Let it Snow

/OH, THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL/BUT THE FIRE IS SO DELIGHTFUL/

Harlan’s Bentley purred beneath his palm as he guided it to a graceful stop. Opening the door, he lit a cigarette and patted his new car approvingly. It was a good car, his Bentley. Worth every penny. Slamming it shut, he leaned against the door and squinted at the lawn. Five girls were playing in the snow. He could see the detritus of an evening of play. They looked for all the world like tiny fabric golems, wrapped up in layers of thick clothing. One of them looked up as his gaze passed over them, and Harlan glanced away hastily. Clearing his throat, he stumped up to the door and knocked smartly.
A Vietnamese woman answered the door. “Oh, Harlan!”
“It’s me.” Harlan grinned, exposing nicotine-stained teeth, and shook her hand vigorously. “How are ya, Katie?”
“Oh, same old, same old.” Katie stood aside, beckoning him in, and Harlan stepped inside. Bing Crosby was playing on the radio.

/AND SINCE WE’VE NO PLACE TO GO/LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW/

“I got some presents for Maxine,” Harlan said, gesturing at the paper bag dangling from his hand. “I’ll put ‘em under the tree?”
“Oh, let me do it. Go and say hi to Colin, why don’t you?” Katie jerked her chin at the staircase. “He’s in the study.”
Colin was indeed in his study. Harlan stood in the doorway until he turned. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.” His brother removed his spectacles and removed a handkerchief from his pocket, rubbing at the lenses absently. “You’re doing well.”
“Yeah.” Harlan shut the door behind him. His gaze skipped over the bookshelves and the papers strewn over the table. “Listen, Colin. I know you and I, we’ve had our differences. But I wanna help, see? I wanna be something other than the black sheep of the family.”
Colin blinked suspiciously at him. “What’s this leading up to?”
“I want you to work for me.”
“Work for you?” Colin chuckled derisively. “What sort of scam are you running this time, huh?”
“I’m a cape.”
Colin blinked.
Harlan pulled a clipping from his pocket and thrust it at his brother. Emblazoned on the page: C53 TINKER PATENTS REVOLUTIONARY CYBERNETIC LIVER. “Read it. You see that company? Apotheosis Inc. Owned by? Theseus Inc. And you see, below that…”
“A member of Umbrella Corporation,” Colin murmured. “That yours?”
“I’ve been going around making it rain for farmers. Giving rich brats snow-days.” Harlan settled into the chair opposite Colin. “The guy that runs Theseus Inc., I found him. Made him an offer. He put me in the big-leagues, Colin. But I need help.” He looked his brother in the eye. “I can talk. I can negotiate. I still look normal, unlike that ugly motherfucker, and I can look him in the eye without flinching. I’m a good business partner, sure. But I need a moneyman. Those damn accountants, they cost too much. I need something in-house.”
Colin folded his arms. “And what makes you think I’m going to just jump ship into your waiting hands?”
Harlan quoted a number, and Colin grew very quiet for a few long moments. Then there was a knock in the door, and Harlan looked up as Katie poked her head in. “Boys, Maxine’s friends have left. Come down for dinner?”
On the way down, Colin leaned over. “Let me have a look at the financial statements,” he breathed. “And I’ll judge for myself.”
Harlan nodded.

/IT DOESN’T SHOW SIGNS OF STOPPING/AND I BROUGHT SOME CORN FOR POPPING/

They arranged themselves around the table. Maxine had already seated herself, and Katie stood to receive the two of them. Colin carved up the turkey as Harlan watched Katie. He’d had his concerns about the relationship at first; he’d thought her a mere gold-digger preying on his nervous, virginal brother. It had always been him protecting Colin in the past, anyway. It was his job to be on guard. Colin hadn’t seen it that way, of course, and the ensuing row had been brutal.
But he was man enough to admit that Katie was good for Colin. Sure, her daughter may not have been his, not by blood, but if Colin didn’t mind, then Harlan didn’t give a shit. And Maxine was a cute kid, anyway. Who was he to talk?
“Tell Uncle Harry about the friends you’ve made at school,” Katie said, and Maxine turned obediently to him, her face lighting up. Harlan put on an attentive face, digging into his turkey, and dampened the snowfall a little bit more. Brockton Bay deserved a few more days of comfortably cold weather before winter really set in.

/THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED WAY DOWN LOW/LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW/