Dashing Through the Snow by Clark Mary Higgins & Clark Carol Higgins

Author:Clark, Mary Higgins & Clark, Carol Higgins [Clark, Mary Higgins & Clark, Carol Higgins]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, Holiday, Mystery, detective, women sleuths, Romance, Cozy, Suspense, Adult
ISBN: 9781439129173
Google: khCpgyJlZaUC
Amazon: 1439129177
Goodreads: 4699936
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: 2008-11-18T08:00:00+00:00

17

Sam Conklin rushed into his small office in the back of the store and slammed the door behind him. At that precise moment the phone rang. It was Richard, his only son, whom he had hoped would go into the family business. Instead, the smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd had been an irresistible draw, and at forty-two, Richard was an established actor. He had just finished a nine-month run of a play in Boston and would soon be heading back to his apartment in New York.

“Dad, what’s going on up there? It’s all over the news about the lottery winners from Conklin’s. They must have gotten the story wrong that you didn’t give bonuses. That can’t be true. You’ve always given bonuses and were always more than generous.”

Sam sank into a chair and leaned his head on his hand. “It’s true,” he admitted miserably. “Rhoda talked me into it.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Richard asked quietly. “I can’t stand that woman.”

“Neither can I,” Sam admitted.

“That’s music to my ears,” Richard said, his voice suddenly cheerful. “She’s been nothing but trouble since Day One. When you think of how sweet Mom was…”

“I know, I know,” Sam interrupted. “This morning has been a public relations nightmare. I’ve worked hard in this store for more than forty years and as you just said have always been generous to my employees. I’m so ashamed that I let her talk me into giving pictures of that godforsaken wedding instead of the bonuses my workers earned. You should have seen the looks on their faces last night. I’ll never forget it as long as I live. I’ll never feel good about myself again…”

“Dad, take it easy.”

“Richard, everyone’s calling me for interviews. Everyone’s calling me cheap. I’m ashamed to walk around the store today. My oldest customers are disgusted with me, I can tell. Not to mention that without my key people, this place is falling apart. And we’re catering the Festival…”

“I don’t have to be in New York until Monday. I’ll jump in the car and ride on up. I worked often enough at the store to know what I’m doing.”

“Richard, I hate to make you do that. Your play just ended and you have a few days off.”

“Forget it, Dad. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

Sam was choked up. It would be so nice to see a friendly face. “Thank you, son,” he said. “You don’t know what this means to me.”

Feeling somewhat better, Sam hung up the phone. I’ll have a cup of coffee, he thought, then get back out there to face the firing squad. He walked over to the coffeepot he always kept in his office. He was reaching for his mug when the door burst open. Without turning, he knew who it was. Everyone else in the store would have knocked before coming in. Everyone but his bride of six months. Sam braced himself.

“I just fired that kid in produce!” Rhoda snapped. “He’s useless!”

Sam spun around.

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