by Carol Ross
Her words flipped a switch in his brain, which was now humming along just fine with regard to the investigation.
“Hmm...” he drawled as if mulling it over. “Maybe. Let me think about it.” He told himself not to overreact. He needed to calmly and rationally think this through. He needed to talk to Gale.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“SO,” GALE SAID as he pulled on a green-velvet coat with oversize lapels. “You know that guy we talked to yesterday? At the sawmill on Sparks Road?” He was standing in front of the mirror in the “staging area,” which was actually the back room of Bakery-by-the-Sea. He tugged on the bottom of his jacket. “I can’t believe this fits me. June said she would alter it, but I really thought it was hopeless. I think the last guy to wear it actually was an elf.”
Eli and Gale had been researching sawmills. To start with, they’d compiled a list of mills within a seventy-five-mile radius, and the types of wood they processed. They’d been visiting them one by one. Sparks Road happened to be located on the way out to Nina’s place, so they’d stopped on their way home after the move. They’d managed to visit three more the day before.
“Yeah?” Eli was arranging the neoprene Santa belly inside of his own costume. Yesterday, Pete Stahl, Aubrey’s Santa, had come down with the same ailment that had taken out Hailey Bennett, the original chef for the crab feed. Pete’s grandson, also down with the bug, was supposed to have been his elf. Eli and Gale had volunteered to fill in.
“He handles all different types of wood at his mill. He produces specialty wood on a per-order basis.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“Do you remember the size of his scrap pile? It was tiny. All of the other mills had stacks of scrap wood, except the ones with wood chippers. But he didn’t have a chipper. Not that I noticed, anyway. What do you think he does with his?”
Eli thought about it as he fussed with the fluffy white beard that would soon be attached to his face. “Sometimes these smaller mills will sell the scrap as firewood. It’s illegal to burn it themselves, but that doesn’t mean he’s not getting rid of it that way. Although it would be tough to burn that much wood and not have someone see or say something about the smoke.”
“What if someone is buying it for other purposes? Like, say, crate construction?”
“Interesting...” He also didn’t see how in the world this beard was going to stay on his face. Nina was supposed to be helping, but she hadn’t showed up yet.
“We need to pay him another visit.”
“Couldn’t hurt. There’s something I need to run by you.”
“What’s that?”
“Aubrey said something that’s got me thinking.” He filled Gale in on her habit of visiting people she helped rescue, in particular her visit with Danny Cruz. “She’s also teaching her how to swim.”
“My goodness, your sweetheart is a...sweetheart, too, huh?”
Eli couldn’t help his grin. “You have no idea. The kid? Brendan? His dad, Brett, the captain, was apparently furious about the accident. Enraged was the word she used. Seems a little out of place under the circumstances. He could have died, his brother, his teenage son and girlfriend all could have died. But he’s in a rage about losing an old crappy boat?”
“Which was probably insured, anyway,” Gale supplied. “I mean, upset? Yes. Devastated? Absolutely. Enraged? No, the situation does not call for rage, especially of a prolonged nature.”
“Exactly.”
“However, losing a hold full of drugs might cause a person to become enraged.”
He liked it when Gale’s thought processes so precisely mirrored his own. Lucky for him, it was a common occurrence. “Sure would. Kids can be dramatic, but I think we need to do a little digging on the crew of the Respite.”
“I’m on it,” Gale said and made a note in his phone.
He thought about Aubrey asking his advice where Danny was concerned. If they did have drugs on board, the girl might be the opening they needed to find out or possibly to even uncover other evidence. And with Aubrey giving her swim lessons, there was some relationship building going on between them. He just needed to figure out a way to capitalize on it and not let her know what he was doing. He ignored the jab from his conscience reminding him that this would give him yet another reason to feel guilty where she was concerned. She most definitely would not appreciate his using her to uncover information from Danny Cruz. But it couldn’t be helped, he told himself. They needed to use whatever means at their disposal.
“I have an idea. But first, let’s find out what we can about Brett West’s finances and whether or not the Respite was insured.”
He paused to look Gale up and down. “Man, you look so ridiculous. I wish I would have told the guys on the base what we were going to be doing today.”
Gale glanced up from where he was now sliding his stockinged feet into a pair of black-satin slippers. The oversize toes curled up and over the ends of the shoes, while the bells decorating the tips jingle-jangled as he situated them on his feet.
He shrugged. “You could have told them. I’m confident in my manhood.” He stood, bouncing up and down, causing a raucous round of jingling. “Besides, June said I will be an adorable elf.” Standing to his full un-elf-like height, he threw his arms out to the sides as if to underscore how obvious June’s assertion was.
Eli eyed him critically. “You know, I’m feeling like you enjoy this dress-up thing a little more than would be considered normal.”
Ignoring the comment, he crossed his arms over his chest and gave Eli the once-over. “You think I look ridiculous? I don’t see how you are ever going to pass for Santa Claus.”
“Never underestimate the power of a woman,” Nina said, coming through the door. She gestured at the vintage-style train case she was carrying. “Especially when she’s bearing a suitcase full of makeup.”
* * *
THE GAZEBO HAD been magically transformed for Pacific Cove’s A Visit with Santa. Lights were strung from top to bottom and end to end, outlining the structure in a bright, cheerful glow. December on this portion of the country’s left coast meant cold temperatures, rain and gusty wind for most of the month, so sheets of plywood and Plexiglas windows had been fashioned to cover the normally open-to-the-weather sides.
Thanks to the talented decorating committee, the inside had turned out even better than she’d imagined. The “windows” were lit, each one featuring an outdoor scene, so it appeared that you were looking out upon a snowy wonderland at the North Pole. Inside, there was a workbench with tools and partially completed toys as well as a small lighted Christmas tree. Santa had his own elegantly carved palatial chair complete with padded footrest to make it easier for the little ones to scale.
While winter scenes from the Pacific coast might not be favorites in a traditional collage of Christmas images, Aubrey thought the beach in winter held its own appeal. There was nothing like holing up somewhere and watching a storm roll in from the ocean and hit the beach. She and Eli used to do it all the time from their special spot—a cave on the cliff below the lighthouse. She hadn’t been to the cave since she’d moved back to town.
She checked her watch. Parents and kids were already lined up under the eaves along the adjacent sidewalk, out of the soft misty rain, patiently awaiting Santa’s arrival. Just a few more minutes and Santa would emerge from Bakery-by-the-Sea’s storefront and make his way down the opposite sidewalk with his elf, “Elvin,” beside him pushing a wheelbarrow full of the neatly bagged gifts she and the committee had stuffed the week before. A chorus of Christmas bells would accompany the entourage. It was Aubrey’s job to assist the elf on duty and to pass out the stockings to the kiddos after they took their turn confiding in St. Nick.
Aubrey saw some movement and immediately realized it was Nina coming out of the bakery, her hood secured over her hair. She jogged toward the gazebo, slowing as she approached, one hand partially covering her smiling mouth. She ducked inside.
“How do they
look?”
A giggle slipped out from between her fingers. “Not even in his early years could Santa have ever looked that good. Not to mention the elf with the...” Nina trailed off helplessly. “I don’t even know what to call someone as good-looking as Gale. Even though the man gets on my nerves, I appreciate his enthusiasm. I did my best to transform them both.”
Aubrey had despaired of being able to pull off the last-minute change. Two hot Coast Guard officers taking over for an elderly man and his elf-size grandson? But June had offered to alter the costumes while Nina had insisted that she could perform miracles as the “hair and makeup” person. She could only hope for the best at this point.
“How can you not like Gale?” Aubrey asked curiously. “What’s not to like?”
“Exactly,” Nina answered. “He’s...too perfect and too charming. And just too...much.”
“Huh. That’s a lot of too’s.”
“I know,” Nina said, as if Aubrey was agreeing. “His polished rich-boy charm reminds me of Doug.” Nina peeked outside. “Here they come!”
She needn’t have pointed that out because Aubrey was pretty sure the shouts and the accompanying cacophony of jingle bells could be heard at least two blocks away.
Outside on the set of covered risers, All in Tune, the first choral group of the day began singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” She joined Nina at the door and watched Eli saunter along, waving and crooning, “Merry Christmas!” and “Ho, ho, ho!” Elvin the Elf trotted along beside him, smiling and pushing his little wheelbarrow. Aubrey let out a laugh of her own as he waved in their direction.
Excitement surged through the crowd. Squeals of delight and shouts of “Santa! Santa!” filled the air.
The Christmas-card scene couldn’t be more perfect, so of course that’s when disaster struck.
A small boy broke loose from his mother, ran down the edge of the crowd and escaped under the rope they’d hung to delineate the queue. Aubrey and Nina both gasped as the little guy then bolted into the street in that shockingly fast way that only kids can do. A high-pitched scream sounded above the singing.
Dropping her clipboard, Aubrey lunged like a sprinter out of the blocks. All she could see was the child running and swaying down the middle of the rain-slick street. Straight from her worst nightmare, a car rounded the corner a short block away. It seemed to be going way too fast and the child was so very small. Waving her arms as she ran, she shouted for it to stop, hoping the driver of the vehicle would see her and slow, even as she feared he or she would only be focused on Santa and his impossibly tall elf.
She was still several feet away when she saw “Santa” dash into the street and scoop the little guy up in his arms. The car slowed, skidding sideways like in a car-chase scene, before stopping. Relief jolted through her at the picture of Eli holding the boy securely in his arms. Aubrey hurried to them. While her own knees were weak, the little guy seemed oblivious to the near tragedy. A giggle rang out and she recognized him as one of the Paxon kids.
Emma Paxon was yelling, “Toby!” and running down the middle of the street. Aubrey knew Emma and Toby from the Little Swimmers program at the pool. Emma had five kids. Toby was the youngest, a precious, energetic child who strove valiantly to keep up with his older siblings.
Aubrey wrapped an arm around Emma when she stopped before them. “He’s perfectly fine, Emma. Are you okay?”
She was nodding, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Yes, thanks to you and Santa.”
Eli was grinning at Toby, who was chortling with delight and hugging his shoulder, clearly elated from the ride he’d just enjoyed courtesy of Santa Claus. Aubrey offered a few more words of comfort to Emma. Toby patted Santa’s beard as Emma took him into her arms. He waved and Eli ruffled the little guy’s hair. After one more parting thank-you, they took off to rejoin the rest of their family in line.
“Phew,” Aubrey said on a breath, walking Santa back across the street to join his elf. She kept her voice low so no one would hear. She didn’t want to blow Eli’s cover. “I’m so sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” he answered. “For what?”
“That could have been...” A shudder ran through her. “I should have gotten approval to have the road blocked off. Why didn’t I think of that? I put up the cones to keep people from parking here, but didn’t close the street.” She gripped her temples.
“It’s over and everything is fine. Kids do things, Aubrey. Unpredictable things.”
“I know but—”
He stopped and turned toward her. His voice was gentle and soothing. “Listen, you can’t prepare for everything. You know that. All you can do is the best you can do.” He gestured toward the gazebo. “And from what I can see here, that’s exactly what you’ve done. Now, stop worrying. It’s going to be a great day.”
“Thank you. I know you’re right. It’s just... I have this obsession to make everything...”
“Perfect?”
“Well, no, I realize perfection isn’t possible, but I do like things a certain way and...” She glanced up to catch his teasing smile.
“Yes, okay. I am a bit of a perfectionist. I’ll admit that. And sometimes I do, um, worry about things.”
They stepped inside the North Pole Nook and Eli let out a low whistle. “Well, this looks about as perfect as it could be.”
She studied the space with fresh eyes. It was pretty amazing. “Thank you for doing this. I don’t know what we would have done if you and Gale hadn’t stepped in.”
“No problem. You and your committee have already done all the work.”
“I don’t know about all the work. I’m not wearing a Santa suit.”
At that moment Gale poked his head through the door, looking both gorgeous and silly as an elf, complete with pointy ears and a pointy nose. Nina really was a genius with makeup.
Her lips twitched with laughter as she pointed at Gale. “Or that.”
Gale stepped inside, clearly thrilled to be a part of it all. They were discussing the mishap when Alex joined them. He reached out a hand for Eli to shake. “Nice save, Santa. You and Aubrey looked like you were having a race from opposite directions. Funny how those instincts kick in even when we’re not in uniform, huh?”
“Thankful for that,” Eli said.
“Me, too,” Alex said. “You guys ready? The mayor is thrilled and nervous as a mother hen. He’s working the crowd right now trying to figure out who the judges might be.”
Aubrey snickered. “I’ll admit to being a little worked up over that myself, but I’m going to stay focused on those precious little faces out there like Toby’s and enjoy the wonder of it all.”
Alex grinned at her, snaking an arm around her shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “I like that. Hey, before I forget, can you guys come over for dinner Monday night? My parents are back in town and they’re dying to see you, Eli. You, too, Gale—I mean Elvin.”
“Ah, sounds great. I can’t wait to see them.”
“Sure,” Gale said.
Aubrey’s face split with a wide grin. “Yes, from me, too.”
“Super,” Alex said. “I already talked to Nina and Camile—they’re coming, too. As well as a few other people Mom and Dad thought you might like to see.”
Nina peeked her head in. “Santa, Elvin, you guys ready? I don’t think Mayor Hobbes and I can hold back the masses any longer.”
CHAPTER NINE
“ELI, SON, IT’S good to see you.” Carlisle St. John reached out a hand and clapped Eli on the shoulder with the other.
His hair was completely gray now but still thick and neatly trimmed. After his retirement from the Coast Guard, he’d made it a priority to maintain his excellent physical condition, and Eli was cheered at seeing him looking so well.
“Thank you, sir. It’s good to be back.”
“We certainly are proud of you around here.”
Heather St. John wrapped Eli in a tight hug. “That’s putting it mildly,” she said.
“Carl brags about you to everyone he knows. ‘My best friend’s son graduated top of his class from the Coast Guard Academy.’ Like you were our own.” She slapped her husband lightly on the arm. “I’m always telling him all the credit goes to Tim. He’s the one who raised you all by himself.”
“Your husband was a huge influence on me, as well, Mrs. St. John. And if it wasn’t for him, I’m not sure I would have gotten into the academy. That letter from Senator McChord certainly didn’t hurt my cause.”
Carlisle stood beaming next to his wife, who seemed even smaller than Eli remembered. But when she placed her hands on her hips and glared at him playfully he suddenly felt like he was thirteen again and getting lectured after some bit of trouble that he, Alex and Aubrey had gotten into.
“You can call me Heather, you know?”
Eli grinned. “No, ma’am, I can’t seem to bring myself to do that. Thank you so much for inviting us tonight. Your home looks even more beautiful than I remember.”
And it did. Eli had always marveled at how Heather had managed to make a beachfront mansion feel so homey. The open, simple design combined with her understated decorating style probably helped, he realized now. Two stories, fronted with glass, made you feel like you were on the beach instead of inside a house.
“You were always such a gentleman. I tried to raise Alex to be a gentleman. Where did I go wrong? How is your father? I wish he would come home for a visit now and then.”
Alex guffawed. “Mom, come on, I’m standing right here. And what are you talking about? I’m an angel.”
“Yes, of course you are, honey. Like a fallen angel.” She patted him on the shoulder. “I’m kidding. You know we’re proud of you, too. Very proud. Especially lately. But...” She gestured helplessly at Eli. “Eli is a Coast Guard officer and a pilot.”
“Like Dad always wanted to be,” Alex explained to Gale, who had walked over to join them.
