Part 18 (1/2)

Wendy began throwing things. An ornamental blacksmiths shop bounced off the window.

Ellie stood in the doorway, her face as white as her ap.r.o.n. She screamed at the sight of a gla.s.s ornament in Wendys hand. Wendy threw it at her, and Ellie ducked. The piece hit the wall and shattered into pieces.

Jeremy and Rob were well into it. At first Jeremy was on top, his fists moving like pistons on a race car. Then it was Rob. Mild mannered Rob was able to hold his own in a fight. He grabbed Jeremys head by the ears and smashed it into the floor. Once, twice. Kathy jumped up and down, yelling encouragement.

Lucky ran across the room and dropped to her knees. She touched Robs shoulder. ”No more. Please.”

He pulled back. He looked at her, his eyes dull and focused, and for a moment she feared he was about to hit her.

He shoved Jeremys head down and stood up.

Jeremy jumped to his feet, turned his head and spat blood onto the s.h.i.+ny hardwood floor. The two men faced each other, breathing heavily, fists clenched.

Lucky stepped between them. She put one palm on each chest, and could feel their hearts beating as fast as her own. ”This has gone far enough, dont you think?”

Sirens coming down the road. Stopping outside the B&B.

”Will you shut the h.e.l.l up,” Alan yelled at Wendy. ”Like we need the cops here again.”

She stopped screaming, and her hand froze before it could throw the brightly painted wooden nutcracker soldier she gripped in her right hand.

Fists pounded on the door. ”Police.”

”Someone get the door,” Lucky said. ”Or theyll break it down.”

Rob and Jeremy glared at each other across her arms. She wasnt sure if she stepped away they wouldnt start the fight up again.

The other combatants began to examine their injuries. ”The b.i.t.c.h bit me. Im going to need a rabies shot.”

”Sacre bleu, what kind of freaks are you?”

”My late husband gave me that village. Youre going to pay for it.”

Wendy fell into a chair and began to cry with great heaving sobs.

”Ill let them in,” Kathy said.

Dawn Solway was half-way up the path, which was covered with the afternoons fall of snow, when Smith pulled up behind the patrol car. Winters was out of the van before Smith had brought it to a complete halt.

A pure white Jack Russell barked at him. Fortunately for Winters ankles, the dog was attached to a leash, held by a woman bundled against the cold. The woman pointed her cell phone toward the B&B. ”Someones screaming in there to beat the band. I thought Id better call you.” A man crossed the street to see what was happening. Next door, the porch light came on.

The B&B looked like Santas village in the gently falling snow. The roof and doorway were trimmed by tiny white lights; nets of lights were tossed over the bushes on either side of the porch steps. A big green wreath topped by a white bow graced the front door.

Solway hit the door with her fist. ”Police.”

She sensed someone behind her and turned around.

Smith came up the path at a trot. Solway took a quick look at her and lifted one eyebrow at the unusual uniform.

Smith shrugged.

”Ill take this,” Winters said. ”You two follow me.” He lifted his hand to knock again, but it wasnt necessary.

Kathy Carmine stood there. ”Can I help you?”

”We received a call of a disturbance at this address,” Winters said. ”Loud enough to be heard on the street.”

”Its all sorted out. Were fine, thanks. Just a misunderstanding. Thank you for coming anyway.” She began to shut the door. Winters stuck a boot into it.

”Id like to come in and check for myself.”

Smith didnt know why, but Kathy looked at her as if she were asking what she should do. Smith nodded, and Kathy took a step backward, out of the doorway.

Please dont let my mom still be here. Smith entered the house behind Winters and Solway.

But her prayers were not answered. Lucky was in the middle of it all. She stood between two young men, both of them breathing heavily and bleeding from the nose and minor cuts to the face. Lucky wasnt much over five feet tall, a pudgy fifty-six year old woman with graying red hair that refused to keep to its pins; the men were six feet and more, muscular, young and angry. She kept them apart as much by force of will as strength of hand.

The other residents and the owner of the B&B were in various stages of nursing wounds, weeping, crying over broken furniture, and straightening ornaments.

”Whos going to tell me whats going on here?” Winters said. ”Mrs. Smith, you can start.”

Smith glared at her mother, and Lucky ignored her.

”As you understand, Sergeant Winters,” she said, in a voice her daughter knew so well. Her formal, speaking to authority (before cutting them off at the knees) voice. ”Emotions are running high around here. Thank you for coming, but its all over now.”

Like an actor who hadnt gotten the changes to the script, Jeremy pointed at Rob, ”Bulls.h.i.+t. He came on like a G.o.dd.a.m.ned lunatic.” Blood streamed from his nose, and he wiped it on his sleeve. He looked around the room. ”You all saw it. He attacked me for no reason.”

”No reason,” Rob yelled. His lip was split and leaking blood. The skin around his right eye was already changing color. ”All youve done since we got the news about Jason and Ewan is make snide insinuations.” Kathy slipped behind him and put a hand on the small of his back. He didnt seem to notice.

Jeremys body stiffened as, despite the presence of three police officers, violence began to creep back in. ”Why dont you do us all a favor and go back to your f.u.c.king computer?”

It wasnt her place to do anything without orders, but Molly Smith was so tired of this bunch of spoiled brats. And on a day that had started so nicely with a steaming mocha and a bag of fresh croissants and skis on the roof of her car. ”Jeremy Wozenack, Im sick to death of seeing your face. This is the second time in one day Ive been called out to find you in a brawl. Youre under arrest.”

Rob chuckled.

”What the h.e.l.l, you cant arrest me.” Jeremy turned to his friends. ”Ask anyone, he attacked me. Didnt he? Didnt he? Tell her, Alan.”

Alan was rubbing at his forearm. ”From what I saw, he made a fist like a first-grader and you came back like Mohammed Ali. Other than that, I dont much care.”

”He started it,” Kathy said, pointing at Jeremy. ”He attacked Rob with no provocation at all.”

”Thats a f.u.c.king lie. Christ, you werent even here, kid. Think making up a storys going to get you a date, think again.”

”Mr. Wozenack, right now it doesnt matter one whit who started what. A judge will decide that. Im arresting you because I dont want to be called out any more today. Got it?”

”Think Im going to be taken away by a blond b.i.t.c.h in an ugly red hat? Think again, lady.”