The Winter Man Read Free

and replaced the original before he went back to the funeral home.
    All the way, in the back of his mind, he kept seeing the fear in Millie’s face when he’d moved toward her. That reaction was odd. She might have been surprised by the speed of his movement—a lot of people had been, over the years. But she’d expected him to hit her. It was in her eyes, her face, her whole posture. He wondered what had happened to her in the past that made her so afraid.
    Then he chided himself for that ridiculous compassion, when she’d caused John’s death. At least he’d made sure that she wouldn’t come to the funeral. That would have been the last straw.
    He pulled up at the funeral home and locked his car. It was getting colder. Strange weather, he thought. First it was like summer then, in a matter of days, winter arrived. It was normal weather for Texas in late November, he mused.
    As he walked into the funeral home, he saw some ofJohn’s family gathered, talking among themselves. Frank spotted Tony and came out into the hall. They shook hands.
    â€œI just have to drop this off,” he told Frank, lifting up the copy of the plat. “Then we’ll spend a minute talking to John’s people before we go out to eat.”
    The funeral director spotted them and came forward. He took the copy of the plat, smiled at Frank and went back to his office.
    â€œYou may get a shock,” Frank murmured as they walked into the viewing room.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Tony asked, surprised.
    John didn’t have much family. His parents were long dead. He did have a sister, Ida. She was there, dry-eyed and irritable. She glanced at the doorway and put on a big smile.
    â€œTony! How nice to see you again!” She ran up to him and hugged him. “You look great!”
    â€œSorry we have to meet like this,” Tony began.
    â€œYes, the idiot, what a stupid thing to do!” Ida muttered. “He had a life insurance policy worth fifty thousand dollars. I paid the premiums for him, me and Jack, and look what he does! Suicide! We won’t get a penny!”
    Tony looked as if he’d been hit in the eye.
    â€œOh, there’s Merle. Sorry, honey, I have to talk to her about the flowers. She’s giving me a good deal on a wreath…”
    John’s cousin Ben came forward to shake hands.
    â€œWhat a mess,” he told the two men. He shook hishead. “I bailed him out of jail. He didn’t exactly skip bond, but I’ll forfeit what I put up,” he added heavily. “Two thousand dollars,” he grumbled. “He swore he’d pay me back.” He wandered off, still shaking his head.
    An elderly woman with dyed blond hair and wearing a hideous black dress, peered at Tony. She grinned up at him. “You must be that rich friend of Johnny’s,” she said. “He said you owned several islands out in the Atlantic and that you were going to give him one and a yacht, too, so he could get to and from this country.”
    â€œThat’s right, Blanche,” Frank said, smiling. “Now, you’ll have to excuse us, we’ve got an appointment. We’ll see you at the funeral.”
    â€œI sure would like to see that yacht,” Blanche added.
    Frank took Tony by the arm and propelled him out into the lobby.
    * * *
    They were sitting in a good Italian restaurant fifteen minutes later, having given in their order.
    â€œI can’t believe it,” Tony said furiously. “His own family! Not one of them seems to be sad that he’s dead!”
    â€œHe was nothing but trouble to them,” Frank replied. “He didn’t work, you know,” he added, shocking Tony, who’d already had a few shocks. “He told the government people that he had a bad back and he fed liquor to two vagrants who signed sworn statements that they’d seen the accident that crippled him. He convinced hisdoctor and got a statement