Chapter 49

Twenty-two years ago . . .

            Eddie Balsom had just been laid off along with half of his department in the middle of a shift at the steel mill. The supervisor had said that he would bring them back on as soon as he could. Eddie had no choice but to grab his lunch box and head home.

            His car was in the shop so he got on the bus. The bus stop was a block away from his house. It was a few minutes after nine o’clock at night and it was already twenty-eight degrees outside. The snow was six inches deep and another front was due to come in after midnight.

            Eddie sniffed the snot back up his nose as he continued to walk home. His heavy Nick’s coat, matching sock cap, and black gloves didn’t do much to protect him from t