“So much for turkey, huh?” Ralphie asked in a sad voice. “I was looking forward to a turkey with all the trimmings. I usually eat pizza on Thanksgiving Day.”
“We'll have our turkey,” Peppermint promised...only, he didn't sound so sure. “What's the plan?” he asked Chris. Peppermint respected Chris because he was a decent, intelligent man. Not the type of man who looked for fights. No. Chris loathed violence. The man used his mind to fight his battles.
“There's one road onto this island. When Brad leaves, we block the road off. That leaves the water. Anyone can take a boat out to the island. The waters are rough, but not impossible to navigate.” Chris rubbed the bridge of his nose for a second and then continued. “Aunt Betty suggested we all leave the island under police protection and fly to Europe. She's very scared for everyone's safety.”
“Candy didn't agree, did she?” Peppermint asked.
Chris shook his head no. “Candy is refusing to leave. She told Aunt Betty that God would protect us and that if we ran, we'd be showing God that we don't trust in Him. I agree. Why?” Chris drew in a deep breath. “I keep getting the feeling that God is bringing everyone together, the good and the bad, for a reason. Something has to happen before we can build the Christmas village; at least, that's what my gut is telling me.”
“Yeah, I started to feel the same way after listening to Brad.” Peppermint rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, Chris, whatever is going to happen, all I know is that if God brought us this far, God will finish what He started.”
“God works in mysterious ways. I just hope my name will be under the Christmas tree when this is all over.” Ralphie looked at Peppermint and Chris and then asked for a donut. What else could he do?
Chapter 6
Haley studied the face of Phillip Chester Crenview. Phillip was nervous. “What are we going to do, Phil?”
“Haley...” Phillip's voice squeaked a little as he tried to speak. He was sixty-two years old and growing balder by the minute. Haley knew Phillip had aself-imageproblem. He wore a brown toupee that made his chubby face look like a cheesy imitation of John Cleese. Phillip was a weak man, spineless, and easily controlled.
“Phillip, we have a dangerous situation on our hands. Candy Baker is running a criminal organization out on that island. We have to take action.” Haley made sure to speak using cautious words. She couldn't come right out and tell Phillip everything she knew.
“What facts do you have?” Phillip asked as he fiddled with his suit collar. His office felt hot and stuffy instead of comfortable and inviting. Of course, the office in question wasn't very big at all and surely didn't resemble the office of a big city mayor. Phillip was content being the mayor of Pine Snow and occupying a humble and simple office filled with old furnishings that had been passed down from one mayor to the next.
“I have facts that I can't reveal, Phillip. My sources are confidential right now,” Haley answered. She reached forward, took a piece of butterscotch from a jolly candy bowl, and then leaned back on a chair. “In order to protect you and Lilly, it's best if I don't reveal my sources. Candy is connected to some very dangerous people.”
“But Candy Baker, impossible,” Phillip insisted, but not in a very strong voice. “Candy is a decent citizen. I knew her mother. Besides, the woman is very wealthy now. She has enough money to own Pine Snow.” Phillip shook his head. “I can't believe Candy is a criminal, Haley.”
“But she is,” Haley insisted. She kept cool and calm. Manipulating Phillip was going to take some doing, but the job wasn't impossible. “Phillip, my sources tell me that Candy could be doing illegal activities on the island. She hired a young woman from Los Angeles to work for her, along with a young man from Brooklyn and a retired principal from Bangor. All three people are connected. I can't say how because I don't want you and Lilly to be in any danger.”
“I appreciate your concern for us, Haley.” Phillip quit fiddling with the collar on his suit and placed his hands together. Haley was sitting before him wearing a black power suit that made her look a little bit like an ugly, black bear. Phillip knew the woman was on a mission. “But without any proof, there is nothing I can do.”
“You can call a town meeting and at least allow me to express my concerns to the public with my brother in attendance. After all, Brad knows as much as I do.”
“He...does?” Phillip dared to ask.
Haley held back a grin. Bingo. “Yes, my brother knows as much as I do, Phillip, maybe even more. He's being tight-lipped. Maybe if I express my concerns to the public, for the sake of our fair town, the public will force my brother to tell them what heknows. You know how paranoid Mrs. Oaks is and how jumpy Mr. Tosh is. They would force my brother to spill the beans. Then you would have your answers.”
“Yes, I see your point.” Phillip rubbed his chin. He truly did look like a cheesy imitation of John Cleese. So what? Phillip liked John Cleese. He liked British sitcoms. “But would it not be better if we simply kept the entire matter silent until I spoke with Brad?”
“I fear that Candy might have paid my brother off to remain silent. It pains me to say that, but Brad is out on the island right this very minute.”
“He is?” Phillip gasped. Haley nodded her head yes. “Oh my...” Phillip stood up, then sat down, then stood up, and then sat back down. “This isn't good at all.”
“Phillip, I love my brother, but, well, between the two of us, he has a gambling problem.”
“A gambling problem? Brad?” Phillip asked in disbelief.
Haley nodded. “It shames me to admit the truth because I love Brad deeply. He is my brother. However, Phillip, we have our town to think of and to protect. If Brad has allowed a criminal like Candy Baker to buy him off, then she will have a free run to do whatever she wants. She'll turn Pine Snow into a crime-infested town, and who knows what else?”
“But Candy has never caused a single problem before.” Phillip just couldn't believe Candy Baker was the criminal Haley was making her out to be. “Haley, surely your sources are wrong. Candy is a decent woman. I knew her mother.”
“Yes, Phillip, you told me that.” Haley resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She was sick of hearing how wonderful Candy was. Candy was an angel. Candy was a saint. Haley was ready to lose her lunch. “Phillip, facts are facts. I can't reveal my sources, but if we can force my brother to spill the beans, you'll see I'm tellingyou the truth and nothing but the truth. What have you got to lose?”
“Well, nothing, I suppose.”
“Look, Phillip,” Haley threw the piece of butterscotch she was holding into her mouth, “you have a job to do. Your job is to protect our town. If Candy paid my brother off, which I believe she did, then my brother will make sure every cop under his thumb will stay silent.”
“Haley, we only have eight cops in Pine Snow for goodness sakes.”
