Fit to Die Read Online Free PDF Page B

pieces of licorice. I call it the Kid in the Candy Store mix.”
    James watched in wonder as Willy scooped up the concoction and folded it neatly into a Styrofoam cup. “Who’s next?” the grinning proprietor called out merrily.
    “Me!” A woman’s voice declared. James recognized the trim form and shimmering brown hair belonging to Murphy Alistair, reporter and managing editor of The Shenandoah Star Ledger, the county’s small daily paper. “I’d like chocolate custard with peanut butter cups, please. Oh, and topped off with chocolate sprinkles. Do you mind if I take some photos for The Star while you work?”
    “I’d be much obliged to you if you would, pretty lady. And don’t you even think about tryin’ to pay me, ya hear? Anyone who might get Chilly Willy some free business gets her pretty little self a free frozen custard.”
    Murphy smiled. “Are you attempting to bribe me with ice cream?”
    “Absolutely, miss, absolutely.”
    After shooting a few pictures of Willy with her digital camera Murphy retreated to the back of the small store. “Hello, Professor.” Murphy turned to James. “You here to buy what will soon become the most famous T-shirt in all of the Shenandoah Valley?”
    James craned his neck in order to view the cobalt T-shirts hanging next to the menu board. The white text on the front of each shirt read, HAVE YOU GOT A CHILLY WILLY?
    “That’s an attention getter if I ever saw one.” James laughed. “Every teenager in Quincy’s Gap is going to be advertising for you, Willy.”
    “Lord willing!” Willy handed another customer an ice cream float. The next customer ordered pumpkin custard covered in hot fudge sauce as James desperately tried to decide which of the flavor varieties he was most in the mood for.
    “Aren’t you cheating on your diet?” Murphy asked, nudging James playfully in the ribs. Her hazel eyes sparkled and James wondered if she was flirting or simply being friendly.
    “I’m joining Witness to Fitness tomorrow,” James confessed softly. “I’ve been kind of sliding on my own, so I’m hoping to get back on track. You know, I’ll just do their program until I can figure out how to do it by myself.”
    Murphy was listening intently. “Hey! That would make a great article. I could track your progress, kind of like one of those TV reality shows. The readers would love it and you’re such a likeable personality. I bet a lot of people would be inspired by you.”
    James cleared his throat nervously. “Uh … I don’t think I’d care to share my weight with the entire town.”
    “Now would I do that to you?” Murphy frowned playfully, but James believed she would print anything to sell more papers. “It would be more about your experience at Witness to Fitness. I think our readers need to hear a genuine story about this new business before they all race in and spend their hard-earned money there, don’t you?”
    “What’ll it be, my friend?” Willy asked, holding his trowel-type tool above the mounded containers of custard.
    “Peppermint with hot fudge and marshmallow, please,” James stammered.
    “Come on, what do you say, Professor?” Murphy pleaded, slowly licking chocolate custard off her plastic spoon.
    James watched her tongue in a semi-hypnotic state as his brain struggled to form a reply. “I …”
    “Thanks, Professor. I knew I could count on you.” And with that, Murphy patted him on the arm and sauntered outside to interview some of the Polar Pagoda’s satisfied customers.
    Just as James had received his bowlful of heaven, a troupe of middle-aged women pushed aside the patrons in line and began shouting at Willy in unison. From what James could make out, they were furious about the T-shirts and wanted them immediately taken down from the display area and destroyed.
    “They should be burned!” shrieked a mousy woman wearing a heavy wool jacket despite the balminess of the evening. “I am Mrs. Gloria Emerson and I am a minister’s