Shit! It's fucking Groundhog Day. The town'll be full of tourists and stupid fucking reporters! Scratching himself, Steve stumbled to the door. Grabbing his coat, he stamped angrily down the stairs and across the street to the diner, daring anyone to smile at him.

Steve knocked the snow from his boots and sat down at his usual table. Sondra, the waitress, walked over, coffee pot in her hand. She poured him a coffee and took his order. She didn't bother with small talk, she knew what Steve was like in the mornings.

Steve finished his breakfast and wandered out into the street. There was a crisp new layer of snow on the ground and children were running around, laughing and playing. He turned a corner and was almost knocked over as a young girl ran in to him.

'Watch out for Christ sake!'

'Sorry sir, I didn't mean it.'

Steve watched as the girl ran off to join her friends. She was about eight with long black hair and dark eyes. There was something vaguely Mediterranean about her. She was enveloped in a bright red coat with matching hat and gloves and looked good enough to eat. Steve's eyes followed her as she played in the snow. It was so long since he'd had a girl, and she was just his type.

Steve could see the crowd congregating to go through that stupid goddamn ritual with the groundhog. He hung around, keeping a close watch on the girl.

Later in the day Steve was siting in his car, parked at the side of the road, smoking a Chesterfield. The girl had been talking to her parents and he'd watched as they went off to their camper, leaving her to play with her new friends. Choosing his moment carefully, Steve dropped the car into gear and sped over to the girl. Sliding to a halt beside her he opened the passenger door and called out.

'Quick, your mom's had an accident with the gas in the camper. They've rushed her to hospital. Your dad sent me to get you.'

Without thinking, the girl jumped into the car and shut the door. Steve slammed the car into gear and shot onto the road in the direction of the hospital. The girl was distraught, hugging herself and rocking back and forth. They passed the hospital and Steve kept driving. The little girl looked over at him, realising something was wrong.

'Where are we going? What do you want?'

'Just shut up. You won't get hurt if you're nice to me.'

The girl began screaming and hitting him in the arm. Swearing, Steve reached across and slapped her face. He grabbed hold of her shoulder and squeezed hard. 'I said quiet!'

With his concentration on the girl, he didn't see the car backing out of the driveway until too late. He rammed his foot on the brakes and the car skidded sideways and hit the reversing car. As they came to a halt, the girl began scrabbling at the door, screaming. In the distance, Steve could hear a police siren.

Steve lay on the bed in the cell. He turned over gingerly, due to the bruises Sheriff Dalton had inflicted on him when he'd found Steve with the girl. Groaning, Steve wished he could do it all again, he'd make sure he wasn't caught this time. He closed his eyes and slowly sank into a deep sleep........

Steve woke up shivering, the heating had failed to come on as usual. That fucking landlord could never get anything fixed. He reached across to the chair by the bed and grabbed his clothes, pulling them under the covers to warm up before he put them on. Hey! Wait a fucking minute! What happened to the police cell?

Steve jumped naked out of bed and ran to the window. Desperately he rubbed a circle to look through. There was a crowd of people preparing for Groundhog Day. Steve stumbled back to the bed and sat on it, the cold forgotten. He'd had the strangest dream about a beautiful young girl........ With a shrug he got dressed and went over to the diner for his breakfast.

After finishing his breakfast, Steve went for a walk, he turned a corner and a young girl barrelled into him. Steve stared at her in shock, unable to speak.

'Sorry sir, I didn't mean it.'

Steve watched as she ran off to play with her friends. He needed a drink!

Steve spent the rest of the morning planning. He knew the girl was a screamer and he knew about the car. He wouldn't get caught this time! He drove to a motel about five miles out of town and booked into a room, making sure he could get to it without being seen by the desk clerk. Later, he'd managed to steal some chloroform by kicking a dog in the head and slipping the bottle into his pocket as he helped Doc Meyer, the vet. Everything was ready.............(cont)