10. Mattie
Mattie
Three Months Later…
Mattie shivered when a cold breeze rocked through her.
She tried to remember how it felt to stand in the warm summer sun, but the little icy snowflakes hitting her face kept breaking her concentration.
She pulled the cherry-red coat that was part of her Christmastown uniform tighter around her.
The whirlwind that had been her life for the past few months was finally coming to an end.
She thought that things would have returned to normal once George Essex had been arrested that exciting Saturday afternoon in August. But that was only the beginning.
First, she’d had to give her statement at the Hopewell RCMP detachment.
After that, she’d had to watch Constable King hook up her trailer and drive it to the RCMP forensic lab in Winnipeg.
Every square millimetre of all eighteen pieces was examined under microscopes and jeweller’s loupes to see how many more diamonds and other gems were hiding in the fake frost and snow.
Then, she had to book an extension with the rental company to keep the trailer a couple of extra days until the RCMP released it.
And that had all been on Saturday afternoon.
Dave’s show on Sunday had a huge attendance.
People weren’t just coming because of the popularity of his first performance, but because the whole town had heard about his involvement in catching a jewel thief.
It had taken over an hour for him to get away after his appearance with how many people wanted to talk to him.
Mattie had been happy to wait; every job he booked there was another incentive for him to stay in Manitoba.
Sunday afternoon had, thankfully, been a leisurely drive to December.
The ride in the Magnificent van was a lot smoother when it wasn’t towing half a village.
She’d hooked Dave up with a spot in visitor parking at the complex where her tiny one-bedroom apartment was located.
Then they’d each spent an hour in her bathroom, revelling in the never-ending hot water in the shower.
Mattie ended the last night of their road trip with spaghetti and meat sauce and a bottle of red wine she’d been saving for a special occasion.
“I’ve got to go back to work tomorrow morning,” she’d said to Dave that Sunday night.
“And I have to tell Mei Chen everything. How I didn’t know about our new decorations’ history, what happened with George Essex, and why my six-figure Santa’s Village is now being held as evidence in two different criminal investigations. I am so fired.”
“Why are you so certain you’re sunk?”
“She’s obsessed with maintaining the park’s reputation. To be fair, it is her job. Christmastown is supposed to be famous for being family-friendly, not notorious.”
Dave had laughed. “I can see your point. On the other hand, I doubt that you intend to specifically market your elfie stations as “As advertised on the Still Unfound Mysteries podcast. She must understand that everything has a history.”
“I should be so lucky. What are you doing tomorrow?”
“I’m going to check out December and take advantage of your Wi-Fi to see what businesses around here might be looking for a mechanic.”
She’d been so excited that she’d kissed him before he could say another word. Dave had then kissed her goodnight and gone downstairs to sleep in his van. Mattie had slept like a log, not even rolling over until her alarm went off the next morning.
It was a good thing she’d been well rested, because that Monday was the start of a three-month roller coaster with no brakes. There had been ups and downs, and it had been a fantastic ride, but it looked like it was finally over.
“I’m here,” she called as she walked into the park’s maintenance garage. Her hands flew to her mouth. Santa’s Village was finally all together again.
The sleigh and reindeer were draped in leather reins.
Christmas lights decorated the gingerbread house, illuminating the candy-coloured stained glass windows.
The crystal arch stood on the concrete floor under a spotlight behind the repainted iron bench.
The family of snow people and their snow pup were already on a trailer that was connected to a quad, ready to be moved to their new home.
Sprinkled throughout them all were the various lampposts, with the sparkling frost and lanterns on top polished to a high shine.
Mei Chen, Virginia, and Dave stood among the various pieces that had been assembled into a variety of vignettes. Mei Chen gave her a wry smile. “Okay, less-than-flattering news articles aside, you did well. The marketing is coming in overwhelmingly positive, despite the connection to the robbery.”
Mattie sighed in relief. “Thank you.”
“Be fair, Mei. You’ve gotten requests from two different true crime groups asking for special bookings to see the scene of the crime, so to speak,” Virginia said. “Besides, the decorations cleaned up really well.”
“What do you think?” Dave asked.
“They look great!” Mattie’s brain spun with the photo opportunities and the social media graphics they’d produce.
Seeing the Christmassy figures again brushed away the last of the doubts she had; they were going to be worth every penny.
She stepped closer to the tallest candy cane lamppost. “Wait a minute. These look different.”
Mei Chen nodded, her short black hair peeking out from under her toque.
“After the forensic people were finished examining them, we had to replace the frosty tops on the two tallest one. We went ahead and redid all the rest of them to match. New foam, new shellac, and new beads. And no diamonds this time.”
The funny-shaped crystal that Dave had dug out of the holiday piece had turned out to be a diamond, just like he suspected.
Once that was confirmed, the RCMP contacted Mattie to let her know that it would be a while before the confiscated decorations would be returned.
The investigation revealed over two hundred thousand dollars’ worth of assorted gems and jewellery hidden in the fake snow on the two large lampposts.
Rings and bracelets had been pushed deep into the quick-hardening white foam that the thieves had added to the ornaments, while the diamonds had been sprinkled among the existing crystals.
It had been a brilliant plan, given that the evidence had eluded the police for years.
If she and Dave hadn’t caught George Essex in the act, he would have gotten away with it.
“I guess we’re lucky that the robbers didn’t spread them out among the other decorations or the police would still be examining them,” Dave said. “Luckily, you got everything back in time for the start of the Christmas season.”
“I have two more pieces of related news for you,” the security chief said.
Virginia held up one finger. “Hart North Insurance, the company that paid out for the theft at Frost Creek Jewellers, is thrilled to have recouped the gems. They were offering a ten-percent finder’s fee as a reward to anyone who provided information leading to the jewellery’s recovery.
Mei, with permission from North Santana, told them to split the reward between you two, since you’re the ones responsible for them recovering the goods. ”
“Really?” Mattie gasped.
“You can each expect a cheque for a little over ten thousand dollars.”
Mattie beamed. She could think of a dozen ways for her to spend her share. More importantly, her boyfriend would be able to use his to expand his Dave the Magnificent act.
Dave wasn’t just in the Christmastown garage to witness the return of Santa’s Village.
He worked there too. It turns out that when Virginia had told Mattie to bring Dave to the office, it hadn’t been an idle comment.
Mattie hadn’t known it, but Mei Chen had already been advertising for a mechanic.
Dave’s other job had also provided Mei Chen with an irresistible opportunity to add a live show to the entertainment line-up.
Now Dave worked half days as a mechanic in the theme park’s garage, keeping all their machinery in tip-top shape.
The other half of his employment consisted of putting on daily magic shows for the visitors.
What had sealed the deal for him is that Mei Chen had promised him a flexible schedule to take time off to do independent shows. So far, it was working out for everyone. Dave the Magnificent’s magical reputation was growing. And the cash boost from the reward could help him get to the next level.
“What’s the second piece?” Dave asked.
“Frost Creek Jewellers has officially accepted our contract. Luke Greyson, the son of the original store owner, will be opening a new storefront on Reindeer Road as part of Christmastown’s commercial district.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they also end up as one of North Pole Unlimited’s partners and sell their Christmas-themed lines in their online store. ”
“That’s great. I know Patricia Falconer was hoping to get a jewellery store to compliment Festive Fashions and Sunny’s Spectacular Ornamental Emporium.”
Virginia pulled a cream toque over her red hair. “Mei and I have to talk to Richie about clearing snow at the locations we chose for these new elfie stations. You two can check out the new displays if you want to.” She smiled at both of them, but her grin seemed somewhat…conspiratorial.
Dave took Mattie’s hand and led her past the snowman-laden trailer and around the gingerbread house to the iron bench. “I have to admit that the news about Frost Creek Jewellers wasn’t exactly news to me.”
“I’m not surprised. You know everything before I do, probably because I’m stuck in the offices and you’re all over the place.”
“I also have to tell you that I already got my finder’s fee cheque from Hart North Insurance.”
Mattie’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because I had a specific plan for it that I didn’t want to share at the time.
But now I do.” He sat her on the bench. Then knelt on one knee in front of her.
“Mattie, we had two months’ worth of dates in three days.
It’s been another three since then. Some people might think it’s too soon, but love doesn’t have to take years.
I think this is the right time.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold ring with a pear-shaped diamond in it.
“I asked the insurance company, and they said I could have the first diamond we recovered as part of my reward. I thought it would be perfect for an engagement ring. Matilda Appleton, I love you. Will you marry me?”
Mattie held her breath, fighting back tears. Dave was right; it was fast. But she didn’t want to wait another minute. “I love you too. Yes, I’ll marry you, Dave the Magnificent Magnusson. And the ring is perfect.”
He slipped it on to her finger. She admired it for a second before she leaned over to kiss Dave. She felt the memory of their hot summer kiss on the Ferris wheel all over again.
He whooped, then picked her up and spun her around. “We are going to make beautiful magic together, Mattie.”
“Yes, we are.”
“But I’m going to be in charge of picking the wedding decorations.”
She laughed. “That’s probably a good idea.”
THE END