08 - December Dread Read Online Free

build. The murder weapon in all cases was a knife. With the exception of Ms. De Luca, all victims are known to have received an unexplained candy cane 12–72 hours before they were killed. In the case of Ms. Hood, it appears that six other White Plains women also received candy canes, resulting in a curfew being placed on the town, population 9,814.
There appears to be no connection between the murder victims. Police have no leads at this time. The FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force, headed by SAC Walter Briggs out of Quantico, is working closely with local law enforcement to catch the killer.
    The blood was thumping so loudly in my ears that it was difficult to concentrate. No wonder Gina had been so freaked out. Some nutjob had declared open season on Midwestern brunettes, and the police had no leads? If his past murder sprees were any indication, the monster had three more women to kill before he met his grisly quota in Minnesota. I closed out the news site and headed to the stacks to reshelve books, but it was difficult to concentrate. I was grateful when I heard the front door open and walked to the front to see who it was.
    “Mira James! I do declare, you get prettier each time I see you.”
    I scowled at Kennie Rogers, Battle Lake mayor, faux Southern accent-wielder, busybody, constant schemer, repeat winner of the “most likely to dress like a zaftig Britney Spears” award. She was hardly a reprieve from dark thoughts. She and I had formed an uneasy truce the past few months, but we mixed like orange juice and toothpaste. I also knew her well enough to know that if she was being nice to me, she wanted something. I stepped behind the front desk to put it between her and me. “I have hat hair. Otherwise, I look exactly the same as the last time you saw me.”
    “That must be it, then,” she said, pinning a conservative smile to her face. The expression complemented her sensible down jacket, matching hat and gloves, and plaid-rimmed Sorel boots. Wait a minute.
    “Why are you dressed for winter?”
    She fluffed the platinum hair peeking out from under her hat. “Because last time I checked, it is winter.”
    “Last time I saw you, you were wearing a tiara with ear muffs, a pink pleather coat, and three-inch-heeled boots.”
    “That pink pleather coat was lined.”
    I stared her down, ignoring the cloud of yeasty gardenia perfume that seemed to habitually envelop her.
    “Fine. Times are tough. I didn’t want to appear extravagant while I was laying people off.” She removed her gloves, one finger at a time. “I’m caring that way. You might want to take notes from me on proper people management. If you ever want to promote yourself beyond your current station, that is.”
    I had stopped listening three sentences ago, right after she’d said “laying people off.” As mayor of Battle Lake, there were three jobs Kennie held in her manicured little hands: manager of the municipal liquor store, Chief Gary Wohnt’s job, and mine. Since rumor had it she was knocking boots with the chief, and since the liquor store was the town’s linchpin on sanity in the winter months, that left the library. “You’re laying me off?’
    “Hmmm?” She glanced at me out of the corner of her eyes. “Did I say that?”
    “You pretty much did.”
    She slapped her gloves on the counter between us and huffed. “I certainly did not. I wouldn’t lay off a friend, would I?”
    She paused.
    I said nothing.
    “Nope, I wouldn’t,” she said with faux hurt in her voice.
    I was suspicious. There was more to this. “For real?”
    “Real as Rice Krispies. Only thing is, I do need to close the library for two weeks. Budget cuts and all that. This book shack isn’t too busy over Christmas, anyways. Close up after today, re-open on January 2. Easy peasy.” She grabbed her gloves, swiveled on her heel, and scampered toward the door like the yellow-livered ferret she was.
    “Wait! Two weeks without pay? How am I supposed to cover my