Ice Cold: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel

now.”
    Elaine and Arlo came out of the store, laughing, and climbed into their seats.
    “That,” said Arlo, “was like a time capsule. Did you see those Pez dispensers? They had to be twenty years old. And that old guy behind the counter was like some character out of
The Twilight Zone
.”
    “Yeah, he was strange,” said Doug, starting the engine.
    “Creepy
is the word I’d use. He said he hoped we weren’t headed to Kingdom Come.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “You people are
sinners!”
Arlo boomed out in his best televangelist voice. “And you are on the road to
Hay-ell!”
    “Maybe he was just telling us to be careful,” said Elaine. “With this snow and all.”
    “It seems to be slowing down.” Doug leaned forward to peer up at the sky. “In fact, I think I can see a patch of blue up there.”
    “Always the optimist,” said Arlo. “That’s our Dougie.”
    “Positive thinking. It works every time.”
    “Just get us there in time for lunch.”
    Doug looked at the GPS. “Lola says ETA eleven forty-nine. You’re not going to starve.”
    “I already am starving, and it’s only ten thirty.”
    The GPS’s female voice commanded: “Bear left at next fork.”
    Arlo burst out in song:
“Whatever Lola wants …”
    “Lola gets,”
Doug joined in, and he veered left at the fork.
    Maura looked out her window, but she didn’t spot any patch of blue sky. All she saw was low-hanging clouds and the white flanks of mountains in the distance.
    “It’s starting to snow again,” said Elaine.

W E MUST HAVE TAKEN A WRONG TURN,” SAID A RLO .
    The snow was swirling thicker than ever, and in between swipes of the windshield wipers, the glass instantly clouded over in a thick lattice of flakes. They’d been winding steadily up the mountain for nearly an hour now, and the road had long since vanished under an ever-deepening carpet of white. Doug drove with neck craned forward, straining to make out what lay ahead.
    “Are you sure this is the right way?” said Arlo.
    “Lola said so.”
    “Lola is a disembodied voice in a box.”
    “I programmed her for the most direct route. This is it.”
    “But is it the fastest route?”
    “Hey, do you want to drive?”
    “Whoa, man. I’m just asking.”
    Elaine said, “We haven’t seen another car since we turned ontothis road. Not since that weirdo gas station. Why isn’t anyone else here?”
    “Do you have a map?” asked Maura.
    “I think there’s one in the glove compartment,” said Doug. “It came with the rental car. But the GPS says we’re right where we should be.”
    “Yeah. In the middle of nowhere,” muttered Arlo.
    Maura pulled out the map and unfolded it. It took her a moment to orient herself to the unfamiliar geography. “I don’t see this road on here,” she said.
    “You sure you know where we are?”
    “It’s not here.”
    Doug snatched the map from her hands and propped it up on the steering wheel as he drove.
    “Hey, a helpful suggestion from the backseat?” called Arlo. “How about keeping your eyes on the road?”
    Doug shoved the map aside. “Piece of junk. It’s not detailed enough.”
    “Maybe Lola’s wrong,” said Maura.
God, now I’m calling the gadget by that stupid name
.
    “She’s more up to date than that map,” said Doug.
    “This could be a seasonal road. Or a private road.”
    “It didn’t say private when we turned onto it.”
    “You know, I think we should turn around,” said Arlo. “Seriously, man.”
    “It’s thirty miles back to the fork. Do you want to make it there by lunch or not?”
    “Dad?” Grace called from the back of the Suburban. “What’s going on?”
    “Nothing, honey. We’re just having a discussion about which road to take.”
    “You mean you don’t know?”
    Doug heaved out a frustrated sigh. “I do know, and we’re okay!We’re fine! If everyone would just cool it, we can start having a good time.”
    “Let’s turn around, Doug,” said Arlo. “This road is getting seriously scary.”
    “Okay,” said Doug, “I guess it’s time for a vote. Everyone?”
    “I vote we turn around,” said Arlo.
    “Elaine?”
    “I think the driver should decide,” she said. “I’ll go with whatever you want, Doug.”
    “Thank you, Elaine.” Doug glanced at Maura. “How do you vote?”
    There was more to that question than what it seemed. She could see it in his eye, a look that said
Back me up. Believe in me
. A look that made her remember what