.”
“You should have called the police department and let us handle it. It is a theft, and the detective is right there.” He pointed at Carmen. “Should I let her yell at you, too?”
“No,” Garrett spit out. “I’m done. He lopped down the stairs.
Tom turned to Clem. “And you?”
“Not me either. I’ll get you both coffee.”
“That would be appreciated.”Afterhe figured out what the heck Mia was doing on his crime scene.
&&&&&&&&&&
Summer LeFey Applegate couldn’t put a finger on why her nerves were twanging like an old guitar, but she fought the need to fidget while Sissy Murray checked if Mayor Helen Applegate had time in her schedule to talk with her daughter-in-law. Summer could have had this conversation at one of the weekly family dinners, but the work realm was better for this topic.
The mayor’s exterior waiting area was tastefully decorated with classic antiques. She recognized some of the pieces since Tom had the same collector’s eye. The burgundy drapes and gold accents mixed with white walls, leather furniture, and a rich smell suggesting an old family law office.
“Tell her to get in here.” Helen’s voice rang with pleasure and authority.
Sissy came back smiling. “She’ll see you.”
Summer grinned, nerves dropping away. “I heard.”
She slipped past the admin and into the office. Pleasure swept through her, and she grinned. The bright yellows, golds, and oranges of her Reservoir at Sunrise painting shone from the wall behind Helen’s desk. There had been much discussion about where the painting would go when Bill retired from the law firm. Rick took over his dad’s old office and wanted the painting left. Instead, Helen won the right.
“Summer! What a nice surprise.” Helen gave her a tight hug.
“Sorry to drop in. I was on Main Street shopping for Christmas and decided to stop. I have something to ask you.”
“Ask. You want something to drink.”
“No, I’m fine. I want to gift the town with a mural.”
Helen stepped back and sat on her desk, confusion and curiosity on her face. “Tom mentioned this last Christmas. I assumed you’d dropped the idea.”
“Not dropped. Put off while I went to Chicago. Honestly, I want to stay home instead of all this traveling, but I need projects. The town’s first Americana Festival is scheduled, right?”
“Yes, next summer. The planning, my word! I never envisioned it would take so long to launch. What did you have in mind?”
“There’s the first problem. I stopped at the Brewery and checked their building, and it’s long blank wall. Too many drawbacks and no ideas.”
Helen settled further against the desk and pursed her lips. Summer saw the wheels spinning in her brain. “I have a few thoughts. But I have no idea what this entails. City property,personal property? Where permission needs to come from, you’re familiar with the process.”
“Yeah. I am. You’ll need a sketch of what I planned to be sure it’s appropriate, too.”
Helen rolled her eyes. “It’ll need input, yes. Any preliminary ideas?”
Summer sighed. “None. Usually depends on the space. I was going to study town history, if it’s written anywhere, and see if something sparks.”
“Check the library. Lori Devlin, our librarian, can help you. Adelina James at the nursing home, too. She used to gather town information. I think she donated it to the library when she moved out of her house, but the woman is the expert on our history along with Art Snidely.”
“I know Mr. Snidely, and we haven’t been to the nursing home lately, not since Hal David’s funeral, I guess. I’ll talk to Tom and make the time. Caroling with them sounds good right now.”
