Chapter 2
N ick scanned his surroundings. He didn’t expect to find pickpockets or bomb threats, but after twenty years in the military, and now the last three months as head of security at the mall, he couldn’t simply turn it off. Sure, the room was festive with its decorative snowflakes and paper stockings on the walls, but it was the twenty-four third graders hopped up on sugar cookies and candy canes squirming in their seats that had him concerned.
“Thank you all for coming to our holiday party. The children are excited to perform a special holiday play for you today. So, sit back and enjoy.” Their teacher stood at the front of the class in a Fa la la sweater with real blinking lights. She clapped her hands, and the room exploded like a mortar going off. The noise level ratcheted to a twelve. Between the squeals of children and the screeching of chairs on the linoleum floors, it almost triggered a post-traumatic panic attack.
Nick focused on his knees, inches from his face . Could they have provided adult-size chairs? He inhaled and held as much air in as he could. One… two… three. Feeling the tightness in his chest release, he exhaled. He could do this.
His phone pinged. He glanced at the message. At his boss’s short command, Nick groaned. A one-on-one meeting in his office first thing in the morning. Well, shit. The man must have heard about the sleigh. Nick hoped for a day to figure out a way to get the sleigh back before Mr. Silver found out.
He silenced his phone and shoved it in his pocket. He’d deal with that tomorrow.
Then there was the other issue that stopped his heart… Mickey. His stomach dropped at the sight of those auburn curls. Thank the Army for teaching him to school his expressions. She was more beautiful than he’d remembered, and she crossed his mind often. Too often.
Nick brought his attention to the front of the room. The sea of faces blurred until the little dark-haired girl waved. Ava. His world fell into focus.
One year ago, he was on an Army base in Germany, planning where he wanted to spend his retirement. A few guys from his squad were setting up an outdoor adventure business. Nick considered joining them but wanted to be close to his daughter. Of all his options, moving back to Ashwood wasn’t even on the list, but one phone call rocketed it to the top.
Molly, his ex-wife, died in a car accident. That’s all it took to change his life.
Ava was a trooper when he moved her halfway across the world to live on an Army base with him. But she was grieving, and after a few months, it was clear. It was time to come home. Nick couldn’t do it alone. He needed family.
“Daddy!” Ava’s little hand held a candle cutout. The construction paper prop waved like a flag.
Nick couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth. He sent a quick head nod, then she shifted her focus to her teacher.
Two minutes into the program and it had become clear this was a multi-holiday play. If he had any doubts, the boy with the cardboard Hanukkah dreidel on his head was a dead giveaway. That reminded him of the holidays on base. All the holidays, Christian and otherwise, celebrated together.
He should call Abe and the guys. Nick missed his Army buddies. They spent more than a few holidays together.
For the next twenty minutes, Nick tried to forget about the lack of circulation in his legs and focus on the play in front of him. The kids did a wonderful job, and Ava hammed it up with her speaking part.
The adults applauded as if it was a professional rendition of The Nutcracker at the Ordway. Nick slipped in a whistle before Ava’s teacher dismissed the class.
“Daddy, did you see me?” Ava ran up to him, throwing her arms around his waist.
“I did. You slayed it, baby.”
Praise given, she beamed, then waved at her friend.
Nick was amazed at how fast his little girl had acclimated to her new life in Ashwood.
“Can I go to Keisha’s house? They have a big hill in the back and everyone is going sledding,” she asked as she shouldered her huge backpack with the Disney princesses on the front.
“Let me talk to Keisha’s mom.” He didn’t mind her having a play date, but he needed to make sure the parents were okay with it. He may have only been a full-time parent for a year, but he was wise to the ways of little kids. Last time she was “invited” to a friend’s house, the parents had no clue until six little girls all showed up on their doorstep.
The woman in question looked up from talking with her daughter and smiled. The look on her face when she crossed to him said she was just learning about this get-together as well.
“I hear we’re having a sledding party today.” Her dark eyes laughed.
“Are you alright with that?” His focus shifted from Mrs. Washington to his daughter. Ava broke eye contact, but she didn’t fidget. Such a good little soldier. He’d have to keep a close eye on her when she hit the teenage years.
“I’m fine with it. She can come with us now if you like.”
“No, I will drop her off. We need to swing home and get her gloves. She forgot them today.”
His daughter blushed, but her little body vibrated with excitement.
They said their goodbyes and headed out to his truck.
“When we get home, you need to feed Snowball and Bandit and grab your snow gear before we go. Do you have any homework today?”
“No, Dad.” She dragged out his name. “Besides, my teacher said we might not have school tomorrow.”
He knew all about it. The weather forecast predicted a massive storm over the next few days. The schools would do digital learning days and send students’ homework via the internet. But really, it was like a snow day. When he was in school, they didn’t get days off unless ten inches of the white stuff was already on the ground.
“Dad, we need to make cookies for the bake sale on Saturday,” she said as she climbed into the truck.
“Cookies. Got it.” He slipped the key into the ignition and gave it a minute to start blowing heat before he cranked up the fan.
“Did you get my hat yet?”
“Hat?” His mind scrolled through the to-do list. He had no idea one little girl would need her own social secretary to manage all of the things she had going on.
“I need an elf hat for the festival.” She crossed her arms and gave him a scolding look, so like her mother.
“When did you find out about this?” This parent thing just kept piling on the tasks. He didn’t know how Molly did it all these years. He’d had regular video chats and sent money and gifts, but being a continent away, he didn’t have custody of Ava .
“Daddy… It’s for my dance team. Remember. We’re dancing at the festival to welcome Santa.”
Shit. The festival. Santa rode in on the hand-carved wooden sleigh and a team of eight live reindeer. Every year since he was a kid. This might be the year they broke tradition. “We have time. I’ll get one this week.” Was he talking about the sleigh or the hat? Hopefully, both.
“I can’t wait!” Ava bounced in her seat.
“Every kid loves to see Santa, sit on his lap, and tell him what they want for Christmas.” At least they would still be able to do that. Dad would never miss that.
“Yes, but this year the real Santa is coming to Ashwood.” Her blue eyes glittered with joy.
“Real Santa?” Last year was her first Christmas with him. They were in Germany and the St. Nicholas who came to the base, rode in on a Humvee. But this year, Ava was looking forward to seeing Santa with his sleigh and reindeer. The kid loved animals. Nick just hoped she didn’t recognize her grandfather under the beard.
“He has to be the real deal. Only the real Santa has a fancy sleigh and reindeer.”
He might not this year. Not that he’d tell her that. “Makes sense. Have you seen them fly?”
“No, silly. They can’t fly.”
Oh, she was his kid. Practical.
She looked him straight in the eye and said, “The city has a law about that. They make an exception for Christmas Eve.”
The chuckle slipped out, but he bit it off. “Where did you hear that?”
“Colin. His stepdad’s a police officer.”
He’d have to thank Colin’s stepdad for that bit of information. This year, there might not be any reindeer if he couldn’t get the sleigh back.
After he dropped Ava off at her play date, he needed to find another sleigh ASAP. He had… twelve days, or he had to sweet talk the police into releasing his sleigh.
Fat chance of that. He’d have better luck praying for a Christmas miracle.
***
What a day. It started with a dead body and her ex, and ended with a domestic. Those were the worst. The victim could turn on her at any moment, and did in this one. She shook it off as she opened the back door to her childhood home. Voices, laughter, dishes clattering, the sounds of home. Michelle smiled.
The volume in the Swenson house rivaled that of a Wild game in overtime. All five of the kids were home for her father’s birthday dinner. Add in her in-laws and the littles, and the house burst at the seams, and she loved it. The stress of her day slid off her shoulders. She kicked off her boots and set the brown paper bag with her father’s gift on the counter.
“Hey, Mom. Smells good.”
Irene Swenson gave Michelle a one-armed hug as she stirred something on the stove. “Just in time.”
“Aunt Mickey! Aunt Mickey!” Her niece and nephew squealed as they ran to greet her.
“Hey guys.” She scooped them up, one in each arm. “Uff. You two keep growing and I won’t be able to lift you.”
“Tell me about it. I call them my mom workouts.” Julie flexed her arm muscles.
“It’s about time you got here. My kids are ready to start gnawing on their arms. Grab the sweet potatoes from the oven.” Her sister Renae tossed her some hot pads, then pulled the salad from the fridge.
Michelle peeked around the corner. Renae’s kids were watching a Christmas movie in the living room with her brothers- and brothers-in-law.
“Their arms seem to be just fine. Besides, I was working.” She waved a hand over her uniform, indicating she didn’t have time to change. She grabbed the food from the oven.
“Hi, baby.” Her father, Trenton, slipped an arm around her for a quick hello.
She set the potatoes on a trivet and hugged him back. “Happy birthday, Dad. Twenty-nine again?”
He chuckled. “Naw. I’m looking forward to sixty-nine.”
Michele bit her lip, but snickers from her brothers came from the other room.
“Trenton,” her mother scolded.
“What? It’s true.” He winked at her.
Her mom scoffed and shook her head, but the hint of a smile crossed her lips. “Time to eat.”
At the matriarch’s words, they all took their places at the large dining table. Dad cleared his throat, and a hush fell over the room. Heads bowed. Dad’s words were short and heartfelt. Hands moved, making the sign of the cross, and then the noise resumed.
“I heard you picked up a new homicide case today,” Jordan said as he snagged a roll and passed the dish to his twin.
“Yeah. Michelle was the officer on scene,” Jim said.
“I heard about that over at the Fifth. A dead Santa in a sleigh?”
News travels fast in law enforcement channels. Her brother-in-law, Greg, worked in the neighboring precinct .
“Honey. Little ears,” Renae scolded, peeking over to the kid’s table.
Michelle glanced at the kids, not fully listening to the adults, thankfully, but just in case, she added, “Not Santa. Just a random guy.”
“From what Greg said, it sounded like Mr. Jolley’s sleigh,” Renae said as she scooped peas on to her son’s plate.
“It was. I saw him today.” And Nick. Not that she needed to open that can of worms.
“Santa?” Her sister, Julie, whispered. “How is he? The kids are super excited to see him this year.”
“He’s good. Same old Santa.”
“Did you talk to Nick?” Jim’s brow rose in question.
“He’s home? I thought he was still overseas.” Julie said.
“Holy Christmas cookies!” Renae dropped her fork. “She did. Look, she’s turning red.”
Michelle choked on her potatoes. Grabbing her milk, she washed down the lump of embarrassment in her throat.
With tight lips, she hissed at her brother, “You knew he was home and you still asked me to go question him?”
Jim raised his hands in surrender. “No. I found out after you’d left for the mall.”
Every adult in the room stared at her. Shit. “Okay, yes. I saw him. It was work. Nothing more to report.”
“Who’s Nick?” Liz asked from the other end of the table. Michelle didn’t hear Jim’s whispered reply to his wife, but she was sure he was filling her in.
“How does he look? Still a hottie?”
“Hey?” Julie’s husband elbowed her.
“Not as hot as you, honey.” Julie winked at him, then turned her attention back to Michelle .
“He looked… good.” Michelle studied her peas. A gentle hand touched her arm.
“Are you okay? We all thought you two would get married and have a bunch of kids after high school.” Renae’s voice conveyed empathy.
The heat from her sister’s hand burned through her sleeve. Time to change the subject. Michelle cleared her throat loud enough for the neighbors to hear. “Did you get an identification on the DB from this morning?”
Silence filled the room.
That did the trick. It was a full ten seconds before Jim spoke.
“Yeah, he’s a repeat offender. Did a stint in Stillwater Correctional. That’s all the further I got. I’ve been swamped.”
“What is it about the holidays that makes people so angry?” Julie asked as she passed the rolls.
“Stress, grief, feelings of inadequacies, loneliness. Just to name a few reasons,” Liz said.
They all nodded in agreement.
Michelle sometimes forgot her sister-in-law was a psychologist.
Jim stabbed a sweet potato and shook his head. “Whatever it is, I’m up to my elbows in homicides. And I know the entire department is hectic at the moment.”
Irene Swenson calmly cleared her throat. A reminder that this was the dinner table, and she was reaching her limit of police talk.
Her brother must have missed it. Jordan pointed his fork between Michelle and Jim. “You know, if you need a hand with the legwork, I can file a requisition order with the chief to have Mickey temporarily assigned as your aide.”
A carrot lodged in her throat. She coughed, snagged a napkin, and caught the offending vegetable. “What?” That would mean having to see Nick again. She didn’t know if she wanted to torture herself that much.
“He has a point. You’d be an asset to the investigation. The vic was a low-level druggie. You’re on the streets, you know the players. Not to mention, the Jolleys, and we all know the mall will want this resolved so they can get the sleigh back by the festival.”
“Everyone wants that,” her mother added.
Well, crap. Mom was right. Michelle’s gaze slid from her youngest niece to their older siblings and cousins. The clueless joy on their faces. Excitement for the arrival of Santa.
She swallowed back her apprehension. “If the chief approves it, I’m in.”
“I don’t know why you haven’t shown any interest in investigation. You’d make a great detective,” her father mumbled as she scooped up some Jello.
“Dad. I like patrol.” She really did. Michelle loved the connection to the city, its residents.
“Okay, okay. Sergeant?” he asked, hopefulness in his eyes.
She didn’t have the heart to tell him she passed on that opportunity last year.
“Trenton, no more work-talk for tonight.” Mom laid down the law.
Michelle sent her a thankful smile. She could only handle her life choices being the focus of her family’s attention one item at a time. Nick Jolley had already been discussed. No need to dip into her professional choices as well.
She brought her glass to her lips and tried to wash down the memories, because sure as shit, her brother, Jordan, would use his connections as Lieutenant to ensure she was on the Santa case. That would create a whole new set of Nick Jolley memories to deal with.