“There's more! Tell them!” Haley roared.
“Of course.” Candy remained calm. “The woman who Mr. Carols was married to had a brother who went missing. The woman's brother has connections to a crime family in New York, a mafia crime family that wants to hurt Ralphie. Ralphie is a young man I hired to work on the island.” Shocked voices erupted again.
“Please, let her finish!” Brad called out.
Candy nodded and continued. “There is more...” One by one Candy spoke of Sandy, Ralphie, Marty, Chris, Peppermint, and Betty. She finished with a heavy sigh. “As you can see, it does seem like I'm very guilty of running a criminal operation, doesn't it? But I promise I didn't know the facts.”
“Then how do you explain this?” Bob yelled. “You can't stand there and say everything is a coincidence!”
“No, Mr. Taylor, I can't, and I won't.” Candy pointed at Rita. “Ms. Drakes called me and demanded I pay her a large sum of money to betray Haley Huntington, or she would make sure I suffered in return. I told her that I would not pay her a penny.”
“She's lying!” Rita shot to her feet. “You're a liar!”
“Am I?” Candy turned to Brad. “Brad checked the phone number that showed up on my phone, Ms. Drakes. The phone number belongs to one registered in your name.”
“Candy is speaking the truth,” Brad confirmed.
“I called you because I wanted you to turn yourself in.” Rita tried to lie her way out of a tight corner.
Haley threw a suspicious eye at her friend. “I bet you did.”
“Shut up,” Rita snapped at Haley. She stood up. “I'm out of here! I'm not going to have my name rubbed in the mud! I only tried to help and this is the thanks I get!” Rita stormed out of the room and was never seen or heard from again. A miracle? Yes.
“Everyone,” Candy spoke as Rita stormed away, “here is what I believe is happening.”
“You're lying—” Haley interrupted Candy.
“Shut up,” Bob yelled at Haley. “Let the woman speak!” Everyone else in the room agreed.
“You all know I won the biggest lottery our country has ever had. Now, I could have bought a yacht and sailed off into the sunset, but I love toys, I love children, and I love Christmas. I also love Pine Snow. Pine Snow is my home. I have no desire to leave my home, but I do desire to build a wonderful Christmas Toy Island that will draw in countless children from around the world, an island filled with toys and the very heart of Christmas.”
“But what about the bad guys?” Bob demanded.
“Mr. Taylor, I believe God is working a miracle,” Candy answered.
“A miracle?” Phillip asked before anyone else could.
Candy nodded. “I can't explain why everyone on the island is connected the way they are. All I can say is that my friends are not criminals. Sandy is a broken young woman, and Ralphie is a broken young man. They need love, not condemnation. Peppermint is a wonderful man who is waiting to see his wife in Heaven someday. Marty is a lonely man who needs friends andlove. Betty, you all know her. She is the sweetest angel to walk this earth. And Chris.” Candy pointed at Chris. “If Santa Claus was real, Chris would fit the role.”
“What are you trying to say?” Phillip demanded.
“She's lying!” Haley hollered. “She's deceiving you. Can't you see that?”
“If that was true, I wouldn't be standing in this room, Haley. I have enough money to hire an army of lawyers who could have represented me tonight.” Candy kept her voice calm—a tactic that annoyed Haley to no end. “Mayor Crenview, I believe God is indeed working a miracle. The people who are now living on the island are not criminals. They are people who need love. I know that's hard to understand, but there's no other explanation.”
“I don't understand.” Bob scratched the back of his head.
“Mr. Taylor, all I can honestly say is that sometimes God works miracles in the midst of confusion. Everyone I hired are strangers to one another except for the exception of Peppermint and Marty. Sandy never met Ralphie until she arrived in Pine Snow. Mr. Carols, Chris, never met Sandy. Marty never met Betty.”
“But they are all connected to the mafia in one way or another,” Phillip insisted. “That has to mean something.”
“It does,” Candy spoke up before Haley could.
“What?” Phillip demanded. “Tell me what this means, Candy.”
“Mayor Crenview, the mafia wants to hurt Ralphie. Sandy is being stalked by a crazed madman. Marty is a broken old man who just needs to feel like he's wanted.” Candy paused for a second. “Everyone, Pine Snow is a small town, a poor town. Haven't we always pulled together in this town during hard times? Haven't we always trusted and loved each other? Why would I stand here and defend people I have come to love if Ithought they were a danger to the very people I call my family, and you are all my family.”
“But the mafia—” Phillip tried to insist.
