A Deadly Snow Fall Read Online Free PDF Page A

book.
In fact, wouldn’t you think that, in light of how desensitized we
have become to scandal that what he has to reveal will be ho hum to
readers? After all, Edward Granger and all of his friends are long
dead or too old to care.”
    “Right on, Liz. Unlikely anyone will care.
But the old guy is unpopular for lots of other reasons. It didn’t
take his announcement of an up-coming sizzler to get him on the
list of nastiest people ever. His old man, Ned Snow, started the
ball rolling. Mean and greedy and obviously without a scintilla of
conscience was old man Snow. Made millions grabbing property for
unpaid back taxes, overdue mortgage payments, whatever. Turned
folks out into the cold without a by your leave. A real Simon
Legree. Real clever though. Knew just how close he could come to
the line between legal and illegal in his machinations. Like a
hyena smellin’ carrion, old Ned swooped down and grabbed houses,
land, everything he could. Built himself a grand Victorian manor
house up on Pilgrim Lake Hill Road where he lived in splendor
looking down on all us peons. Everyone says that Edwin not only
inherited the old man’s fortune but his nasty disposition, as well.
Hey, by the way Liz, how’s that book club doing?”
    “Terrific. Want to join?”
    “Nope, I read the blood and guts stuff
exclusively. And I heard you gotta’ cook. I live on beef jerky and
popcorn unless my mother stops by and fills the freezer with
casseroles. Well, gotta go.”
    We parted and I continued on my way to
Souza’s Portuguese Market. Tish Souza, the owner with her husband
Manny, was behind the counter and in a questionable mood. Not that
Tish Souza was a grouch or anything like that but there were
certain customers who just grated her. Entering the shop on the
departing heels of one of her testy customers could land you in the
middle of a gray mood, although they never lasted long. As it
turned out on that day, Edwin Snow had just left and she was still
smarting from his visit.
    “Hi Tish, how are things?”
    “They’d be a lot better if that miserable old
coot Edwin Snow would move away--like to Timbuktu. Sorry, Liz.
Don’t mean to take it out on you, but the man just drives me to
distraction.”
    Having spotted old man Snow and his dog
turning the corner at Seashell Lane as I reached the market, I
guessed who’d set her off. I gave Tish a moment to recover by
checking out a shelf of new teas. When Tish’s smile returned, it
seemed to me that it might be a good opportunity to get another
opinion on the old man with the nice dog. Basically, I am an
insatiably curious person, interested in what makes people tick.
Having come face to face with the old man on every villager’s most
hated list, I felt it behooved me to know more about him.
Ironically, that curiosity would become a useful skill when I
needed it most in the coming weeks.
    Tish wiped her hands on a towel and
straightened a tray of sausages that didn’t need straightening.
“Everyone else in town tries to be pleasant. It’s a small town and
a long winter so it makes sense for us all to make an effort. You
know what I mean? But not that old bat. I just don’t understand why
he bothers to come in except to bug me.” Tish handed me a sample of
a new cheese. It was delicious.
    “Frank Kavanagh gave me a little rundown on
the man but tell me what you know about why he is so miserable?
Usually, someone who acts that way is just plain unhappy and takes
it out on everyone around him. Is that his excuse, do you
know?”
    “Let’s sit down, Liz. Just made a pot of
caramel chai and my daughter Shelley made a coffee cake for
breakfast. Never got a chance to try it because I had an early
delivery to unload. Join me?”
    “Love to, thanks. As long as I am not taking
you from your work.”
    “Hey, after a session with that nutcase I
need a break. He comes in here about once a week when he comes into
town for his meager rations. Not that he ever buys anything here.
Just looks