Free Vanilla Baked Murder: Cozy Mystery Book 3 (Kim’s Cozy Mystery series) by Tom Soule, R Taylor Page A
mandate, not just as interim mayor.”
Sam’s jaw dropped at the mention of the five-year job. Uneasily, he propped himself up, smoothed his jet-black hair, then moved his attention away from Guttman and Harold, to glare at the other members of the council.
“That was not my plan. I just wanted to bring the town back to recovery and step down once Huntington was in a good place,” he explained.
Ignoring Sam’s plea, Guttman walked over to a wine/liquor cabinet in one corner of the room, poured a 70-year old Scotch into a glass, and slid it in front of Sam.
“You're the best man for the job! You have an excellent track record so far and you're the new face for the recovery. Huntington needs you a little longer.”
Guttman cleverly targeted Sam’s deep desire to help the people of Huntington, in order to carry out his own agenda. He neglected to tell Sam that new investors were interested in funding more construction sites, and they needed the mayor’s approval before the investors could start building the new commercial properties. Guttman wanted Sam to be the mayor who would approve these construction proposals.
“Conveniently,” Guttman continued, “I found an old bylaw that allows an incumbent mayor to run unopposed in a state of emergency. We have already decided, Sam. It's still premature for us to change leadership, so all six members of the council voted for an unopposed election in September, due to a state of economic emergency.”
Sam stared sternly at Guttman and Harold. He felt disingenuous about this so called “grand plan.” It placed his political beliefs in a tough spot.
“The people need their voice in a town election; that’s one thing I promised them when I took this position six months ago,” he proclaimed patriotically.
“You're still young, son,” Harold said, his dark eyes piercing the interim mayor.
“See, that’s why you are perfect for this position; you are a man of the people. You will safeguard their voice, but the next challenger might not…. Besides, you cannot fight us on this. Are you going to walk away from Huntington after working relentlessly for months to bring it to this point?”
Sam scratched his head indecisively.
Obviously these older men are wise and brilliant. They have guided me so far, and they do have a point. I took a failing town with a broken treasury and a failing economy and created a functional town with a growing business. Maybe this is not the time to walk away.
Speechless, Sam wrapped his head around the possibility of holding the mayor gig for five years. He quickly grabbed the glass of expensive Scotch.
“I'm in!” he said, gulping the drink. Guttman and Harold smiled in a satisfied manner.
After the meeting, Sam could not shake the feeling that he was being a deceitful politician. He felt like he had signed a deal with the devil. He sat alone in the Mayor's Chambers and reflected. I honestly don't know if I could do this. I am so overwhelmed.
“Ring, Ring.” His phone disturbed his thoughts on his current dilemma.
“Hello--- Ma, I am at work; this is not a good time,” Sam said with concern.
“I am just so proud of my baby boy the mayor,” she said gleefully.
“Ma, I'm actually really busy.”
“Shucks, my son cannot even spare two seconds,” Marie said, using her motherly guilt trip. “I'm planning a special dinner for the entire family in June; I even got Pete and Portia from New Orleans.”
“Ma, I don’t think I will be available,” Sam muttered. He planned to be busy that day.
“Nonsense; I already checked with Lisa and your schedule is wide open.” Sam shook his head in horror at the thought of visiting his overbearing mother. He knew full well her intention to flaunt him in front of her country club lady friends and boast to Uncle Pete. Moreover, she disapproved of his beloved Kim.
“Ma, what is this party really about, and be
Sam’s jaw dropped at the mention of the five-year job. Uneasily, he propped himself up, smoothed his jet-black hair, then moved his attention away from Guttman and Harold, to glare at the other members of the council.
“That was not my plan. I just wanted to bring the town back to recovery and step down once Huntington was in a good place,” he explained.
Ignoring Sam’s plea, Guttman walked over to a wine/liquor cabinet in one corner of the room, poured a 70-year old Scotch into a glass, and slid it in front of Sam.
“You're the best man for the job! You have an excellent track record so far and you're the new face for the recovery. Huntington needs you a little longer.”
Guttman cleverly targeted Sam’s deep desire to help the people of Huntington, in order to carry out his own agenda. He neglected to tell Sam that new investors were interested in funding more construction sites, and they needed the mayor’s approval before the investors could start building the new commercial properties. Guttman wanted Sam to be the mayor who would approve these construction proposals.
“Conveniently,” Guttman continued, “I found an old bylaw that allows an incumbent mayor to run unopposed in a state of emergency. We have already decided, Sam. It's still premature for us to change leadership, so all six members of the council voted for an unopposed election in September, due to a state of economic emergency.”
Sam stared sternly at Guttman and Harold. He felt disingenuous about this so called “grand plan.” It placed his political beliefs in a tough spot.
“The people need their voice in a town election; that’s one thing I promised them when I took this position six months ago,” he proclaimed patriotically.
“You're still young, son,” Harold said, his dark eyes piercing the interim mayor.
“See, that’s why you are perfect for this position; you are a man of the people. You will safeguard their voice, but the next challenger might not…. Besides, you cannot fight us on this. Are you going to walk away from Huntington after working relentlessly for months to bring it to this point?”
Sam scratched his head indecisively.
Obviously these older men are wise and brilliant. They have guided me so far, and they do have a point. I took a failing town with a broken treasury and a failing economy and created a functional town with a growing business. Maybe this is not the time to walk away.
Speechless, Sam wrapped his head around the possibility of holding the mayor gig for five years. He quickly grabbed the glass of expensive Scotch.
“I'm in!” he said, gulping the drink. Guttman and Harold smiled in a satisfied manner.
After the meeting, Sam could not shake the feeling that he was being a deceitful politician. He felt like he had signed a deal with the devil. He sat alone in the Mayor's Chambers and reflected. I honestly don't know if I could do this. I am so overwhelmed.
“Ring, Ring.” His phone disturbed his thoughts on his current dilemma.
“Hello--- Ma, I am at work; this is not a good time,” Sam said with concern.
“I am just so proud of my baby boy the mayor,” she said gleefully.
“Ma, I'm actually really busy.”
“Shucks, my son cannot even spare two seconds,” Marie said, using her motherly guilt trip. “I'm planning a special dinner for the entire family in June; I even got Pete and Portia from New Orleans.”
“Ma, I don’t think I will be available,” Sam muttered. He planned to be busy that day.
“Nonsense; I already checked with Lisa and your schedule is wide open.” Sam shook his head in horror at the thought of visiting his overbearing mother. He knew full well her intention to flaunt him in front of her country club lady friends and boast to Uncle Pete. Moreover, she disapproved of his beloved Kim.
“Ma, what is this party really about, and be
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