The Cool Room by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 1

Tucked away in upstate New York, the house stood at an intersection near the northern edge of the town’s business district. It would have blended in with the surrounding neighborhood had it not been for the fact that it was a funeral home. It had served the town for several decades, and being one of only two such businesses commanded the respect of the town’s people as a pillar of the community. Frank, the director, clearly understood that funerals are not for the dead but for the living and went to great lengths to provide a soothing, supportive atmosphere for his client’s families. On occasion, he and a member of his staff would assist a grieving relative to their car when they were not able to walk on their own. Having seen so much pain and grief had, at some point, begun to overwhelm him, he found himself attending regular therapy sessions. His staff, however, traveled a different road, taking the shortcut inherent in drug use. Naturally, it eased the pain that had traumatized their souls, but as business continued, more seemed to be necessary. Apparently, life in the funeral industry is not without its risks.