camera and several lighting umbrellas stood among fake Christmas trees and giant candy canes. Get your picture taken with Santa…for a charge.
On closer inspection, Nick noted tiny cameras in each corner of the building. A fairly elaborate security system for a place so far north, but then maybe Santa had problems with the locals hiking through several feet of snow to steal Christmas gift items during the endless winter nights.
“Can I help you?” The voice behind him with its hint of an Asian accent sounded as cool as the wind outside.
He turned toward the tiny, thin woman. She wore a deep red velvet dress trimmed with white fake fur at the wrists and neckline. Her slanted, brown eyes were red-rimmed and her face was smooth and porcelain-pale.
Mary had introduced her as Kim Claus. Santa’s wife? She didn’t look anything like Mary. Was she a stepmother? Santa’s new wife? “When did you discover Mr…Claus was missing?” Nick stumbled over the name, feeling more than just a little ridiculous. How long had it been since he’d stopped believing in Santa Claus? Had he ever? Growing up in foster care in Texas wasn’t the best environment for misplaced beliefs.
The woman touched a tissue to the corner of her eye and sniffed. “What was your name again?”
“Nick St. Claire, a friend of Mr. Claus.” Nick moved back toward the others standing in the center of the store.
Kim followed him. “My husband never mentioned you.”
“It’s been a long time.”
“I’ve known Mr. Claus a long time. I have no memory of your name.”
“We don’t know each other well. How long did you say you knew Santa?”
“We’ve known each other since back when we were much younger.”
“Really?” Nick lifted a nutcracker in the shape of a wooden soldier from a shelf and pretended to study the cracking mechanism. “I thought you were newlyweds.”
“We are. I—we just recently found each other again.”
Nick glanced up and caught Mary’s gaze.
Her long blond hair framed a pale face and beautiful blue eyes glassy with tears.
He found himself drawn to her, crossing the floor to her side before he realized what he was doing. The tug of concern pulling at the muscles in his chest was foreign to Nick. He didn’t know this woman.
Until yesterday, he didn’t know a man named Santa Claus existed other than in the movies and fantasies of children. Why should he care about how the woman next to him felt about her missing father? His primary focus should have been on finding Santa Claus. The man and his daughter were nothing more than another assignment. Emotions weren’t part of an SOS agent’s authorized equipment list.
“This whole situation is crazy. Santa is probably fine. Perhaps he stayed at a friend’s house or something. In the meantime, I have to let people know the scheduled deliveries might be delayed if we can’t find my husband soon.” Kim sniffed and dabbed at her eyes, moving toward the checkout counter. “If you have any more questions concerning my husband, ask Officer Baskin. I have calls to make, and I need to close the shop.”
The front door to Christmas Towne slammed closed and everyone turned to see who entered.
A stout man with gray hair and brown-black eyes hurried through carrying a microphone in one hand. He was closely followed by a man hefting a camera on his shoulder with NEWS printed in large block letters on its black plastic casing.
“Ah, Mary. I’m so glad you’re here,” the man with the microphone said.
A soft groan escaped Mary’s mouth. “Please, not now, Silas.”
He crossed the floor to stand in front of the petite blonde.
Too close for polite conversation. His stance appeared more threatening than casual.
Nick took a step forward before he could catch himself.
“As soon as I heard the news, I hurried over.” Silas waved the cameraman closer.
“With the media?” Mary closed her eyes, her lips moving as if she were counting to ten.
The man she’d called Silas raised his brows. “The public has a right to know the most famous man in North Pole is missing.” He rubbed his hands together like a kid anxiously awaiting a new toy. “What we want to know is why? After thirty years of playing Santa, why has he disappeared? Could it be a mysterious criminal past caught up with him? Is Santa on the run from the law?”
Mary threw her arms in the air. “Good grief, Silas! My father is not on the run from the law. He’s not the criminal. More likely he’s the victim. Now get out of here before I have you thrown out.”
Kim Claus stood a few feet away, her lip curled in an amused smile. “Really, Silas, that’s a pretty pathetic attempt to slander my husband. Santa is a good man. Everyone knows it.” She crossed her arms over her chest and turned to the man in uniform. “Don’t you agree, Officer Baskin?”
The officer nodded. “Silas, now’s not the time to be a pain. Leave quietly, please.”
“I have a right to know about a man who pretends to be Santa. Imagine all the children who’ve been fooled by a potential criminal. Parents will be up in arms.” He shot a narrow look at Mary as she inhaled deeply. “Notice I said potential. I’m not accusing your father of anything. I’m just a concerned citizen.”
“Silas Grentch, you’re only concerned about getting your hands on the best moneymaking business in town. I thought you couldn’t stoop lower, but you never fail to amaze me.” Mary looked to Officer Baskin. “Can you make him leave?”
The officer smiled dangerously and stepped toward Silas.
“I’m leaving.” Silas held up his hands and backed up a step, one eye on the cameraman. “Are you getting this?”
“Out.” Mary pointed her finger toward the door, her blue eyes flashing.
Nick almost laughed out loud at how quickly Silas Grentch scurried for the exit. “I’m leaving, but the truth will come out. Mark my words. It’ll be a dark day in North Pole when Santa Claus is brought to justice.”
The cameraman paused at the door with his camera pointing at Mary. “Miss Christmas, with Santa missing and Christmas getting close, what will happen with Operation Santa?”
Mary’s eyes narrowed, her fingers curling into tight fists. “We’ll find Santa before the planes leave. Children in the remote villages will see him.”
The cameraman nodded, lowering his camera before he left.
After the door closed, silence reigned inside the cheerfully decorated Christmas store.
“I’m sorry you had to come home to Silas’s shenanigans, Mary.” Betty took Mary’s hands and pulled her into a tight hug.
Nick witnessed the entire strange scene, his mind ticking through all the slurs and innuendos flung at the missing
