Page 9 (1/2)

"She called a couple of o She says there’s been a disaster up in Snowfield"

"Disaster? What’s she mean?"

"Well, she says she doesn’t know"

Bryce blinked "Did she sound hysterical?"

"Frightened, yeah But not hysterical She doesn’t want to sayto anyone but you She’s on line three right now"

Bryce reached for the phone

"Onehis forehead

Bryce paused, hand on the receiver

Tal said, "She did tell , but it doesn’t make sense She said…"

"Yes?"

"She said that everyone’s dead up there Everyone in Snowfield She said she and her sister are the only ones alive"

Chapter 10 – Sisters and Cops

Jenny and Lisa left the Oxley house the sarowing colder The wind had risen once more

They walked back to Jenny’s house at the top of Skyline Road and got jackets to ward off the chill

Then they went downhill again to the sheriff’s substation A wooden bench was bolted to the cobblestones by the curb in front of the town jail, and they sat waiting for help froet here?" Lisa asked

"Well, Santa Mira is more than thirty ot to take souess they’ll be here in another forty-five , honey"

The girl pulled up the collar of her fleece-lined, deni at the Oxley place and you picked it up…"

"Yes?"

"Who was calling?"

"No one"

"What did you hear?"

"Nothing," Jenny lied

"Fro you or so, I thought the phones orking again, but when I picked it up and it was only another dead line, I felt… finished That was all"

"Then you got a dial tone?"

"Yes"

She probably doesn’t believeto protect her fro And, of course, I a evil was on that phone with in to understand it myself Who or as on that telephone? Why did he-or it finally letthe street Nothing elseof cloud passed over one corner of thehappens toto happen to you, honey"

"But in case soht," Lisa insisted, "I want you to know that I… well… I really am… proud of you"

Jenny put an arm around her sister’s shoulders, and they ether "Sis, I’ether over the years"

"You got home as often as you could," Lisa said, "I knoasn’t easy I must’ve read a couple of dozen books about what a person has to go through to become a doctor I always knew there was a lot on your shoulders, a lot you had to worry about"

Surprised, Jenny said, "Well, I still could’ve gotten home more often"

She had stayed away from home on some occasions because she had not been able to cope with the accusation in her mother’s sad eyes, an accusation which was evenbecause it was never bluntly put into words: You killed your father, Jenny; you broke his heart, and that killed him

Lisa said, "And Mom was always so proud of you, too"

That statement not only surprised Jenny: It rocked her

"Mohter the doctor" Lisa s "I think there were tie club if she said just one rades"

Jenny blinked "Are you serious?"

"Of course, I’m serious"

"But didn’t Mom…"

"Didn’t she what?" Lisa asked

"Well… didn’t she ever say anything about… about Dad? He died twelve years ago"

"Jeez, I know that He died when I o and a half" Lisa frowned "But what’re you asking about?"

"You mean you never heard Mom blame, me?"

"Blames you for what?"

Before Jenny could respond, Snowfield’s graveyard tranquility was snuffed out All the lights went off

Three patrol cars set out froht-enshrouded hills, toward the high, hts flashing

Tal Whit procession, and Sheriff Haan was in the back seat with another deputy, Jake Johnson

Gordy was scared