Read Online Trick or Treat Murder by Leslie Meier - Free Book Online
Authors: Leslie Meier
Tags: Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths, Private Investigators, Maine, Arson, Stone; Lucy (Fictitious Character), Halloween stories
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was being deliberately modest, thought Ted. He had discovered gold in those pumpkins, and every year the farmstand grew a bit bigger. This year he had added a haunted hay ride, and the spooky music, groans and screams that emanated from the cornfield at night had prompted several angry letters to the editor.
"We're all familiar with your farmstand," said Miss Tilley.
"Well, what I'd like to do, y'see, is put up one of those portable electric signs, so folks can find the place a mite easier, 'specially at night."
"I find it hard to believe that anyone who is not completely deaf and blind would have the least difficulty finding your establishment," Miss Tilley stated. "Even an electric sign would hardly help such a person. Board, are we ready to vote?"
"Hold yer horses a minute," Brown protested. "My place brings lots of business to this town. Seems to me you could bend the rules, considering how the pumpkin patch extends the tourist season."
"Mr. Brown does have a point," admitted Jock Mulligan, owner of a rather adorable bed and breakfast. "We get quite a few families down from Boston and thereabouts who come especially to visit the pumpkin patch. Grandparents, even, bring die little ones."
"How heartwarming," observed Miss Tilley, with a sneer. "Exactly how large is this sign?"
"It's twelve feet long and eight feet high, and it lights up."
"The sign code clearly forbids lighted signs, and the outside limit is four square feet."
"I know. That's why I'm applying for a variance. This is a portable sign, it will be gone the day after Halloween."
"I don't see any harm in the sign," ventured Doug Durning. "They have something similar for the Blueberry Festival every summer."
"The Blueberry Festival takes place on the other side of town, and it's a fund-raiser for the rescue squad. This is right smack in the center of the historic district," observed Hancock Smith. "You've already got lights strung up all over the place, not to mention that monstrous great pumpkin thing and the sound effects. I agree with Miss Tilley—you couldn't miss the place if you tried."
"Bill, what have you to say?" asked Miss Tilley, giving him an encouraging wink.
"My kids love the pumpkin patch—we go every year," began Bill, giving Brown a nod. "But I have to say the place is pretty eyecatching already. I can't see any need for this additional sign."
"Application denied." Miss Tilley grinned broadly and brought down the gavel. "Next we have Miss Katz."
"It's Kurtz, Tammy Kurtz," corrected an attractive young woman, dressed in a stylish cashmere tunic and pants outfit. "I'm the owner of the Greengage Cafe. As you know, we're located in the rear of the Village Marketplace shopping complex. Under the sign code, we're only allowed one sign, a single board on the large sign that serves the entire complex. Our customers tell us they have trouble finding us, so tonight I'm asking for a variance so we can put up a second sign on the building. I've brought a drawing of the proposed sign with me. As you can see, it's quite attractive and understated."
That's for us to decide, Miss Kootz," said Miss Tilley, reaching for the sketch with a clawlike hand.
Ted noticed a stiffening of the back under the cashmere, as Tammy stepped forward to hand up the paper.
"This looks very straight forward to me," said Miss Tilley, passing the sketch along. "The sign code clearly specifies that there shall be only one sign for a shopping complex. I will entertain a motion to deny the variance."
She glanced at Hancock Smith, who immediately cleared his voice, obediently preparing to make the motion.
"Not so fast," said Doug Durning. "This lady is trying to run a business, and she's asking us for help to solve a problem. I don't see the harm in one little sign."
"I might point out that if we make an exception for Miss Skootz, we'll have to make an exception for everybody," Miss Tilley huffed. "Why have a sign code at all, if we're not going to
"We're all familiar with your farmstand," said Miss Tilley.
"Well, what I'd like to do, y'see, is put up one of those portable electric signs, so folks can find the place a mite easier, 'specially at night."
"I find it hard to believe that anyone who is not completely deaf and blind would have the least difficulty finding your establishment," Miss Tilley stated. "Even an electric sign would hardly help such a person. Board, are we ready to vote?"
"Hold yer horses a minute," Brown protested. "My place brings lots of business to this town. Seems to me you could bend the rules, considering how the pumpkin patch extends the tourist season."
"Mr. Brown does have a point," admitted Jock Mulligan, owner of a rather adorable bed and breakfast. "We get quite a few families down from Boston and thereabouts who come especially to visit the pumpkin patch. Grandparents, even, bring die little ones."
"How heartwarming," observed Miss Tilley, with a sneer. "Exactly how large is this sign?"
"It's twelve feet long and eight feet high, and it lights up."
"The sign code clearly forbids lighted signs, and the outside limit is four square feet."
"I know. That's why I'm applying for a variance. This is a portable sign, it will be gone the day after Halloween."
"I don't see any harm in the sign," ventured Doug Durning. "They have something similar for the Blueberry Festival every summer."
"The Blueberry Festival takes place on the other side of town, and it's a fund-raiser for the rescue squad. This is right smack in the center of the historic district," observed Hancock Smith. "You've already got lights strung up all over the place, not to mention that monstrous great pumpkin thing and the sound effects. I agree with Miss Tilley—you couldn't miss the place if you tried."
"Bill, what have you to say?" asked Miss Tilley, giving him an encouraging wink.
"My kids love the pumpkin patch—we go every year," began Bill, giving Brown a nod. "But I have to say the place is pretty eyecatching already. I can't see any need for this additional sign."
"Application denied." Miss Tilley grinned broadly and brought down the gavel. "Next we have Miss Katz."
"It's Kurtz, Tammy Kurtz," corrected an attractive young woman, dressed in a stylish cashmere tunic and pants outfit. "I'm the owner of the Greengage Cafe. As you know, we're located in the rear of the Village Marketplace shopping complex. Under the sign code, we're only allowed one sign, a single board on the large sign that serves the entire complex. Our customers tell us they have trouble finding us, so tonight I'm asking for a variance so we can put up a second sign on the building. I've brought a drawing of the proposed sign with me. As you can see, it's quite attractive and understated."
That's for us to decide, Miss Kootz," said Miss Tilley, reaching for the sketch with a clawlike hand.
Ted noticed a stiffening of the back under the cashmere, as Tammy stepped forward to hand up the paper.
"This looks very straight forward to me," said Miss Tilley, passing the sketch along. "The sign code clearly specifies that there shall be only one sign for a shopping complex. I will entertain a motion to deny the variance."
She glanced at Hancock Smith, who immediately cleared his voice, obediently preparing to make the motion.
"Not so fast," said Doug Durning. "This lady is trying to run a business, and she's asking us for help to solve a problem. I don't see the harm in one little sign."
"I might point out that if we make an exception for Miss Skootz, we'll have to make an exception for everybody," Miss Tilley huffed. "Why have a sign code at all, if we're not going to
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