Cold Winter Nights

Loren Graham, the mayor of Emerald Point-a picturesque little town on the shore of Lake George in upstate New York-is anticipating a wonderful Holiday season. The town was ready. Sparkling new decorations hung on posts and wires throughout the Main Street business district. A sound system was rigged to play holiday songs and announce special sales throughout the shopping season. Special shopping nights and extended hours were scheduled to encourage the local residents to buy their holiday gifts in Emerald Point instead of dashing off to the malls in Queensbury and Albany. And, best of all, the final gift to the community was to be a grand Holiday concert downtown the week before Christmas. Everything had been planned down to the last detail to make this Holiday Season the best one ever, but then someone else planned a different event that didn't add to the festivities. The shocking murder of a local woman-a respected nurse-in her own home.