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PROLOGUE

Well, now, it goes without saying that we all love Jack Holland Especially us woosh, can you even iine? Not that ere surprised that Jack onderful--of course he was! First of all, he’s John Holland’s son, the only boy in the fauess we’d have to say "man" now, of course And he was in the navy, too, just in case he hadn’t already won us over by being the nicest thing ever Not to mention handso about those eyes the other day!

Jack’s just about royalty around here, since the Hollands are a founding fasport, and Jack’s the head winemaker at Blue Heron, the Hollands’ vineyard Guess on’t have to worry about the their land to a developer, not with all those kids in the family business And then there’s the way Jack treats those three sisters of his, and his stepet us started on that ex-wife of his She never deserved hi? Oh, yes, the Midwinter Miracle! Well now, sure, it was a group effort Levi Cooper, our police chief, he onderful (no relation to Anderson, and don’t think we didn’t ask) Levi and his deputy, Luanne Macoain? Emily? Emmaline? Anyway, they did the CPR And that handsome Gerard Chartier, him, too

But mostly, it was Jack

Which was no surprise to us

It was quitewell, exciting isn’t quite the right word, is it? But it was remarkable, no disrespect sport just about shuts down in the winter, just us year-rounders left, no tourists until spring when the wine tastings start up again So the Midwinter Miracle brought all sorts of media celebrities here--Brian Willia! And just about everyone and their brother had to drop by O’Rourke’s when Anderson Cooper was in there

That night put our little lakeside town on the iven that it happened in January, well, we could all use the distraction Laney Hughes even opened up the gift shop off-season, there were soto town Unloaded plenty of Keuka Lake T-shirts, she sure did Lorelei’s Sunrise Bakery sold out of everything by 8:00 am that entire week

What’s that? How’s Jack doing? He’s fine! He’s wonderful! A true hero Anyone will tell you that

Why would you even ask?

CHAPTER ONE

NOTHING KICKED OFF E a Taser

Okay, okay, she hadn’t used the Taser yet and she probably wouldn’t get to (dang), but the tiny thrill of anticipation didn’t lie If indeed there was an intruder in the McIntosh house, it would be deeply satisfying to apprehend hiht, Eet the electrodes

Granted, Barb had already ad addicted to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit ("That Christopher Meloni! So handsoe noises in the utility part of her baserandson, the notoriously creepy Bobby, wasn’t ho cellar stairs," Everett Field whispered

"Yeah, I can tell that, Ev, since I’ht behind you," Eer that," Everett whispered

Despite the fact that Emmaline had only been on the job for nine months and Everett was more senior, they both knew she was a better cop Ev wasn’t the crunchiest chip in the bag

"You sure Bobby’s not here?" Em asked Barb over her shoulder

"No I called hier that," Everett said, reaching for his holster "Alert for incoun, Everett," Ee?"

"Call of Duty"

"Great Just cal anyone" Taser at le

The crisport, New York, population 715, a tiny town at the base of Keuka Lake Everett and Em made up two-thirds of the police department; their boss, Levi Cooper, was the other third Traffic patrol, the occasional DUI, vandalisot around here Eers, of whom there were four In the summer and fall, when the tourists came to taste wine and swim and boat on Keuka Lake, they were busier, but this was January, and things were quiet In fact, this was their first call in three days

So thumped, and Everett squeaked Chances were that it was afurnace Possibly a raccoon Levi always said if you heard hoofbeats, expect to see horses, not zebras

They were in the cellar now; in front of theht was the door to the other half of the cellar, which housed the furnace and water heater and, Barb had told theetables she’d put up this su was in there

"It’s probably an anilite off her belt The utility room wasn’t accessible froh the house And Barb always locked up (again, the hty influence of Law & Order)

Everett put his hand on the doorknob and looked at E open the door, and E moved inside, and Everett screamed and, before she could stop him, drew and fired

Damn! The noise slapped her eardrums hard

"It’s a cat! Everett, it’s a cat!" she yelled "Holster your weapon!"

Everett obeyed As he did, a ball of black and white leaped on hih Apparently Puss in Boots didn’t appreciate being shot at

"Officer down, officer down!" Ev yelled, swatting at it "Ten double zero, officer down!"

"Shut up," Em ordered "You deserve it" He’d uy was a terrible shot

She lifted the cat gently by the scruff of the neck and pulled it off Everett’s leg All of a sudden, Everett was grabbed around the throat by Bobby McIntosh, who apparently was home after all

"Why did you shoot o of him!" Emmaline said

"We don’t have a cat!" Barb said fro a cat hohed "Let hi her Taser off her belt "It hurts"

He hesitated She cocked an eyebrow, and, with a sigh, he released her partner