Snow Angels: Silver Lake Cozy Mysteries, #2

Chapter One

It was almost the end of November. The weather had been vacillating between warmth around the sunny afternoons and the colder evenings after dark.  At night, the cold circulated around the night sky as the stars spread over the Mississippi River like a tangled archway of far-off candle lights. The winds outward over every body of water in the small town of Silver Lake seemed to sweep the cold inland against the windows of the homes near the local farms and forests.

The town was close to the East Cape Girardeau area of Illinois, which was next to the southeastern border of Missouri, which sat underneath the extensive, already snow-covered peaks of the Ozark mountains. The town sat right on the banks of the Mississippi river. Dark cumulus clouds began to gather over the river and drift towards Silver Lake – the home of Central Illinois University (CIU). Soon it would snow.

The lights and electricity had been flickering on and off in Asia's home for a couple of days. Asia had changed all her fuses and called Elton Jamison who was a good friend and an electrical engineer. He said that this situation seemed to be a Silver Lake Electric Company problem and the entire town had been having the same problems of inconsistent electricity delivery. There was nothing wrong with Asia's home.

There seemed to be something wrong with the main. The suspicion was that the controlling computer at the electric company was having ghost problems in its programming. In other words, Elton Jamison felt the problem was an internal computer glitch or virus at the Silver Lake Electric Company that was defying a solution.

The problem was irritating but did not injure commerce since the blackouts did not last for more than approximately thirty seconds to one minute. Aggravating – definitely yes.

Local computer experts had been called in to try and solve the difficulties. The local guess was that it was a hacker problem – maybe just a local kid messing around. But others felt it was far more serious than that, including the police department.

Before the torrents of winter landed upon the waters of the Mississippi, there were a few warm days left to harvest the local farms and gardens and begin fall canning. Asia Reynolds, locally celebrated documentary filmmaker, took the last of her tomatoes into her kitchen and put them into a colander in her sink.

She turned the cold water on them and rolled their nice, firm flesh over in her hands. Wiping her wet hands on a dish towel, she walked over to the back door and grabbed her log-splitting ax.

She looked forward to savoring the end of her chores for the day, so she could enjoy one of her favorite seasonal treats – just a plain tomato from her garden, sliced and doused with a smattering of sea salt. Eaten plain, it was a piece of heaven to her.

That would be her reward for completing the preparation of some of her winter firewood. When Asia had quit smoking, she became a sugarless lacto-vegetarian, which was why her dog (then a little puppy) was named Zucchini. Not only her favorite dog, but one of her favorite vegetables, as well.

She was a big woman. Splitting logs was her version of eighteen holes of golf—splitting a cord of wood in the Illinois fall twilight. She put a light jacket on. It had the large brown letters of the SLPD (Silver Lake Police Department) stenciled on the back.

The jacket belonged to her friend Sergeant Sheila She-she Rodriguez of the Silver Lake Police Department. Asia had no guilt over borrowing the jacket that Sgt. Rodriguez had left behind. It fit perfectly and was light enough for the extensive physical exercise that log-splitting required. Otherwise, she would be too hot.

Asia walked outside and over to the wood pile, driving the log ax into a small piece of wood – say about six inches in diameter. She picked up the wood with the sharp end of the ax and banged it on a larger stump embedded in the hard-packed earth of her back yard. An apple fell off a tree a couple yards away. She smelled the fine, fruity fragrance of the other over-ripe apples. It made her hungry for some Apple Betty with cinnamon and freshly grated ginger. Her stomach growled. She promised herself she would go down to her root cellar and bring up some fresh apples to do just that.

She thwacked another log and it split in half. She easily thwacked it into quarters. She split a small stack of logs, which soon grew into the usual square, eight-foot-long, four-foot-wide neatly stacked cord. The wood was very dry (which was good for splitting), so it took her only about four hours to complete her task.

As the sun slowly set into darkness and the air got colder and colder with the rising of a full silver harvest moon, she went again into the kitchen, rubbing the bunching muscles on her shoulders and pushed the buttons for the outside lights. Now sweating despite the ascending coolness, she took the SLPD jacket off and placed it over the back of a chair.

She looked out the sliding glass doors in the back of her house at the cord of split wood she had just finished and blew the damp curls on her forehead back, swiping them with her hand. She smiled, estimating the size of the cord with her eyes. She'd be warm and cozy until the serious snow started. She could prepare wood even after the snow started but preferred to do this chore in the drier weather of the fall. The snow created an impediment, and the ground became treacherous with ice. The unsplit wood would be packed into her barn to keep it dry. She could split more cords in there, and even chainsaw smaller pieces from a few large logs if she needed to while she was protected from the weather.

Her carefully insulated barn had a large oil-barrel wood stove in it, too.  A couple of neighborhood boys, teenagers, had come over while she was resting inside, and packed her Silverado with the split and unsplit wood and drove it up to the barn, loading most of the wood into a wood storage area inside. This was one chore she liked to have help with. She grabbed her jacket and went outside again. There were some advantages to being almost six feet tall, 200 pounds and still looking slender. She could easily use an over-the-shoulder log ax and would split the other cords when she had the time.

She had already hired these two local teenagers to move and stack most of the wood neatly in her barn, like she did almost every year. She usually left a cord close to the house within easy reach and just covered it with a tarp when it started snowing. She didn't need all that much exercise. She did plenty of swimming at the heated local indoor pool.

She now helped the boys load the back of her Silverado double-cab pickup and supervised backing up to her barn doors. That was work enough. Three sets of hands made moving 1,000 lbs. of wood (or more since she had almost six cords already split and ready to be stacked) way easier. They were done within a few hours. She went back inside her warm kitchen and walked back into the dining area.

Elise Snuggles, local African American cable news anchor and good life-long friend, walked into the room, after not knocking on the open front door. Asia switched on the large standing fan in her dining room which started up with a loud, audible zoom and started rotating a fine breeze, making the fronds of her Boston ferns wave back and forth. After all that hard labor, she did not need that much warmth, it just made her sweat. Just a little when she came in was enough right now.

Elise answered Asia's querulous look with, "Doors usually only open one way around here – and that's usually in – so one can get out if the snow piles up against them." Making herself at home at her friend's houses had been her habit since elementary school. Asia still did a doubletake when Elise just walked in and made herself at home, although she really would not have it any other way...especially since Elise was so instrumental in detecting that she had been in trouble during the kidnapping affair with Talbot Patterson and his accomplice Kinsey Nesbitt last summer.

"Jeez Looeez, Asia! It's going down to the 40's outside, you're spouting sweat like a fountain and have the fan on! Choppin' wood like a lady, again?"

Yes, darlin', said Asia as she threw herself down in a dining room chair, enjoying the breeze from the fan until she cooled off.

The meteorological department at KANU is predicting snow tonight.

How much?

Just a dusting. Starting at about midnight.

That's kind of nice. Makes me sleep more deeply.

It looks like an early honey harvest this year.

How are your bees?

They're okay. We moved them into the barn with gear on and we'll light the wood stove and generate a little heat tonight. Can I take a trunkful of wood just to start up?

That'll cost you two jars of honey.

Sure. Thanks. Elton has been busy with work and helping me. We have some very fresh honey. The last of the raspberry honey. We did a small honey harvest before we moved the wooden hive frames inside, so they would be lighter. We have to leave some honey in the frames so the bees will have enough food for the winter and make Candy Boards out of sugar. Elton is a jewel – so careful. Didn't get stung even once.

The bees like him.

They're nice bees.

"You get stung."

I get tense sometimes and the frames can be heavy for me.

You should go swimming more and do a sauna.

Yeah, I know. I still have my two-year membership for the Spa. Call me – I'll go with you some time.

Okay, buddy. Will do.

I go with Elton sometimes. Not often enough, though. But he gets tired from work. Two black folks in the pool (or more if he brings his friends) is a favorite of mine. I don't like being the only black person anywhere, you know.  I want to rent the whole place for Elton's birthday in November. I figure I can run a cash bar and help pay for the party rentals and catering.

Taking over?

"Yeah. Make it a fine, black evening for our intelligentsia. Brown people in a lighted blue and purple pool. As Harry Skylar says, 'sweet!'. We can serve dessert from the café/bakery downstairs from the pool. They also fix party platters."

Mmm... hummed Asia.  Get the Almontes to donate an organic, honey-sweetened chocolate ice cream cake.

Now you got it, girl, answered Elise with a grin. Everything's gotta be chocolate for that evening.

We need something like a celebration since we are at the end of the summer. Even the Ferris Wheel is coming down.

Ferris Wheel?! The roller coaster is almost packed up into eighteen wheelers, too. Thank God and Jehovah! responded Elise with enthusiasm, being famous for her small-framed timidity. "Elton never got me to ride that thing with him. Probably never will. He doesn't need all that to make me hang onto him. Not at all. I will do that for free. I don't need to be scared to do that. No, sir! I have no need to scream from the threat of danger. I've had enough of that. I like my life real – peaceful – and danger-free."

I'm a bumper car person, as well, said Asia, with understanding.

Me too, for the kiddie rides. I even like miniature golf. Miniature is my middle name.

You can use your smallness to your advantage. I'm too tall to play that. To me, it's like playing golf with a toothpick.

"Boo hoo," commented the tiny Elise.

Asia went into the kitchen and brought out a plate of fresh oatmeal-raisin cookies and some hot lemongrass tea. She had fixed a plate of garden-fresh, sliced tomato for herself. Tomato and tea went down just fine for the vegetarian in Asia.

Yum, said Elise. Got here right on time. She let the fine lemony fragrance waft into her sinuses, pulling her chair up to Asia's dining table. You make those? she asked, pointing at the large cookies.

Yeah. Grew the raisins, too.

My Snuggles honey?

Yup. Buckwheat honey from this summer.

Elise finished a cookie and slurped some tea, loudly. "Yum!" she complimented her friend.

Asia caught a sparkle from Elise's left hand and gasped. She saw a large sapphire set in gold and smiled. Elton gave you an engagement ring?! she asked, pointing at Elise's ring finger.

Yeah, sis, he did. He's so considerate. Truly, the man of my heart.

Have you set a date for the wedding?

Not exactly. It looks like a winter ceremony. Boots and a long dress.

Don't you want to wait until spring?

Naw. I don't think so. Easier to get the babies to show up in the summer this way. I don't need to slide on any ice while my tummy is the size of a basketball, trying to get to the hospital.

Hmm...true.

Zucchini, Asia's huge Husky/German Shepard walked into the room and rudely snatched an oatmeal cookie from the table.

Hey! exclaimed Asia. "No, Zookie! Bad girl! No, no..."

Well, responded Elise. At least it's not a sugar sweet.

True. But she usually doesn't do that. She's generally not allowed to eat from the table, let alone grab anything from a serving dish.

Asia reached over and smacked her dog on the behind. Zookie dropped the remnants of the cookie on the floor, belched loudly and licked the crumbs up quickly, sashaying out of the room with an air of accomplishment and disgust at being hit on the ass.

Damn, said Elise. She sure burps like a human.

She just started doing that. I don't know where she got it from.

A timid knock came from the front door.

Come in! said Asia and Elise simultaneously. Asia gave Elise a look.

Sorry, said Elise without much sorrow. You know this is home to me, too.

Asia smiled and replied, This place and the Almonte ranch, as well.

Friends are family, too, said Elise as she took the empty plate from the cookies into the kitchen, washed it and put fresh cookies on it, bringing it back into the dining room. There was another, louder, knock at the front door. A man's voice called, It's me, Harry!

Both Asia and Elise (of course) said again, Come in! Asia shot Elise a slightly hard look that said she felt that her friend had scaled up her chummy overly friendly enthusiasm to a gentle type of dominatrix activity. It was a joke between them, letting Elise know that Asia sometimes thought she was a little on the pushy side.

A long-haired hippie boy in bell bottoms and an Indian dhoti walked into the house. He had a long, light blonde mustache and a guitar case slung over his shoulder. He smiled broadly when he saw the cookies and sat down at the table.

Hi, Harry! Said Asia. There is some fresh lemongrass tea on the stove. Go ahead and pour yourself a mug and have some cookies.

Oh, joy! said Harry, grabbing himself a cookie. I love raisins, he continued, his words muffled inside the cookie as he chewed. He pushed his chair back, went into the kitchen and got a mug of tea.

After finishing his tea, Harry opened his guitar case and took out his guitar, starting the intro to John Lennon's Imagine beautifully – picking out the complicated tones and singing in a high, clear falsetto, as Elise and Asia listened.

Zucchini walked in and wagged her tail at Harry. She trotted over to Harold and nudged his hand, ignoring the fact that she had knocked his hand clean off the guitar. He strummed the air for a beat.

Asia said, Stop it, Zookie! You are such a bad girl today! Go into the other room.

Harry stopped playing and said, patting the pretty bronze-ruffed dog on her broad head, Oh...that's okay. She just needs a few strokes. Lay down, Zucchini. The dog responded quickly, and Harry picked the song up where he had left off. After he finished, he paused for a sip of tea and another cookie.

Elise asked, Do well today, Harry?

Oh, yeah, the musician answered. Made my usual fifty dollars. I played in front of Zinski's Bagels all day. It's a good place to get something to eat. Not bad for street music either. They seem to like me. I think I must get them a few extra customers. There was a new guy down the street. A homeless panhandler. He did well, too. An older guy.

The end of the season's a little better, eh? commented Elise.

Harry blushed, remembering the trouble the beginning of the summer had caused him – and the hunger.

"Way better," he mumbled, sipping more tea.

That was a mess. I'm glad to be back in school. I left a few days each week free of classes so I could do some street music until it gets too cold. When the weather changes, I'll play in the mall. They usually let me.

By the way, Elise, continued Harry, I assume you heard that someone hacked into the town computers. I assume everyone knows since the wireless is down on top of the electrical problems in part of town. Any news?"

We are investigating that right now along with the Silver Lake police department. My station, KANU, is getting updates on that regularly, replied Elise.

Asia asked, looking upset, Any idea what the hackers are looking for? I am guessing it is probably not just kids messing with the electricity. It is more serious than that.

The newsroom will know as soon as the cops do. Most folks suspect they are looking for some easy cash in payrolls, the banks or the ATMs. The electricity in part of town is coming back online. I suspect yours will too in a couple of days. The cops are pretty sure the electrical problems were only a test run for taking out the internet.

You like your new job as news anchor? asked Harry, looking at Elise and pulling on an end of his new drooping mustache.

Yeah, Harold, of course I do. I have my ear to the pulse of Silver Lake. I have become omniscient. I know all. There isn't any important scooby that doesn't come my way. In fact, Harry, we can use a musical interlude for our end of the summer tourist season Op Ed. Wanna be on TV?

Harry flashed a brilliant smile at Elise and said, Sure!

Well then, you need to call me at KANU tomorrow and we will set up a news crew to film you either at work on the street or in our studio.

All right! exclaimed Harry, clapping his hands in excitement.

It'll be a Harry the Hippie special.

I'll be famous, said Harry.

Almost, said Elise.

Zookie wagged her tail and nudged Harry's hand again. He scratched her head, taking another cookie. Wagging his head back and forth in pleasure as he chewed, he said, These raisins are so plump and juicy. You raised these, Asia?

Yup, said Asia, shaking her finger at her dog as Harry illegally pushed a subversive raisin into Zookie's willing mouth.

Say, said Asia, chewing on another cookie herself and turning towards Harry. I heard you have a cute, little girlfriend.

Harry raised his light blonde eyebrows at her and answered, Boy, the gossip really travels fast in this town. I only met her a few months ago. She's sweet. Her name is Sage and she's from Denver – goes to Colorado State.

Don't you miss her after the summer's over? asked Asia.

Harry shrugged and put his guitar away – giving his attention to the rest of his tea.

I'm used to it. It's hard to meet a local girl in the summer. There are so many people from out of town. Sage and I have plans to see each other over the Christmas vacation. I've heard Denver is very cool – very New Age. Great music there. Might even make some money playing gigs during the holidays. Sage sings and plays piano and keyboard, so she knows some good places.

Elise frowned and said, I've got to have my man next to me. Guess I'm just lucky to have met a local.

Suddenly, Harry looked a little sad and slightly forlorn, saying, Guess you are. I've met Elton. He's extremely nice. Good looking, too.

Got me a honey of a man, Elise responded. You still on probation, Harry? she asked.

Yeah, he said. "Until I graduate next year. Sergeant Rodriguez is my Probation Officer and

she has already given me permission to go to Sage's house in Denver."

They ever find out who put that assault rifle in your tent last summer?

Harry looked embarrassed and said, "No. The evidence on the shooting of Congressman Harrison is a little cold now. They arrested Bill Tuttle but couldn't extradite the Swedish doctor. They said the rifle was underneath a blanket in the back of their truck. Anyone could have seen them put it there. Could have been anyone who was harassing hippies at the time that put that thing in my tent. As you know, there was