“No,” Mario shook his head. “I still have a job to do.”
“Do it,” Brad turned his back on Haley.
“You have three hours to get out of town and never look back. You better cross the Mississippi River as fast as you can and never look east again. If I so much as think you're looking back at New York, I'll take this tape,” Mario patted his coat pocket, “and make sure every judge in New York hears you confessing to setting an innocent kid. Is that clear?”
“But...my home...my job—”
“You have three hours,” Mario snapped. “I'm going to follow you out of town all the way to the Pennsylvania state line. You better keep driving and never, and I do mean never, look back. I have a tracking device on your car that you will never find, and I will be monitoring your bank records for life. If I so much as think you're up to something, I will make sure you rot in prison.”
“But—”
“You will check in with me once a month. I want an address in California, bank statements, and the works. You will send me a copy of your driver's license once you get it changed over. Understand?” Mario ordered.
“Brad—” Haley cried. He remained silent.
“Take the deal or rot in prison!” Mario snapped. He was disgusted. “The clock is ticking. Make your choice.”
“Brad.” Haley began to cry.
Brad finally turned around. “You crossed the line, Haley. And for what? To hurt an innocent woman?” Brad shook his head in disgust. “Get out of town, out of my life, and never look back.”
“Brad, I'm...sorry...I made a mistake.”
“You'll end up in prison if you don't do as Mario tells you,” Brad warned. “I'm washing my hands of you, and I pray our parents will never know what kind of woman you turned out to be.”
Tears began falling from Haley's eyes. “Brad, I'm sorry...don't do this. I made a mistake.”
“The only mistake you're making is wasting time. You have less than three hours,” Mario barked. “Get moving or put your hands behind your back!”
Haley could barely believe what was happening. “But it's almost Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the day after tomorrow!”
“Pine Snow will be eating turkey without you, a happy turkey,” Brad replied.
Before Haley could say another word, the front door to the town hall opened. Candy appeared. “You!” Haley screamed in agony. “You! You! You! This is all your fault!”
Candy calmly made her way down the snowy front walk. She stopped a few feet away from Haley. Mario put a firm hand on Haley's arm to ensure the woman didn't try to rush at Candy. “Why, Haley? Why did you do this? Do you hate me that badly?”
“I despise you. I always have and always will, and someday, I swear it, I'll get back at you, Candy!” Haley lost it. Just the sight of Candy sent her over the edge. What had begun as some simple investigative reporting had turned into a case of insanity. Haley had been determined to ruin Candy Baker's life. In doing so,she ended up trapping herself inside a terrible prison filled with cold, hopeless walls. “You will pay, Candy, someday!”
“Haley, I forgive you for hating me, and I will pray for you,” Candy spoke, remaining calm.
“You forgive me? You're going to pay for this!” Haley screamed.
“No, Haley, you're wrong. Someday, Pine Snow is going to become a wonderful and happy town to live in. Someday, Pine Snow will not be poor. Someday, the people in Pine Snow, whom I call my family, won't struggle to buy groceries or pay their heating bills. Christmas is going to come to Pine Snow, the very heart of Christmas, and stay forever.”
Haley spat at Candy. “You can take Christmas and jump off a cliff with it! Someday, you're going to pay for this, Candy, wait and see! You ruined my life! But oh, I'll go west and rebuild. I'll start working for a major newspaper out there, and the world will know the truth! I'm not finished with you yet—”
“Yes, you are!” Mario swung Haley around and slapped a pair of handcuffs on her before she could finish speaking. “Sorry, Brad, your sister is going to prison. I tried to help you, but you heard her yourself.”
“I did, Mario. Take her away.”
“Brad...no, I...” Haley began to cry.
Brad walked up to his sister. “Haley, while you're sitting in prison, I want you to think about what you did and all the hateful words you said. Maybe you'll come out a changed woman. Maybe not.” Brad shook his head. He was angry, but his heart was breaking. His sister was going to be sent to prison for many, many years.
“Brad—”
Mario took over. “You have the right to remain silent…”
