Chapter 1
Mayor Phillip Crenview cleared his throat as he fussed to straighten his tie. “Settle down everyone. The meeting is going to start.” He spoke into an old microphone attached to a wooden pulpit that used to stand in the Snow Pines Community Church. Phillip's voice carried out into the medium-sized room lined with wooden chairs. Wood panel walls completed the room.
Haley Huntington was sitting at the front of the room with Rita Drakes. Both women resembled hungry spiders. “Get ready,” Haley whispered in a pleased voice.
Brad Huntington was standing off to the side of the carpeted platform Phillip was standing on. A table rested on the platform. Three displeased faces sat behind the table—faces that belonged to three city council members who looked very sour. Brad shook his head and then searched the room. Candy was sitting in the far back with Chris. Peppermint, Betty, Sandy, Ralphie, and Marty had remained on the island. “Please, God,” Brad whispered, “help us.”
“Settle down, everyone,” Phillip spoke again. The crowded room grew quiet as everyone took their seats. “Now, as youknow, I called this meeting because Chief Huntington has some very important information that needs to be revealed to you, the fair citizens of Pine Snow. But before Chief Huntington comes up here, I want to say that after I learned of the information that is about to be made public, my first concern was for you, the fair citizens of Pine Snow—”
“Get on with the show, Phil, and stop campaigning!” Bob Taylor, an old man with a long gray beard, hollered. “You know we always vote for you. Now stop blowing hot air and get on with the show!”
“Uh, well, yes, of course, Bob.” Phillip blushed some. Bob was Phillip's cousin. “Chief Huntington, the floor is yours.”
Brad studied the faces that were looking at him. He knew each and every face by heart. But, somehow, the faces he was looking at all seemed strange and condemning rather than friendly. The faces even appeared a bit hostile. Brad knew he had to work to calm the tension or a pipe might blow up. Thoughtfully, he walked to the podium. “Well, you all know who I am,” he spoke in a slow voice. “I went to school with most of you. Mr. Taylor, I used to shovel the snow off your sidewalk for a dollar.”
“And you did a good job,” Bob called out. “The boy who shovels my front walkway now does a horrible job. Kids today aren't worth salt!”
“Well, we are all here as adults.” Brad dropped his eyes for a few seconds. He needed to collect his thoughts. “Everyone in this room,” he finally continued, “knows what kind of man I am. I'm a simple man who loves his family, his friends, his town, and, more than anything, God. I work hard to be honest and forthright. I believe in a system of justice and do my best to protect our town.”
“You're a good man, Brad,” Amy Dillon called out. She had gone to school with Brad. “I don't know anyone that doesn't trust you!”
“Thank you, Amy.” Brad nodded. “I hope that's true because what I'm about to say isn't going to be easy. I just ask that everyone sitting here trust that I'm doing my job, and that I believe our town isn't in any danger, regardless of what anyone else might say.” Brad cast a hard eye at Haley and Rita.
“Well, get on with it,” Bob hollered.
Brad drew in a deep breath and then pointed toward the back of the room. “You all know Candy Baker. Candy is here tonight with Chris Carols. Chris is an architect that Candy and Betty Vance hired. He's designing a Christmas village that is going to be built out on the island.”
“Candy is one rich woman,” Bob pointed out. “I wish I was loaded like she was. I'd buy myself a new snowplow!” Laughter rippled through the room and then washed away.
“Everyone knows that Candy won the largest lottery our country has ever had.” Brad looked at Candy and Chris. Candy was sitting with her arms folded together, and Chris was holding a notebook. “Candy and Betty Vance are working as a team to build a Christmas village out on the island that is meant to draw in children. A new toy factory is also going to be built.”
“Get on with it,” Haley yelled in an annoyed voice.
“Be quiet, Haley,” Brad snapped. “I'm not going to stand here and watch the life of an innocent woman get pushed off a cliff.” Brad scanned the faces staring at him. “My sister and her friend, Rita Drakes, a woman the FBI just fired for breaking sensitive rules—”
“That information is private!” Rita roared at Brad.
“Those two women are out to hurt Candy, and I'm not going to allow that!” Brad yelled over Rita. “Candy and Betty havehired people who seem to be connected in one way or another to the mafia. Now, before you all explode, let me explain.”
“What's to explain?” Haley demanded. “Candy Baker is a criminal!” She stood up and pointed at Candy. “That woman is working for the mafia, and I'm going to prove it!”
Rita stormed to her feet. “I was fired from my position with the FBI because I risked my neck to help Haley prove that Candy Baker is indeed a criminal!” she informed everyone in an angry voice. “I admit I did access a secured, confidential database to check on the people Candy hired, and that was against the rules, but I felt I had no choice. I love Pine Snow and the people of Pine Snow. I felt it was my duty to protect you!”
“And it's my duty to make sure you know the truth!” Haley added, playing the part of a sour saint. She swung back around to face Brad. “Tell everyone who Candy Baker hired, Brad. Right now!”
“No, I will.” Candy stood up.
“You sit down—”
“Be quiet,” Brad ordered Haley in a tone that made his sister shut her mouth. “Maybe Candy should speak.” Brad turned to Phillip. “Is that alright?”
“I...well, I suppose so,” Phillip answered in a nervous voice. The tension in the room was stiff. “Candy, come up here at once. I want you to clear this entire mess up!”
Candy brushed at her dress and then made her way to the front of the room. She truly resembled a woman who belonged at the North Pole, living in a Christmas castle, baking Christmas cakes, and making toys year-round. She was the last person in the world anyone would connect with the mafia. “Thank you, Mayor Crenview. I will clear up this mess.”
“She's a liar!” Haley yelled. “Don't believe a word she says!” Haley had not expected Candy to show up at the meeting, letalone be allowed to take the floor. She was furious. So much for being a happy spider.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I did hire people who are connected to the mafia,” Candy announced in a calm voice. Shocked voices erupted. “However, I wasn't aware of certain circumstances when I hired the people currently working for me.” Candy pointed at Chris. “Mr. Chris Carols is an architect, and worked for the biggest architect agency in New York. The man who owns the agency is the father of the woman Mr. Carols divorced. The man in question has connections to several corrupt bankers, and the woman Mr. Carols divorced is now married to one of those bankers.”
