Christmas is Murder

by Arnold, Carolyn

  “Can you believe the twenty-fifth is less than three weeks away?”

  Sean’s moan was audible.

  Sara laughed. “Trust us, we can. We’ve been through so much in the last two weeks, don’t hate us if we put our calls to voice mail and don’t come out until Christmas day. But speaking of Christmas…”

  Sean was already grinning. They had discussed when they were going to do this, and, while they’d originally decided on after dinner, the timing now was perfect.

  “We’ve already finished our shopping. Well, most of it anyway.”

  Her mother took a sip of wine. “Sara, sweetheart, that’s impressive.”

  “I’m sorry, Mom, Dad, but you’ll have to wait for your gifts.”

  Jimmy’s eyes darted between Sara and Sean. “What have you two done?”

  With Jimmy’s reaction, Sara didn’t know how she was going to control her emotions. She held her hand toward Sean, passing the honor to him.

  “This is for you.” Sean got up and extended an envelope to Jimmy. “We wanted to give it to you before the holidays.”

  Jimmy tore into the envelope like a child attacked wrapping paper. “A vacation?”

  “That’s right. To anywhere you want to go.”

  “I—I don’t know what to say.” Jimmy was beaming. He looked to Meredith, who was smiling.

  “Just say you’ll have fun, Jimmy. That’s all we want for you.”

  “And for you to be happy.” Sara heard her mother sniff but ignored the urge to look at her.

  “I was going to get a dartboard. I mean, I still could,” Sean began.

  “A dartboard?”

  “I thought it might come in handy at work when you’re facing the wall of your office, deep in thought.”

  Sara swallowed the impulse to spill their other thoughts—the ones about Jimmy coming to work for them. Everything had a time, and the time for this wasn’t quite yet.

  “You know me too well. Thank you—both of you.” Jimmy leaned forward as if to ease himself out of the chair.

  “We also threw in some spending money.” Sean bobbed his head to encourage Jimmy to dig inside the envelope again.

  He relaxed back and fumbled with it, and then pulled out a check. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he registered the amount.

  “If it’s not enough…” Sara laughed.

  Sara’s parents had huge smiles on their faces, and Meredith seemed to have a perma-grin.

  “It’s just a little spending money…for your trip.” Sean smiled at Jimmy.

  “Spending money? I could retire with this.”

  Jimmy’s optimism was beautiful to witness. While the check was a hefty sum—in the mid-six figures—now that she had all this money, she couldn’t imagine settling to live on that amount.

  “You could, or…” Sean sliced a glance to Sara, “you could consider it an incentive, or preview, of what’s to come.”

  “What’s to come?”

  “Do you want to tell him our plans, darling, or should I?”

  Sara’s heart raced. They weren’t planning to announce their idea quite yet, but since Sean had brought it up, and everyone’s eyes were on her, she might as well go for it. “You’ve been there for us with every investigation. I’d say you are a tremendous asset.”

  “I agree,” Sean added.

  Sara caught light in Jimmy’s eyes and realized they were beaded with tears, but continued. “I must say it was pretty neat seeing Santa arrest Frosty.”

  Jimmy settled back into his chair and rubbed his hands on his thighs. “Except for any little kids who might have seen it. They’ll be traumatized.”

  Sara sensed regret, or pain, wash over Jimmy’s face. “We want you to work for us.” Hearing the words rush out of her almost felt surreal.

  Jimmy looked around at everyone. “Work for you?”

  No one said anything, except for Sara’s parents, who whispered something to each other.

  Jimmy cleared his throat. “I’ve been helpful ’cause I have an inside track.”

  “We’ve got someone who can…let’s just say he has a gift.” Sara held back the fact that Adam likely even had the ability to access government databases.

  “Then why do you need me?”

  “Your instincts and the truth is,” Sara swallowed back the urge to cry, “we love you, Jimmy.”

  “I love you, kids, too.” Jimmy shot up from his chair, and Sean and Sara met him in the middle of the space for a group hug.

  “One more thing, Jimmy. I know how much you loved driving my Mercedes while we were away.” Sara held up a key ring.

  “No? Really?”

  “An added job perk, if you’ll take it.”

  Jimmy snatched the key without hesitation.

  -

  Chapter 26

  “SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS”

  CHRISTMAS DAY

  SINCE SEAN AND SARA HAD received their fairytale ending all those months ago, and more money than most could imagine, Jimmy believed dreams came true—for other people. But this time, they were manifesting for him.

  After dinner that night, when he’d been offered the job, he made a request of the McKinleys, hoping he wasn’t pushing his luck. They’d been more than happy to consider the favor he’d asked of them.

  They had tried to fill the position before, but nothing came of it. And that was months ago, before they took off to Europe. So when he presented his proposal, he met with a favorable reply.

  Jimmy woke to a bright day, but it had nothing on the glow in his heart. He had a promise to keep to a little girl, and he was going to make sure it came true.

  He parked on the street in front of the address for Helen Warner, the mother of the little girl from the float. He hauled the gift he had brought out of his truck and put it on the front step, managing to wedge it between himself and the door.

  Seconds after he knocked, the door opened and a blond woman in her mid-twenties stood there.

  “Are you Helen Warner?”

  She assessed Jimmy, her eyes wondering who he was, and then her gaze drifted to the large box. “I am.”

  “I’m Jimmy Voigt, I’m—” Old habits almost had him spewing out the title Sergeant with Albany PD. Although he was still working out his notice period, his heart had already moved on. He whispered the next words, just in case the little girl was nearby. “I was Santa Claus for the parade.”

  “Oh, yes. Mia told me about you.” Her tone of voice served as a slap in his face.

  “There was a situation that required I leave. I can’t do anything about that now, but I did make a promise to a little girl.” He gestured to the box. “It was her wish from Santa—one of them.”

  Helen crossed her arms and her chin quivered.

  Jimmy noticed beyond her were stacks of boxes. “She told me that you’re going to have to move.”

  “She shouldn’t be saying—” Helen covered her mouth.

  “Please, I don’t mean to upset you.” Jimmy paused, doing his best to compose himself. “The hospital told me that Mia’s home now. Her treatments are finished and she’s doing better?”

  “She is. She’s sleeping on the couch right now. She nodded off during one of her shows, and I didn’t have the heart to move her. She was up late last night, and early this morning, for Santa.” Helen bobbed her head slightly like one does when not sure how to act.

  “Mommy?” Mia was standing there now, rubbing her eyes with her fists. “Who is this?”

  “This is—”

  “I’m a friend of Santa’s. He said you made a wish.”

  “I did. I did.” Any sign of a sleepyhead was gone. Mia’s eyes were now large. “He listened to me, Mommy. He did. He promised me.”

  Jimmy stepped to the side.

  When Mia saw the picture of a drum set
on the box, she squealed and hugged Jimmy’s legs. “Thank Santa for me!” She turned to her mom. “Please, can I play now?”

  Helen smiled at Jimmy. “I don’t see why not.”

  She moved back into the house to let him in with the box.

  “If it’s all right, I’d like to set it up for her,” he said.

  “I’d like that. Would you like tea or coffee? Water?”

  “Coffee would be nice. Thank you.”

  Helen smiled. “I’ll put on a pot.”

  After about an hour of following what was termed “simple” instructions, Mia was ready to rock out. She was a natural, too.

  Jimmy sat at the table with Helen and realized it was time to fill her in on the other wish Mia had made of Santa Claus. He took in all the boxes, and the stress etched into the woman’s face. “Mia had another wish. She wished for her mommy—for you—to find a job. Well, I have an opportunity for you. You can say no if you want, but they’re really great people. They’d pay you well, I know that.”

  Tears fell down Helen’s cheeks and she wiped them with her palms.

  “They’re looking forward to meeting you and Mia. It would be mainly household responsibilities, cleaning and house maintenance. You would be able to live on the premises.”

  Helen hiccupped a sob.

  “If that’s something you’d be interested in.”

  She nodded.

  “All right, then. It’s settled. I’ll let them know to call and set something up.”

  “Oh, I don’t…I can’t afford a phone right now.”

  Jimmy’s heart thumped. He was doing the right thing by the Warners. He put his hand on Helen’s. “You don’t worry about it. I’ll make the arrangement and bring you around to meet them.”

  “You said they’re great people?”

  “The best. You might have seen them on TV. Sean and Sara McKinley.”

  The tears were streaming down her face now and her sobs were getting louder.

  “Mommy? Why are you crying?” Mia ran over and gave a skeptical look to Jimmy.

  Helen ran her hand over Mia’s head. “Santa gave you all your wishes, baby.”

  “You have a job?” Mia jumped.

  “I do.”

  “They just want to meet you, of course, but you’re a shoo-in.” Jimmy smiled at Helen. He had more good news to share but thought he’d let that wait. Helen would find out soon enough that all of Mia’s hospital expenses were taken care of too.

  It had taken a nice chunk out of what Sean and Sara had given him, but they had done so much for him already. Even though he knew they’d have stepped in if he had asked, this was something he wanted to do himself. It just happened that it was the perfect time of year for miracles.

  -

  Chapter 27

  “YOU’RE MY CHRISTMAS PRESENT”

  SEAN AND SARA HAD PRESENTED the Cussons with a different ornament than the one they took. Along with the decoration, they feed them a story about getting to know their neighbors. The Cussons were so star struck that “the McKinleys from TV” were at their door, they didn’t bother to confirm which house they lived in. This turned out to be a good thing as Sean and Sara lived a few blocks away.

  Christmas morning they’d slept in and had savored every minute of it. It had been a crazy month.

  They had started off their day with a coffee and a shot of Baileys, then moved on to champagne and orange juice. Later in the day, they would be hosting a family dinner that would include Sara’s biological mother’s sister, Beth.

  “Is it time? Can I finally open it?” Sara held up the small box that had been the first present under the tree. While Sean had put more there, she was most curious about this one.

  “Go ahead, darling.”

  She took her time with the paper, even though her heart anticipated the contents of the box. Was it a diamond necklace, more earrings, another bracelet, a ring? She lifted the top and there was a gift certificate. Her smile faded. She held up the piece of paper. “Cooking lessons?”

  “You’re always saying how you’d love to learn. I was thinking of you.”

  “Of me? Uh-huh, right.”

  “You do like it?”

  She suddenly felt like she had overdone it with her gift for him. She pressed on a smile. “Certainly. Thank you. Why don’t you open yours?” Part of her wished she could take back what she had gotten for him.

  He picked up the big box.

  Sara smiled. He wasn’t going to get exactly what he thought either.

  Sean ripped off the paper and dug into the box. He lifted out a smaller one. “Oh, you shouldn’t have.”

  “Just keep going.”

  He tore through a series of four boxes until he got to the last one. It was about three by five inches. He pulled out a watch made of white gold and put it on. “It’s beautiful, like you.” He leaned in to kiss her and she gave him a small one for his efforts.

  “Now, now. Is that any way to act?” He bobbed his head toward another large box under the tree.

  Her heart raced. The cooking lessons had been a joke gift. She’d keep him after all. She got into the box and found a smaller one inside. “No. You did the same thing?”

  Sean was laughing and she giggled.

  She got to the last box and opened it to a white gold watch. It was near identical to Sean’s, but a more delicate, female version.

  “What can I say? Great minds think alike.” He smirked and pulled her closer.

  She put it on her wrist and admired it in the light. “I guess we might need to start watching the time.”

  “I guess so, with being new business owners and all.”

  “You forget that you are, that we are, many times over already, darling.”

  “Yes, but this one will be different.”

  She smiled at him before nuzzling into his chest. “What do you think of Meredith and Jimmy?”

  “I have a feeling they’ll be taking that vacation together.”

  “Me too. I’m so happy for him.” She straightened. “You think we made the right decision to apply for a PI license?”

  “No doubt in my mind.”

  “We’ll have to think of a good name. What about—”

  Sean’s mouth was on hers. Seconds later, he pulled back. “Do you want to continue talking business?”

  “Nope.” She went back to his lips.

  -

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  -

  Preview of Valentine’s Day is Murder

  Jimmy finally takes a vacation--and a chance on love--only to be abducted. His female companion originally thinks he had cold feet about their relationsh
ip, but Sean and Sara know there’s more to it. Jimmy isn’t the type to just up and disappear, let alone leave a lady stranded.

  Setting out on their private jet, Sean and Sara reach the tropical paradise of Ocho Rios, Jamaica with sightseeing as the last thing on their minds.

  With a gold coin being their initial tie to Jimmy’s kidnapper, Sean and Sara even speculate about the involvement of pirates. Yet as the hours pass, and there’s no word from Jimmy’s captors, Sean and Sara will need to figure out the real motive before it’s too late.

  With help from their friend, Adam, back in Albany, the pieces come together and not a moment too soon.

  -

  Chapter 1

  UNDER THE JAMAICAN MOONLIGHT

  FOR A MAN WHO HAD given up on love, dining under the Ocho Rios’ moon reaffirmed that all things are possible. Jimmy Voigt sat across from Meredith, a woman who, just a couple months back, had been a stranger. She carried the black evening dress she wore elegantly, its straps loose and dangling over her shoulders. In the candlelight and a beautiful setting such as this, it was hard to resist her. A portion of him didn’t even want to try.

  “Thank you for taking me with you, Jimmy.” She smiled at him, wistfully, as she lifted her wine glass for a toast. “To us.”

  His lips twitched, but he wasn’t sure if the full expression showed—he was terrified of falling in love. He went through with the expected response, though. He clinked his glass to hers and watched as softness blanketed her features.

  It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

  They were both up with the sun and had met by the pool. They had spent the early morning strolling along the shore. With toes in the sand, they had shared whispered jokes and silly stories while the sea air cleared out any stench of the city and melted away stress. Tropical breezes also carried wafts of plant life and flowers.

  “The Dunns River Falls was quite the experience.”

  “You’re telling me.” He left out the fact that his knees had barked most of the way up. He found himself caring what she thought about him, which was a first since Clara.