On a cold, windy day in December, a severe snow storm blows into town, forcing not only the citizens of the town to remain indoors, but also all of the emergency response workers as well. Everyone would be without the help of police, paramedics and fireman until the storm died down or moved on.

Private Detective Jake Doyle, working a case with his father Malachy, was not deterred by the adverse conditions and agreed to meet their client outside a cafe a few minutes from their downtown office. Sarah Wilmington, recently widowed, had hired Jake and Malachy to investigate the suspicious death of her husband of 10 years, James. James had been working for a local business man,Al Cavanaugh, known to have ties with local criminals, and had been investigated numerous times in cases of suspicious deaths and business deals.

With only a few days until Christmas, Malachy was hoping to set aside the case until after the holidays were over and the rest of his family had returned to their homes. As it stands, Christian, his eldest son, Kathleen, his daughter, Tinny, his granddaughter, Des, adopted son, and his wife Rose were staying at the house. As well as Jake and Leslie, his girlfriend.

Everyone was sitting in the living room, watching a Christmas movie, except for Jake. Just as Malachy was about to call him to ask where he was he received an incoming call from Jake's cell.

"Jake where are you?" he asks his son, annoyed

"Sarah wanted to meet, she said that while she was going through her husbands things she found some information that might help us connect his death to Cavanaugh. She asked me to meet her in front of the diner down the street from the office." Jake replies, locking the door of the office behind him as he steps out into the frigid air and swirling snow, already up to his ankles.

"Really? Well, Leslie is here, and so is everyone else. They've already put a movie on, when do you think that you'll be home ?"

"I'm not sure father, it probably won't be very long. Oh, do you have Nikki's address handy ? I have a letter I want to send her but I didn't have her address written down at the office."

"It's probably written down somewhere, you can find it when you get here."

"Alright, wouldn't want you to work too hard father. This storm's gettin real bad, I can barely see a few feet in front of me."

"Be careful Jake, not only in this storm but Cavanaugh isn't someone to mess with lightly."

"I'll be careful father, and I should be at the house in about 15 or 20 minutes, tell Leslie I'm sorry I'm late." and he hangs up the phone, walking the last few steps to stand in front of the diner.

After a couple of minutes the shape of a woman becomes visible, and he sees Sarah walking toward him, and he meets her half way.

"Sarah, lovely place to meet." he begins conversationally and Sarah briefly gives him a small smile before going serious and pulling out a white envelope from her purse.

"What's this then ?" asks Jake, taking the envelope

"It's proof that Cavanaugh was watching my husband, and proof that he sent his goons after him when James wasn't willing to play dirty." says Sarah, looking around nervously.

"And you think that Cavanaugh is going to come after you too?" asks Jake noticing her nervous looks around, and secretly thinking that she probably wasn't wrong.

"I've seen the same truck parked outside of my house for the last week, and the same men sitting inside it. I might just be paranoid, but it feels like I'm being watched and..." She trails off, looking at a spot over his shoulder. Jake whips his head around and sees a large blue truck parked a little ways down the street.

"Is that the truck you've been seeing ?" he asks quietly, but still loud enough to be heard over the screeching wind.

She nods "yes, can you tell if anyone's in it ?" she asks

Jake's just shaking his head no when he sees the passenger door and back door, on the driver's side, open and two large men get out and start towards the pair. Jake turns back to the terrified Sarah and says:

"Run Sarah, run!" and run she does, back through the alley and disappears down the next street.