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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>2015 words<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Chapter 19<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Frozen Out<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Robbie patrolled the crowds along Main Street Saturday morning during the start of Doe Lake’s Winter Ice Fest parade. From across the street, he watched Claudia photograph the spectacle. The high school band, marching in new uniforms, was followed by a brigade of volunteer firefighters tossing candy off the back of the town’s newest fire engine. That year’s Ice Queen, the librarian, waved at spectators as she floated down Main Street on her throne chiseled from ice. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The Millwood Furniture float featuring a fisherman snoozing on a plush leather couch prompted laughter from onlookers. The flatbed trailer was pulled by a pick-up with Karl behind the wheel. The truck was moving slow enough for Officer Braun to hoist himself into the cab beside Karl.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Okay if I ride along, Karl?” Robbie asked the startled driver. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about what’s going on at Millwood.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Karl’s handlebar mustache twitched in surprise. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Officer Braun…well, I’ll be. What’s going on at Millwood?” Karl stared at Robbie in astonishment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Just between us,” Robbie assured Karl, “I’ve heard someone is harassing Barringer at work. You and Veronica are tight, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Karl giggled nervously, “You’ve got the wrong idea if you think I’m interested in Veronica that way.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Naw, Karl. I’ve got your number.” Robbie waved a hand dismissively. “I mean you and Veronica are pals, right? You go out to lunch with her sometimes, right? Just thought you might know if someone at Millwood is bothering her.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Well, sometimes Hamilton hassles Veronica, but that’s no big deal. They’re competing for the same promotion,” Karl said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Do you think Hamilton is just hassling Barringer, or would she actually threaten Veronica wit harm?” Robbie watched Karl’s face to gauge his reaction.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Karl stared straight ahead and pumped the brakes to keep his truck a safe distance from the Ice Queen float. They were nearing the end of the parade route.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Naw, Michelle is strong-willed but she can get what she wants without hurting Veronica,” Karl answered. “She’ll simply strong-arm Reed and Roberts to get the job. They know she’s got dirt on Millwood.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“What kind of dirt?” Robbie considered this new information.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Michelle’s been at Millwood a long time,” Karl shrugged. “Who knows what she knows.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“So, that means Reed and Roberts don’t have any reason to threaten Veronica either. If anything, they’d be after Hamilton to keep her quiet, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“There’s one other guy at Millwood who pesters Veronica, but Veronica can handle him, no problem,” Karl said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“You mean Pete? He’s got the hots for her all right.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Yeah, but Veronica just brushes him off. She doesn’t need any help beating off unwanted advances, but you already know that …” Karl glanced my way, giggling again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Guess this is my stop,” Robbie said, hopping out of the cab. First Pete, then Michelle, now Karl knew Veronica had refused Officer Braun’s advances. Adding to his frustration, Robbie wasn’t any closer to tagging Veronica’s stalker than before.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>After the parade, contestants packed the Doe Lake Bar and Grill to pick up registration materials. Shoulder-to-shoulder, the local boys bragged over a beer about the one that got away. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Claudia caught Robbie’s eye from across the room. She was cornered by Pete at the bar. Before Robbie could press his way past the line to reach her, she shoved her half-empty glass of beer across the bar and ducked out the back door. Talk about the one that got away, Robbie muttered. Claudia might have dodged him that day, but she couldn’t freeze him out forever, Robbie thought. If he took first place, she’d be forced to interview him for The Messenger the next day. Prizes would be presented to the winners at the fish fry following the ice fishing competition.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Meanwhile, Veronica waved Robbie over to her table. He nudged her current admirer out of the way.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Looks like you need a refill, bud,” he said, tucking a five dollar bill into the guy’s flannel shirt pocket.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Have a seat, Robbie, and give me the quick run down,” Veronica said. “It’s noisy enough no one should hear us talking. Have you figured out who is hounding me, and why?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“I gotta say, Veronica, you’ve made a few enemies at Millwood. Michelle despises you, but it sounds like she doesn’t need you out of the way to get what she wants. And Pete is too afraid of his own shadow to go after what he wants,” Robbie said. “That leaves Reed and Roberts, but they seem to like having you around.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Is that all you’ve got, Braun?” Veronica tapped her manicured nails on the table in irritation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Well, I suppose another rival or a jilted lover could be playing games with you,” Robbie suggested. “Maybe someone will get nervous knowing I’m investigating and do something stupid to give himself away.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Something stupid? Like coming after me? Thanks for nothing, Robbie. You’re nothing but a poser, a wanna-be cop that can’t be counted on to do the job,” Veronica hissed. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Now Veronica, could be you’re making a big deal over nothing,” Officer Braun said in his defense.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“You think I’m making something out of nothing, Braun? Another note was delivered to my hotel room in New York. Someone sure is going to a lot of trouble for nothing.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“I haven’t given up yet, Veronica. Is there someone else you can think of who might have it out for you?” Robbie said. “Get this - Michelle thinks it might even be me – you know, since you threw me off. That’s a laugh, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Do you see me laughing, Robbie? Come to think about it, you do have the opportunity, and the motive. You knew where I was staying in Manhattan. Maybe I was wrong to trust you. Maybe I should warn Claudia…”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Veronica shoved her chair back and pushed her way past Pete. Robbie hoped he’d been standing out of ear shot.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Pete slugged his beer and said, “Looks like you’re on a roll, Robbie. Isn’t that the second doe that got away from you today? Can’t wait to see how well you do on the ice tomorrow.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>At dawn, Robbie shouldered his way through the crowd gathered at the pavilion. Participants were maneuvering snowmobiles loaded with supplies to the starting point. Volunteers were setting up tables for the fish fry.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“I’ll check you in right here, Robbie,” said Mr. K who was manning the registration table. “You looking to hook the big one this year?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“You know it,” Robbie said. In fact, Officer Braun was intending to hook a 30-inch pike and set a new record. His personal best was a two-foot catch the previous year. This year, he had his eye on first place, worthy of a new 1978 Ford pick-up truck, or that year’s second place prize, a spiffy Winchester rifle. Third place only netted a one hundred dollar shopping spree at Doe Lake Bait and Tackle – good enough for a third-rate loser like Pete, not him, Robbie thought.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Rules for the contest were strict. After the judges inspected his gear and nailed an entry number to the door of his plywood shanty, Robbie revved up his Arctic Cat, prepared to haul his equipment to his preferred spot on the ice. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>From his vantage point, Robbie scoped out the competition. He spotted Claudia near the registration table interviewing Pete, of all people. Wearing woolen mittens, she fumbled with her pencil and notebook. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>That should be me, Robbie thought, but he’d blown it with Claudia. He flinched, remembering her harsh words with regret.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Why did I think I could trust either one of you? Get out,” Claudia had cried.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Robbie then noticed Veronica. She stood alone on the fringe of the crowd, watching Pete and Claudia. She’d frozen him out, too. Her icy words echoed in his mind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Thanks for nothing, Robbie. You’re nothing but a poser, a wanna-be cop that can’t be counted on to do the job.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Robbie shivered. He turned back to the task at hand, determined to shake off their cold rebuke. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>At the eight o’clock whistle, he dragged his small home for the day onto the ice and situated it above a deep spot in a cove that he favored. After he off-loaded his supplies, he steered his snowmobile back to the shore. Before Robbie was off the ice, Pete cut him off. His Ski-Doo glanced Robbie’s runner.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“You asshole,” Braun yelled. He hopped off his cat and grabbed Pete by the collar. Pete landed face down on the ice. Sputtering, he sat up and wiped his bloody nose on the sleeve of his orange hunting coat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“Watch where you’re going, Petey. You don’t want to get in my way today,” Robbie growled. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“You don’t own the lake, Braun,” Pete said, scrambling to his feet. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“I should have you disqualified for reckless driving,” Robbie shouted over his shoulder as he stomped back to his snowmobile.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> “You threatening me, Braun?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“You got that right,” Robbie retorted. “Better be careful - you might fall through a fishing hole and get trapped under the ice.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“You’re gonna regret pushing me around,” Pete muttered. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Robbie bent to inspect his snowmobile and moaned under his breath. Both Claudia and Veronica were observing the commotion. Fat chance either woman would warm up to him now with yet one more reason to avoid him. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Even so, Robbie didn’t intend to sit alone in the cold. There were plenty of fish in the lake, so to speak. After Claudia and Veronica had walked out on Robbie at the bar, he had snagged Chicky to keep him company on the ice.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Inside his shed, Robbie raised the trap door and began driving the working edge of a spud through the foot-thick ice. He worked the long metal pole in a circle to carve a large hole. The loosened ice dropped into the lake when he gave it a good kick. Black water cold as hell kissed the frigid air. Next, Robbie carved three smaller openings through the ice outside the shanty to heighten his advantage. He rigged each hole with a wire and a red tip-up flag to alert him when a fish hit the hook.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>That accomplished, Robbie arranged his gear inside the tight shanty. He set the kerosene stove next to his camp chair, perched beside the bait bucket next to the beer cooler, across from another camp chair soon to be warmed by a hot-blooded woman who would admire his prowess. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Sweating by then in his snowmobile suit, Robbie settled in for the day-long event. He was anxious to drop the line of his jig pole into the depths of Doe Lake at the eleven o’clock starting bell. Peering out the window from his cozy hiding place, he spied Claudia taking pictures of Families and friends hooping and hollering on shore. The atmosphere was festive. Snow sculptures incongruously circled the lake. An imaginary flying saucer stood next to a life-like deer next to the ice queen’s throne.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>A knock on the door of his shelter alerted Robbie that his guest had arrived. Chicky bounced into the hut, raising the temperature a few notches. She placed a thermos of hot coffee on the kerosene stove, and she balanced a flask of whiskey on top of the cooler. Chicky wasn’t as cute as Claudia or Veronica, Robbie thought, but she’d do the trick that day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The signal to start fishing sounded. The competitive spirit was thicker than ice. Following the starting bell at eleven, a quiet four hours would pass before the judges began measuring and weighing the entries. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>* * *<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>After taking photographs at the starting events, Claudia ventured out on her cross country skis. She wanted to escape the congestion of revelers and noisy snowmobilers. The results wouldn’t come in until three o’clock. She had plenty of time to circle the 10-mile perimeter of the lake. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>She wondered if Robbie was sitting alone in his shanty or if Veronica was keeping him warm. Claudia tried to tell herself she didn’t care. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'># # #<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>