by Kathi Daley
Jake gave me a tight hug. “I’ll check on your babies. If you need anything, anything at all, don’t hesitate to call me.”
I leaned my head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat for a moment. He really was my rock. The one person I depended on above all others. “Try not to worry.”
After I left Jake’s, I drove to Harley’s to check on Brando, who was settling in just fine. Harley was getting the hang of letting the pup know who was boss, but of course Harley being Harley, he was a sweet, cuddly alpha, not all sharp and mysterious like Shredder. I made up an excuse about search-and-rescue training to explain my absence for a few days if I didn’t make it back to check on them, then went home to pack. I wouldn’t need much—a change of clothes, toiletries, maybe a second pair of boots in case the first got wet. I doubted we’d be going out for any fancy dinners, so I was pretty sure jeans and sweaters would be fine throughout. The last time Shredder and I had headed out on a fact-finding trip our reservation had gotten messed up and we’d ended up sharing a room. Two beds, but still one room. Something nonrevealing to sleep in seemed like a good idea just in case, so I added it to my mental list.
By the time I arrived at my cabin Shredder was waiting. It looked like he’d brought all his luggage, not just an overnight bag.
“I thought this was just a quick trip?”
“I checked out of the inn. There isn’t a reason for me to be there any longer now that my cover has been blown. It looked as if Reggie’s friends were planning to take off as well. In fact, the inn was pretty deserted. I feel bad for the owners, but maybe they can rent my room to someone else for the holiday.”
“I hope so. It must be pretty depressing to go from having ten rooms rented to none at all. I’m assuming Mr. Clauston and his daughter and son-in-law have already left?”
Shredder nodded. “I paid for my unused nights. I’m not sure what the others did. Are you ready?”
“Give me ten minutes to pack and grab some supplies for Yukon and we can be on our way. I guess we’re taking your rental?”
“We are. Your Jeep looks like it could break down before we even hit the town limits.”
I shrugged. “It’s an old Jeep, but it’s all I have. I can’t afford a new one, so Jake keeps patching it up. Do you have an emergency survival kit?”
“Always.”
******
Tinseltown was a small town located to the southeast of Fairbanks, literally built to support its name by ensuring that every aspect of it was dedicated to the idea of a Santa’s village. Not only were many of the lampposts wrapped in red and white to look like candy canes, but most of the streets had Christmassy names. While it made one feel as if they’d been transported to a real Santa’s village three hundred and sixty five days a year, during the Christmas season it was truly magical.
“It looks like everyone’s having a good time,” Shredder said as he carefully navigated the crowded streets, where masses of people spilled from the sidewalks into the roads.
“I enjoy the festive feeling in the air.” I turned and glance at Shredder. “I know your facial recognition program put Askar in town this morning, but do you think he’s still here?”
“I have no idea. Given what I know of him, he might be interested in the Santa festival, but if he has Rigby, I doubt he’d be spending time at events.”
“Maybe he’s here for some other reason altogether,” I suggested.
“Perhaps.”
“Rigby was kidnapped in Rescue, but it makes sense he’d move him to another location. Tinseltown is near enough that Askar wasn’t moving him all that far, but far enough away that he wouldn’t have been easily discovered if not for the photo.”
Shredder didn’t respond. From the expression on his face, he must be deep in thought.
I pointed into the distance. “I think the hotel you booked us in to is down that street. You did book us rooms, right? As in two?”
“I booked a suite. Two bedrooms plus a sitting area where we can eat and work if we need to. Just so you know, we’re booked as Chris and Claudia Stone.”
“Chris and Claudia?”
“I was in a hurry, and Chris is a name I’ve used before.”
“You’ll need ID to check in. I don’t suppose you have ID with the name Chris Stone on it?”
Shredder smiled at me. “Yes. As I said, it’s a name I’ve used before.”
“And you told them about Yukon?”
“I did, and while they don’t usually allow pets, they were fine with having a service dog on the premises.”
I sat back and tried to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the busy streets as I pondered what it must be like to be Shredder. To have different names you’d need to remember all the time. To travel so often you never had anywhere to call home. To put yourself in danger day after day to protect or rescue people you didn’t know and may never meet. I supposed in a way, the search-and-rescue team put themselves in danger for people they didn’t know on a regular basis, but somehow Shredder’s life seemed so lonely and empty.
The rustic inn at the end of a dead-end street provided for a quiet location even though it was just a block from the activity of the festive little town square. The room featured a white brick fireplace that was framed by two white sofas and a dark mahogany coffee table. Behind the sofas was a dining table made from the same wood, a minibar, and a small kitchenette. On either side of the living area was a large bedroom with its own bath. Shredder let me choose the room I wanted and I went with the one that overlooked the snow-covered forest in the back.
Yukon walked around the room, sniffing everything, while I set my overnight bag on the white bedspread with a red-and-black-plaid comforter folded over the foot. Matching throw pillows made the room feel very Christmassy, although not as much as the main room, which boasted not only a six-foot tree but an arrangement of pine-cone garlands on the mantel as well. I could hear Shredder moving around in his room and decided to take a minute to wash up before we went out. It seemed it had already been such a long day, and I was exhausted.
To make good on my promise to call Jake often, I called him to let him know we’d arrived.
“I take it you made it safely?” Jake said on answering.
“We did. The inn is lovely and the town it so charming that for a minute, I totally forgot we were here to find a man who’s been taken hostage, not to find the holiday spirit. How’s Denali doing? He isn’t big on change.”
“He’s okay. Houston stopped by with Kojak and the dogs are playing while we share a couple of beers.”
“You didn’t tell him about Shredder?”
“No. I say anything he didn’t already know. If you ask me, you should tell him everything when you get back. You and Houston have a good partnership going. You don’t want to mess it up with secrets that wouldn’t reveal anything much anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“What’s the harm in telling Houston you have a friend named Shredder who works for some highly classified government agency and are helping him on a project? That’s really all you know, and it doesn’t expose anything because Shredder isn’t the guy’s real name anyway.”
Jake had a point. “I’ll think about it. I need to go now. I’ll call you later.”
I hung up and headed out to the common area, where Shredder was working on his computer. Yukon followed me and, after giving this room a good sniff too, settled down on the rug in front of the fire. “I’m ready to go out whenever you are.”
“I got a schedule of events from the front desk. Apparently, there’s a party for the Santa impersonators and their elves tonight. I thought we’d go and ask around about Askar. Maybe someone has seen him or knows where we can find him.”
“But we don’t have costumes,” I said.
Someone knocked, and Shredder gestured toward the door. “We do now.”
I groaned as I crossed the room and opened the door to find a woman dressed in a tiny elf costume holding two dress bags. I took them
and thanked her. I closed the door, turned, and looked at Shredder. “Please tell me I’m going as Santa and you’re the elf.”
Shredder chuckled. “I would have divided things in that manner if it would have made you feel more comfortable, but they didn’t have an elf costume in my size. As it is, I had to guess at yours. Hopefully, it will fit. The costume shop didn’t have much of a selection left.”
I opened the bag and pulled out a tiny red and green elf suit. “So you and I are going to party dressed in these very authentic-looking costumes?”
“That’s the idea. We have an hour to get ready.”
I looked at the very short red skirt, which I figured out was supposed to cover green tights. This couldn’t get much worse.
******
The party was amazing. I’m not sure if I’d say it was good amazing or bad, but it definitely was amazing. Everyone had gotten into the spirit of the event and the room was filled with Santas and elves in red and green outfits. Some, like mine, were ridiculously skimpy, while other elves wore green pants and long-sleeved red shirts with green suspenders. What I wouldn’t give for a pair of pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
Maybe I could find someone to trade with. When we’d first arrived and I’d seen the elves in pants, I’d asked Shredder why I couldn’t have had a costume with pants. He claimed the costume shop was out of elf costumes with pants, but I suspected he was lying. If I found out for certain he was, I can guarantee you that he was going to suffer.
“Your costume is so cute,” said another elf in an equally skimpy costume. “My name is Tammy. Tammy Winters.”
I opened my mouth to reply, but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember my fake name. “I’m happy to meet you. Your costume is great.”
“I love dressing up and this event is the best. Don’t you think so?”
“It’s really something.”
Tammy grinned. “This is my fifth year attending. Last year I was awarded the runner-up ribbon for best costume. I hoped to have time to really go all-out and compete for the top prize, but my boss turned into a real Scrooge and wouldn’t give me the time off I needed to properly prepare.” Tammy put her arms out to the side. “Still, I think this costume came out okay.”
I raised a brow. I had to admit Tammy had assets that allowed her costume to fill out a lot more fully than mine. She looked more like a Playboy Bunny elf. There was no doubt in my mind that if the judges were male, she’d be the winner.
“Are you here with a date?” Tammy asked.
I nodded. “Yes, I’m with one of these Santas.” I had to laugh at the absurdity of that statement as I looked around the room for Shredder. “I don’t see him right now, but with all the beards and fake bellies, they look sort of alike. Unlike the elves.” My eyes couldn’t help but drop to Tammy’s ample breasts, which looked as if they were going to pop out of her tight-fitting top. “Are you here with someone?”
“No. I mean yes. Well, actually, no.”
“I see.”
“It’s just my boyfriend, Tommy, is an ass.”
Tommy and Tammy: how cute. Or not. “An ass?”
“I know that isn’t nice to say, but he is,” Tammy continued. “He wasn’t here for two minutes and he was already panting around after the lollipop elf.”
“The lollipop elf?” I asked.
Tammy pointed across the room where an elf dressed in pink with a lollipop hat was rubbing her own ample assets against a tall and oddly thin Santa.
“Is the Santa she’s doing the mating dance with Tommy?” I asked.
Tammy balled up her fists. “It is. I’m so darn close to hauling off and decking her, it isn’t even funny. But Tommy would like that. Two women fighting over him would stroke his giant ego, which, trust me, doesn’t need to be stroked.” Tammy looked around the room. “No. I need to fight fire with fire.” She smiled. “And I know just how to do it.”
Chapter 12
I watched as Tammy sauntered across the room to where a shirtless Santa wearing pants with suspenders and a fireman’s hat was pounding down shots like there was no tomorrow. Seriously? Geez, I needed to get out of here. I looked around for Shredder but didn’t see him right off. I was sure he was somewhere among the masses, but it felt like more effort than it was worth to make the rounds looking for him. I decided to try to find my jacket and then go outside for some fresh air. I was sorting through the jackets that were piled one atop another when I noticed Tammy leaving with her fireman Santa. I wasn’t sure he’d end up being any better than Tommy, but it wasn’t my place to have an opinion.
“I don’t suppose you have a smoke you can spare?” a Santa dressed like a cowboy asked when I’d made my way outdoors.
“I’m sorry, I don’t smoke. I just came out for some fresh air,” I replied.
The Santa stared at my green legs, which showed below the hem of my jacket. “Just as well. I’m trying to quit,” he said, holding out a hand.
I did the polite thing and shook it. When he lingered, I gave him a look that almost made him yelp.
“Is this your first year at the event?” Cowboy Santa asked.
“It is. I came to meet up with a friend, but I haven’t been able to find him. I don’t suppose you’ve seen a tall, thin, regal-looking Santa with darkish skin, a real gray beard, and a foreign accent?” I assumed Nicolas spoke with an accent, though I didn’t know that for a fact. “His real name is Nicolas, but I forgot to ask him if he uses a different name for events.”
“I know Nicolas, but I haven’t seen him this year. He’s been a regular in the past, so I imagine he’s around somewhere.”
“Damn,” I said. “I really wanted to see him. I don’t suppose you know where he usually stays?”
He shook his head. “Sorry. I’m pretty sure he rents a house outside town. I’m not sure of the address, but you might ask Queenie.”
“Queenie?”
“The head elf. She’s the one who organizes this event. You would have met her when you signed up.”
“Oh, of course.” I hit the side of my head, like I was somehow losing my marbles. “Queenie. How could I forget? I’m not sure I remember seeing her this evening.”
“She’s around. She’s dressed like a Little Red Riding Hood elf. You can’t miss the long red cape.”
I sent him the biggest smile I could muster up. “I appreciate the information, but it’s freezing out here. I’m heading in.”
Hopefully, I’d find this Queenie and she would know where we could find Nicolas and this crazy mission Shredder had dragged me in to would be over almost before it began. Lord, I wanted to go home to my little cabin and my animals.
The heat in the building felt stifling after the frigid air outside. I took off my jacket, tossed it on the pile, and went in search of Shredder. I was halfway across the room and heading to the bar when the Santa Tammy had pointed out as being her date, Tommy, grabbed my arm and pulled me aside.
I stomped on his foot.
“Ouch, that hurt.” He let go of my arm.
I puffed out a breath. “If you grab me again, you’re going to find out what real hurt is. What do you want?”
He leaned over and tried rubbing his foot through his black Santa boot, which was ridiculous. “I’m looking for Tammy. I saw you talking to her earlier. Do you know where she is?”
I narrowed my eyes. I wasn’t sure I wanted to get in the middle of whatever drama was going on between Tammy and Tommy, so I chose a simple answer. “She left.”
“Left? But how? She came with me so she doesn’t have a car.” He held out the red fuzzy gloves I just realized he was holding. “She didn’t even take her mittens.”
“Look, I’m sure she’s fine. She was angry you were talking to the lollipop elf, so she…” I gasped as an image flashed through my mind.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I put a hand to my chest. “It’s Tammy. I think she might be in trouble.”
“Trouble?” His voice rose two octaves. “What ki
nd of trouble?”
I looked him in the eye. “I came here with a man dressed as a regular Santa. We need to find him. Right away.”
“What’s his name?”
“Um?” Dang it, what was his name? “Chris. His name is Chris. Chris Stone. I’m going to sit down at that booth. Find Chris and bring him to me, and while you’re looking for Chris, I’ll try to figure out where Tammy is.”
“Figure out? How are you going to do that? How do you know she’s in trouble?”
I grabbed Tommy by the shoulders and looked him in the eye. “You’re wasting time. Find Chris!”
I grabbed the gloves and headed to the booth. Holding the gloves, I closed my eyes. I could sense Tammy. She was cold. And frightened. No, not frightened: terrified.
It’s okay, I thought, on the off chance I could make a two-way connection. I was less than twenty percent in my ability to make them, but sometimes …
Tammy looked around. “Who’s there?”
It’s me. The elf you spoke to about Tommy, before you left with the fireman Santa. I want to help you, but I need you to stay calm.
I could sense Tammy’s anxiety growing, but also a willingness to let me in. That was good. And rare, although I supposed my power had been growing rapidly of late.
I can sense you’re cold and scared. I can see darkness around you, but not much else. I need you to help me know where you are.
Tammy looked around frantically. “Where are you? I can hear you, but I can’t see you.”
I focused as hard as I could so I didn’t lose her. I’m not there. Not physically. I’m in your head. I’ll explain later, but right now I need you to trust me.
Tammy sat down on the hard ground and put her head on her upturned knees. She began to sob. I could feel her beginning to fade.
Tammy. I need you to listen. Tommy’s here. He’s sorry for talking to the lollipop elf. He wants to make it up to you, but first we need to find you. We need you to help us do that.
Tammy lifted her head. “Tommy? Tommy’s there?”
Yes.
“Prove it. Ask him what our song is.”
