The Ice Storm Murders

by Virginia Winters

  "Our helicopter will be here about 10:00 am, tomorrow or rather later today."

  Anne reached for Thomas's hand. Soon, she thought. Soon they would be out of this nightmare of a place and home.

  Chapter 37

  Later that day, as the helicopter roared and rose towards the sky, Anne said, "Will you ask the pilot to circle the lodge, Thomas? I want to wave goodbye to the children and Eloise said she would bring them outside."

  Thomas spoke to the pilot through his headset and the craft tilted into a turn. Below, the red roofs of the McKnight home formed a cross against the pristine snow. Two adults, one with a yellow snowsuited burden, and a child trudged towards the dock. At the sound of the helicopter, they looked up and waved.

  Olivia, in a neon-green snowsuit, jumped up and down, waving wildly and then fell, her arms swirling to make a snow angel. Eloise and David holding Hamish, made thumbs-up towards them and Eloise threw them a kiss with her white-mittened hand.

  "They’re going to be happy, I think," said Thomas.

  "Yes and successful parents if the courts allow the adoption."

  "I'm sure they will. Are you writing a letter to the court?"

  "Yes, as soon as we're home. We have to talk."

  "Here?"

  "The only times we're not involved with a host of others and several corpses is when we're in a plane. Can the pilot—"

  "Andrew, turn off communication for a few minutes," he said.

  "Yes, sir."

  "Now he can't. What—"

  "Yes."

  "Yes, what."

  "Yes to you, to our life together, to moving forward together. If you still want that?"

  "How can you ask?"

  He drew her into his arms and kissed her. From inside his parka, he drew out a battered jeweller's box in royal blue leather. "This was my grandmother's," he said. "I've been carrying this around for three months. I hope it fits you now or we could have it resized."

  Anne opened the box on an exquisite emerald, surrounded by diamonds, set in antique gold filigree. "It's so lovely."

  Thomas slipped the ring on her finger. She stretched her hand and smiled up at him as the sun caught the diamonds and reflected a rainbow of colour onto the grey bulkhead.

  "Perfect," he said. "Where would you like to honeymoon?"

  She snuggled led into his arms. "Somewhere we won't find any bodies."

  He laughed and said, "Agreed."

  About the Author

  Virginia Winters is the author of Dangerous Journeys, a series of suspense novels with a genealogical theme. The Ice Storm Murders is the 6th. She also wrote Painting of Sorrow, the first in the Deadly Art Series.

  Virginia lives in Lindsay, a small Ontario town, with husband George and standard poodle Cully.

  Also by Virginia Winters

  Dangerous Journeys

  Murderous Roots

  The Facepainter Murders

  No Motive for Murder

  The Child on the Terrace

  The Jewelled Egg Murders

  Deadly Arts Mysteries

  Painting of Sorrow

  Short Story Collection

  A Superior Crime and other stories

  Boxed Sets

  Dangerous Journeys Books 1-4