“How did the people at the meeting react?” Peppermint asked.
“Like, did they throw pies at you?” Sandy asked.
“I'll punch them in the mouth if they did!” Ralphie declared.
“No one threw pies.” Chris laughed. “As a matter of fact, there were many people at the meeting who became very excited about the idea.”
“Most of the people who own local businesses were present at the meeting,” Candy explained. “The idea of turning Pine Snow into a town that draws in countless people isn't exactly sourspinach. The locals manage to keep Pine Snow afloat, but no one is turning huge profits. What Pine Snow needs is a steady flow of outsiders willing to spend money, maybe not year-round, but at least during the winter months. I suspect during the warmer months business will not be so grand, but the money the town makes during the winter months should be a large sum.”
“Ayo, like the seaside towns,” Ralphie told everyone. “Those seaside towns make a killing during the summer months and only pennies during the winter months.”
“Well, my goal is to keep the town going even during the summer months,” Chris cut back in. “I want to build a Christmas-themed amusement park.”
“You do?” Peppermint asked.
“I do.” Chris smiled. “A children's Christmas-themed amusement park. No scary rides or anything like that. I want to build an amusement park that makes a child feel like they are actually at the North Pole. I want to build a Christmas train, fun rides that aren't scary, cozy Christmas buildings full of games, and, most of all, a doorway to the North Pole.”
“A doorway to the North Pole?” Peppermint gave Chris a curious eye.
“A giant stadium that will be turned into the North Pole, and the Christmas train will take all the children from the amusement park into the stadium.”
“You really are a dreamer,” Peppermint said. “You're talking more money than Candy won.”
“I'm also talking about lodges and restaurants.” Chris let out an excited breath. “We'll get the money, somehow. We'll start off small and build our way up. The first step to building a house is buying a single piece of wood, right?”
“Well...sure.” Peppermint responded. “First this island, now the town. What's next? The world?”
“No, just our island and Pine Snow.” Candy laughed.
“I like it!” Ralphie stood up. “Count me in! I'll drive the train!”
“You'll be teaching children how to make toys right here on the island.” Candy laughed. “My heart tells me you and Sandy, all of us, belong right here on the island. The people in Pine Snow will handle the workload off the island.”
“Ayo...yeah, I guess you're right. I mean, I wouldn't want to take anyone's job and all.” Ralphie sat back down. “Too bad it's snowing cats and dogs outside. We got tons of work to do.”
“We sure do.” Candy patted Ralphie's hand and then smiled at Sandy and Peppermint. Surely victory had been won. Haley had been defeated...or had she? Candy wasn't sure what harm Haley could accomplish after being shut down in the meeting. “When the snow melts, and I always get sad when the snow melts, but for the time being, we'll need the snow to leave us for a little while before we can get to work!”
Far away in town, Haley made a phone call. She was calling the...mafia.
Chapter 3
Mario Pullizi arrived in Pine Snow just as a tense meeting began in the dismal, little town hall. Mario waited until everyone entered the building and then waited for hiscontact. A heavy snow was falling, and an icy wind was roaming around like a sharp razor. Mario was used to the cold. He was from Brooklyn, after all, but the cold in Pine Snow felt different somehow—colder. “She’d better hurry it up before I leave,” Mario mumbled under his breath.
Haley watched a man with thick, black hair hug his coat as she peeked around the side of the town hall, standing knee-deep in snow. Mario looked like Rocky from the movie...uh,Rocky. The guy looked mean and tough, but Haley gathered up as much courage as she possibly could and then hurried to the front street where Mario was standing next to a black SUV. The windows of the SUV were tinted so black that Haley couldn't tell if anyone was sitting in the front or back seats or not. Oh well. She was on a mission. “Hello...” she called out in what was meant to be a pleasant voice.
Mario spotted Haley moving toward him. “You the newspaper woman?” he asked in a thick Brooklyn accent.
“That's me.” Haley offered a flimsy smile that was meant to appear intelligent. “Are you...him?”
“I might be.” Mario eyed Haley. She was one soulless woman, and Mario knew he had his hands full. “I saw the kid go inside. You were good to your word. My boss will be happy.”
“I'm glad to hear that.” Haley quickly hugged her arms. The wind was fierce. “Uh...all I want you to do is fix my problem. This is my town. If you get rid of my problem, then the people in this town will see that I'm telling the truth.”
“Look, it's like I told you on the phone. Ralph will be taken care of, my way. I ain't messing with nobody else. My boss told me what to do and I'm gonna do it. Get that in your brain,” Mario snapped at Haley.
“Well, of course,” Haley answered in a voice that became uneasy. “But I need you to make it appear that Candy Baker was involved in—”
“I said I'll do this my way,” Mario growled. “The kid will be taken care of, and you,” Mario removed his right hand from his coat pocket, “do as I say. I'm recording this conversation. If you step on my toes, your brother will arrest you.”
