Chill Factor Read Online Free PDF Page A

about what Millicent had
looked like
the last time he'd seen her.
    When he reopened his eyes, the car was once again in motion,
the
flyer no longer in sight.
    CHAPTER 4
    ARE YOU CERTAIN WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE MAY NEED? Bottled water
and
nonperishables?" Marilee Ritt tried to contain her annoyance. "Yes,
William. I double-checked the shopping list you gave me before leaving
the market. I even stopped at the hardware store for extra flashlight
batteries because the market had already sold out."
    Her brother peered past her through the wide windows of the
drugstore that bore his name. On Main Street, vehicles were reduced to
a crawl, not because of road conditions, which were becoming
increasingly dicey, but because there was so much traffic. People were
anxious to get wherever they were going to wait out the storm.
    "Forecasters are saying this could be a bad one, lasting
several
days."
    "I listen to the radio and TV, too, William."
    His eyes moved quickly back to his sister. "I didn't mean to
imply
that you were inefficient. Just a little absentminded sometimes. How
about a cup of cocoa? On the house."
    She glanced outside at the slow-moving stream of cars. "I
don't
think I'd get home any faster if I left now, so all right. I'd love
some cocoa."
    He ushered her toward the soda fountain at the front of the
store
and motioned her onto one of the chrome stools at the counter. "Linda,
Marilee would like a cup of cocoa."
    "Extra whipped cream, please," Marilee said, smiling at the
woman
behind the counter.
    "Coming right up, Miss Marilee."
    Linda Wexler had been managing the drugstore soda fountain
long
before William Ritt bought the business from the previous owner. When
he took over, he'd been smart enough to keep Linda in place . She was a local institution, knowing everyone in town, who took cream
in their coffee and who drank it black. The tuna salad was made fresh
by her every morning, and she wouldn't even consider using frozen
patties for the hamburgers she cooked to order on a griddle.
    "Can you believe this mess outside?" she asked as she poured
milk
into a saucepan to heat for the cocoa. "I remember when we's kids , how excited we'd get ever' time snow was in the forecast, wondering was
we gonna have school the next day or not. You prob'ly enjoy a free
holiday much as your pupils."
    Marilee smiled at her. "If we have a snow day, I'll probably
use it
to grade papers."
    Linda sniffed with disapproval. "Waste of a day off."
    The entrance door opened, and the bell above it tinkled.
Marilee
swiveled around on her stool to see who'd come in. Two teenage girls
rushed inside, giggling and shaking moisture from their hair. They were
in Marilee's third-period grammar and American literature class.
    "You girls should be wearing caps," she said to them.
    "Hi, Miss Ritt," they said, virtually in unison.
    "What are you doing out in this weather? Shouldn't you be
getting
home?"
    "We came to rent some videos," one said. "Just in case, you
know, we
don't have school tomorrow."
    "I hope there are some new releases left," the other girl
remarked.
    "Thank you for reminding me," Marilee said. "I may take one or
two
movies home myself."
    They looked at her strangely, as though it had never occurred
to
them that Miss Marilee Ritt might actually watch a movie. Or that she
would do anything other than give tests, and grade themes, and monitor
the hallways during class changes, keeping a keen eye out for
unnecessary horseplay. They probably couldn't imagine any kind of life
for her outside the corridors of Cleary High School.
    And, until recently, they would have been right.
    She felt her cheeks turn warm at the reminder of her new
pastime and
quickly changed the subject. "Get home before the roads get icy," she
cautioned her students.
    "We will," one said. "I have to be home before dark anyway.
Because
of Millicent. My folks are freaked out."
    "Mine too," the other said . "Totally. They've got
to know where I am twenty-four-seven." She rolled her